Atlantic’s Yair Rosenberg Warns: Antisemitism Surging Among Young North Americans At Kanee Distinguished Lecture

The Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada’s 19th annual Sol & Florence Kanee Distinguished Lecture, held Wednesday night at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, drew a packed audience to hear Yair Rosenberg, acclaimed staff writer at The Atlantic, deliver a sobering warning: antisemitism is not only back, it’s growing, especially among young North Americans.

“It’s not in your head,” Rosenberg told the crowd, underscoring that Jews are facing a new reality of hostility and suspicion. Citing recent research, he revealed that 27% of Americans in their 20s now hold unfavorable views of Jews, compared to less than 5% among those over 60. In Canada, those aged 18-34 are twice as likely to harbor negative opinions about Jews as those over 50.

Rosenberg attributed this surge to vanishing Holocaust memory and the viral spread of anti-Jewish conspiracy theories on social media, which he called a “perfect breeding ground for conspiracies.” With 85% of Gen Z Canadians getting their news from social media, and nearly half trusting it more than traditional media, classic antisemitic tropes are being recycled and amplified to a new generation.

He also highlighted the collapse of consensus around Israel, noting that negative views of the Jewish state are on the rise and that Jews worldwide are increasingly blamed for the actions of Israel’s government. “We are returning to the state of affairs that existed before the Holocaust,” Rosenberg warned, urging Jews to be more visible, to share their stories, and to build bridges outside the community.

The event, the Centre’s only annual fundraiser, ended with a call for Jewish pride, education, and activism in the face of mounting threats. As antisemitism and anti-Zionism surge, Rosenberg’s message was clear: the Jewish community must not be silent, and must never back down.