The American Hindu Jewish Congress believes that antisemitism and Hindu phobia are products of extremist narratives, misinformation, and systemic prejudice — learned behaviors that must be countered, not misunderstood as symptoms of mental illness.
Sadly, Hindu and Jewish communities in America are facing a rise in hate crimes, antisemitism on college campuses, and vandalism of temples and synagogues, driven by the political weaponization of ideological radicalization.
First, the mental health consequences of antisemitism and Hindu phobia on Hindu and Jewish Americans — while each are rooted in distinct historical and cultural contexts — share common psychological patterns. These include chronic stress, identity suppression, and social isolation.
Second, factors contributing to the recent uptick in antisemitism and Hindu Phobia in America are as follows:
- Hate crimes against Jewish communities have surged dramatically, especially in the U.S. following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks in Israel. Yet, politicians and interest groups have increasingly used antisemitic tropes to silence critics of global Islamist terror. This tactic risks diluting the term and undermining efforts to combat genuine antisemitism.
- Anti-Hindu hate crimes have been increasing in the United States, including verbal and physical assaults of Hindus and desecration of temples with vandalism and graffiti. The FBI has noted a rise in anti-Hindu hate crimes, which doubled in 2023 compared to past years. Politicians and interest groups have increasingly used Hindu phobic tropes to silence critics of global Islamist terro. This tactic risks diluting the term and undermining efforts to combat genuine antisemitism.
- Media and academia often misrepresent the Jewish and Hindu faiths through caricature, cultural stereotypes and prejudices. Social media platforms amplify hate speech, normalize harassment, and create echo chambers that reinforce antisemitic and anti-Hindu narratives.
- Ideological radicalization spurring hateful rhetoric and violent acts is associated with the decentralized online subcultures. In 2024, most fatalities resulting from extremist violence in the United States were attributed to non-political, anarchist movements. Many perpetrators of recent hate crimes are young men radicalized online. This demographic shift challenges traditional counter-extremism frameworks.
What is the American Hindu Jewish Congress doing to counter Hindu Phobia and antisemitism?
Our activities include the following:
- Build awareness in the medical and mental health industries of the mental health impact of antisemitism and Hindu phobia on the adherents of these respective faiths.
- Promote interfaith dialogue and conferences
- Reinforce faith coalitions through joint filing of Amicus Briefs in religious liberty cases before Federal courts and the US Supreme Court
- Support accountability and transparency in social media and blog posts and urge removal of hateful content or misrepresentation of the Hindu and Jewish faiths.
- Advocate for hate crime prosecution and enforcement of civil rights laws at the local, State, and Federal levels.