Debunking Mondoweiss’s Whitewashing of Antisemitism in the U.S. Medical Community
Mondoweiss, a publication notorious for its anti-Israel bias, has once again produced a deceptive and inflammatory piece—this time attempting to downplay the rising antisemitism in the U.S. medical community. Their article, The Fabricated Panic Over Antisemitism in the U.S. Medical Community Conceals an Attack on Palestinians, seeks to gaslight Jewish professionals by dismissing their very real concerns and instead painting them as aggressors against pro-Palestinian voices. This is not only factually dishonest but dangerously revisionist.
Antisemitism in Medicine is Real, Not “Fabricated”
The Mondoweiss article attempts to frame the discussion around antisemitism in healthcare as a political weapon wielded by pro-Israel activists to silence Palestinian advocacy. This is a blatant misrepresentation. Numerous documented cases reveal a disturbing trend: Jewish medical professionals and students have faced exclusion, harassment, and overt hostility since October 7.
One stark example is the case of Dr. Yusef Salaam, a physician at a major hospital, who posted on social media that “Zionist doctors should not be allowed to practice medicine.” Jewish students at medical schools across the country have reported being ostracized, intimidated, and even called “baby killers” simply for being visibly Jewish or expressing concern about antisemitism.
Rather than acknowledging these cases, Mondoweiss dismisses them outright, claiming that the concerns of Jewish professionals amount to an “attack on Palestinians.” This gaslighting is a familiar tactic—minimizing antisemitism by framing Jews as the oppressors.
The IHRA Definition and Why It Matters
Mondoweiss also takes issue with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, claiming it is “weaponized” to silence critics of Israel. This is an oft-repeated canard by those who wish to continue spreading antisemitic tropes under the guise of anti-Zionism. The IHRA definition is a widely accepted standard, endorsed by dozens of countries, including the U.S., and explicitly states that criticism of Israel is not antisemitic unless it crosses into demonization, double standards, or delegitimization.
In the context of the medical field, the IHRA definition is crucial because it helps identify antisemitic rhetoric that directly impacts Jewish professionals. When Jewish students are told they must denounce Israel to be accepted in progressive spaces or when medical organizations remain silent as Jewish staff are harassed, this falls squarely within the definition of antisemitism.
The True “Silencing” is Happening to Jews
A particularly egregious falsehood in the Mondoweiss article is the claim that pro-Palestinian medical professionals are being “silenced.” In reality, the opposite is happening. Since October 7, countless medical professionals have freely spread inflammatory, and at times genocidal, rhetoric against Jews and Israel—often without consequence.
For example, a Columbia University medical student publicly justified Hamas’s October 7 attack and faced no disciplinary action from the university. At the same time, Jewish students who reported feeling unsafe due to these statements were dismissed as “overreacting.” Where is the supposed “silencing” of pro-Palestinian voices when they are openly celebrating terrorist violence while Jewish students are shunned for expressing their concerns?
The Consequences of Mondoweiss’s Misinformation
Mondoweiss’s article is not merely misguided—it is dangerous. By denying the reality of antisemitism in the medical field, they contribute to an environment where Jewish professionals feel increasingly unsafe. Their dishonest framing encourages further hostility toward Jews in academia and medicine while absolving those who engage in antisemitic rhetoric of any responsibility.
The attempt to erase antisemitism from the conversation is an all-too-familiar pattern. Jewish communities have long faced dismissal of their concerns by those who seek to rewrite history to fit their ideological agenda. But the truth is undeniable: antisemitism in medicine is real, growing, and must be confronted.
Jewish professionals deserve to work and study in environments free from discrimination and hostility. Attempts to gaslight them into believing otherwise will not succeed. The world is watching, and the truth is clear—no amount of misinformation from Mondoweiss will change that.