Recently, a colleague at work sent me an email regarding a hearing by the Senate Special Committee on Aging entitled, “Never Again: Addressing the Rise of Antisemitism and Supporting Older Americans.” Obviously, working at the B’nai B’rith International’s Center for Senior Services, this hearing piqued my interest. Fighting anti-Semitism and advocating for seniors are core pillars of our office. Witnesses included various experts in the field, with the most powerful testimony coming from David Schaecter, a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor from Florida.

Schaecter was born in Slovakia in 1929 and taken to Auschwitz in 1941. In total, Schaecter lost 105 family members, including his parents and siblings. After surviving the camps, he moved to the United States in 1950 and attended college, got married and started a family. Fast forward to 2025: Schaecter is troubled by ongoing anti-Semitism. He testified, “On October 7, 2023, we saw Hamas kill 1,195 Jews. It’s been over 570 days and we still have hostages. These atrocities are and were barbaric. To say they were traumatizing to survivors barely scratches the surface. Protests on college campuses that intimidate and threaten Jewish students are not benign and cannot be ignored. I remember vividly when Slovakian classmates taunted Jewish kids like me, and what’s happening today looks and feels the same. And most recently the Pennsylvania Governor’s residence was burned by an arsonist during Passover.”

Sadly, the scourge of anti-Semitism impacts the Holocaust survivor community. The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) submitted written testimony to the Committee in response to the hearing about this topic. The written testimony reported an incident in Chicago where a Holocaust survivor’s front door was vandalized with anti-Semitic language. The survivor, who refused to remove her mezuzah said, “I cannot show fear. It’s not an option. I cannot show them I’m afraid.” Anti-Semitism is terrible in any form, but when Holocaust survivors must confront this evil again, words alone will never be sufficient.

A recent poll conducted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) shows the seriousness of the problem, demonstrating about half of people worldwide hold anti-Semitic attitudes. This number is more than double what it was a decade ago. Equally disturbing, about 20% of respondents had never heard of the Holocaust, and only 48% recognize the Holocaust as a historical accuracy.

In addition, a 2024 Gallup poll indicated that 81% of Americans describe anti-Semitism as a “very or somewhat serious problem,” up from 57% in 2003. The poll also demonstrates that more older adults see anti-Semitism as a “very serious problem,” compared to younger people. 66% of people aged 65 and older and 55% of those aged 50 to 64 described anti-Semitism as a “very serious problem,” as opposed to just 36% of people under 50.  In addition, the survey found that 46% of Jewish Americans have experienced more poor treatment or harassment related to their faith than prior years. This has occurred both online and within their communities, contributing to more than half of Jewish Americans saying they feel reluctant to share their faith with others.

At B’nai B’rith we are doing our part to fight anti-Semitism. Since our founding, B’nai B’rith has developed tolerance programs and spoken out strongly against anti-Semitism in all its forms. Our annual “None Shall Be Afraid” essay contest is our flagship response to the world’s oldest hatred. None Shall Be Afraid was inspired by the 1790 letter from George Washington to the congregants of Touro Synagogue in Rhode Island, where he quoted Micah 4:4, “Everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.” The contest asks people to share their personal stories as students today who have experienced or witnessed anti-Semitic hate on campus, and how they responded or took action in the situation.

In addition, B’nai B’rith’s program Amplifying Jewish Voices assists Jewish students experiencing anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiments at their schools. Through storytelling and advocacy, we empower students to engage directly with influential figures, including policymakers, diplomats, and community leaders —fostering meaningful dialogue and impactful change. By sharing their voices through social media, digital content, and more, we amplify student stories far and wide, encouraging others to join in spreading their powerful narratives.

I applaud the bi-partisan work done by the Senate Special Committee on Aging to shine a spotlight on anti-Semitism. Hopefully, our work here at B’nai B’rith, along with other like-minded organizations and elected leaders, we can educate the public about the evils of anti-Semitism and shift public perception.

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Evan Carmen, Esq. is the Legislative Director for Aging Policy at the B’nai B’rith International Center for Senior Services. Click here to read more from Evan Carmen.