By Ben Shapiro, Co-Copy Editor

Anti-semitism is on the rise, and not enough people are talking about it. We as a modern society are quick to call out issues of sexism, homophobia and racism, but fall short almost every time when it comes to the hatred against Jews.

Recently, there has been a surge in comparing minor inconveniences to the Holocaust. As a Jewish person, I can say first-handedly that this is incredibly insulting.

Both nationally and locally, amongst those against getting the COVID-19 vaccine, there is a growing “trend” in which individuals cut out six-pointed yellow stars with the message “not vaccinated” written across them: a mockery of the Stars of David the Nazis required the Jews to wear in public as identifiers during World War II.

Not only is this beyond offensive, especially to those killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust, but frankly, it’s embarrassing. Embarrassing that people think it is even remotely acceptable to compare the mass murder of more than six million Jews and five million other innocent individuals to a shot that can protect oneself and others; embarrassing that people are turning a symbol of identification rooted in hate into a symbol of ignorance that they parade around; embarrassing that people are going out of their way to change the narrative and write themselves off as the oppressed. 

Anti-semitism is also manifesting in society through other comparisons to the Holocaust. Recently, students and parents within our school district have gone to social media, posting comments comparing the lines to sign in and out of school during lunch to “Nazi lineups” and equating lunchtime social distancing guidelines to concentration camps.

Whether these wholly erroneous comparisons are due to a lack of Holocaust education or simply due to ignorance, it is blatantly anti-semitic nonetheless. Using student privileges to leave campus during lunch does not warrant one to worry about their family being ripped away from them, being sent to a concentration camp, or being worked and starved to death. The notion that mass genocide is a “relatable” concept and comparable to a minute-and-a-half-long line is appalling.

Those arguing that minor inconveniences are comparable to the Holocaust are falling hook, line and sinker for the victim complex, the belief that one is a victim even when made aware of evidence to the contrary. Especially in relation to those creating anti-vaccination Stars of David, the belief that people are discriminated against due to their choice to not get vaccinated is simply not true. This victim complex quickly becomes anti-semitic as it diminishes the concept of a victim in itself. Those murdered by the Nazis are victims; those who must wait in line are not.

This issue is not just a country-wide problem; we can see the influx in Holocaust comparisons in our own community too. Individuals are claiming themselves to be oppressed and are going out of their way to try and show it by whining at school board meetings and hosting “walkouts.”

The rise is anti-semitism plaguing our community must be properly addressed. We cannot claim to stand for equality while ignoring people’s claim that social distancing guidelines are comparable to concentration camps and vaccination status is a sign of oppression. They are incomparable, and equating them is anti-semitic.

Ben can be reached at [email protected].