Future historians will likely view Jewish life in late 20th-century English-speaking countries as a golden age of the diaspora, surpassing even medieval Spain or Enlightenment Germany. That era, fading since the millennium, has now decisively ended, fundamentally changing what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century and altering Western culture.
The end of this golden age means Jewish communities face ever-higher levels of securitisation. It also marks a cultural shift: the late 20th century saw Jews confidently inviting the West into their culture as artists, writers and comedians, enriching Anglo-culture with irreverence and creativity. Today, many Jews feel alienated from spaces like social media, pro-Palestine marches and the arts, which they perceive as normalising antisemitic attitudes towards Israel.
Over 85 per cent of the world's Jews live in Israel or the United States, with most of the remainder in Britain, Canada, Australia or France. Since 2018, the US has seen regular synagogue shootings and online antisemitism. Since October 7, similar attacks have occurred in Britain, Canada and Australia, including shootings at synagogues in Toronto and a massacre at a Hanukkah party in Bondi Beach. In France, antisemitic murders have been a regular feature for over 20 years.
Internet society fuels this new antisemitism. Social media platforms like X and TikTok have abandoned anti-racist content moderation for algorithmic amplification, fostering demagoguery and conspiracy thinking. Gen-Zers, spending hours on these sites, are increasingly antisemitic. On UK campuses, antisemitism has become normalised, with one in five students reluctant to houseshare with a Jewish person.
Demographic changes in Britain, Canada, Australia and France have also affected attitudes. While most Muslims condemn antisemitic attacks, a small disaffected element is prone to radicalisation, posing a major challenge. The golden age of Jewish life is over, and antisemitism is here to stay.
