Topics & Education
Antisemitism appears in many forms – from open hostility to hidden codes and imagery to conspiracy narratives. This page brings together foundations, terms and materials that help recognize and contextualize antisemitic patterns. Our educational offerings – workshops, talks and trainings – are aimed at schools, associations, companies and public institutions that want to actively counter antisemitism.
Figures & studies
Antisemitism in Austria is measurable at a high level. The antisemitism reporting center of the Jewish Community of Vienna (IKG) documented a total of 1,532 antisemitic incidents in 2025 – the highest figure since systematic recording began, and on average more than four incidents per day.
These included 19 physical attacks, 27 threats, 205 cases of property damage and 439 mass mailings. The most common form, with 1,186 cases (77.4%), was Israel-related antisemitism, followed by antisemitic othering (750 cases) and Holocaust relativization and denial (625 cases).
The 2024 antisemitism study commissioned by the Austrian parliament (IFES, 2,037 respondents) shows that 13% of the population hold manifest antisemitic attitudes and 33% latent ones. Israel-related antisemitism in particular has increased – above all among young people and university graduates. Four in ten respondents did not recognize a Holocaust-relativizing statement as antisemitic.
Sources: IKG antisemitism report 2025 (ikg-wien.at) and the 2024 antisemitism study of the Austrian parliament (parlament.gv.at).
Recognizing antisemitism: terms & forms
What is antisemitism? The IHRA working definition
In 2017 Austria adopted the working definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA): “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” The definition is accompanied by eleven illustrative examples – from Holocaust denial to holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel.
Israel-related antisemitism
Antisemitism expressed through reference to the State of Israel – for instance when Jews are held collectively responsible for its policies, when Israel is demonized or judged by double standards, or when its right to exist is denied. Factual criticism of an Israeli government's policies is not covered by this. With 1,186 cases (77.4%), this was the most frequent form documented by the IKG reporting center in 2025.
Holocaust relativization and denial
Denying, trivializing or reinterpreting the Shoah – for example when current political measures are equated with the Nazi persecution of Jews. The IKG reporting center documented 625 such incidents in 2025. The 2024 parliament study shows how hard this form is to recognize: four in ten respondents did not classify a Holocaust-relativizing statement as antisemitic.
Antisemitic othering
Jews are marked as “other” and “not belonging” – often subtly, through stereotypes, attributions or questions about their “true” loyalty. This exclusion prepares the ground for more open forms of hostility. The IKG reporting center assigned 750 incidents to this category in 2025.
Codes and conspiracy narratives
Antisemitism is often expressed in coded form: through ciphers such as “Rothschilds” or “globalists”, number codes, or narratives of a secret power controlling media, finance or politics. Such conspiracy narratives spread particularly on social media and gain reach in times of crisis. Our workshops make these codes recognizable.