Even as Jews thrived in America for more than 350 years, antisemitism, also called anti-Judaism, affected their lives. It took different forms—Jews were blackballed from clubs and societies, legislation impacting Jewish rights, and even terrible violence. Understanding the Jewish experience in America requires recognizing that antisemitism was and remains a powerful American tradition.
n her June 2025 Hadassah Magazine article, historian Pamela Nadell reflects on the rising tide of antisemitic violence in the U.S., from the murder of two young professionals outside Washington, D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum to attacks on Jewish homes and demonstrators. These alarming incidents, she asks, may signal a turning point for American Jews.
In Pamela’s Q&A session with American University Magazine, she discusses the alarming increase in antisemitic incidents in 2023 and the long history of antisemitism in America. From the first Jewish settlers to today’s rise in hate crimes, she examines how understanding this history is crucial to addressing the ongoing challenge of combating antisemitism.