The Elizabeth and Tony Comper Center for Contemporary Anitsemitism at the University of Haifa is dedicated to the research, teaching and promotion of public awareness regarding contemporary forms of Antisemitism. There are 3 pillars to our work. 

Research

The first pillar of this agenda is academic research, which is the core mission of a university research center. The Center’s research will be dedicated to contemporary global antisemitism covering the post-Holocaust to present day,  focusing on the more subtle and complicated form of new antisemitism. Specifically, it will analyze antisemitism in relation to the State of Israel; Soviet antisemitism and contemporary parallels; the current discourse on privilege, power and identity politics, and the schools of thought that generated them – and how these relate specifically to Jews, from both a historical and current perspective. Special attention will be given to contemporary concepts and language of antisemitism (and its definition) which forms the groundwork for, and can make for easier identification of, the manifestation of antisemitism from internet content to academic articles. 

Education

The Center aims to train and teach scholars and students about contemporary forms of antisemitism. Initially, we will support two courses on Antisemitism to be taught in the University of Haifa Israel Studies international program. In the longer term, we hope to develop a full academic track for antisemitism studies with the Israel Department’s MA offering. This will make Haifa university only the second university in the world to offer an MA program in antisemitism studies.  Beyond the university, we envision making the academic research and course material accessible to Israeli students and the broader public through educational programs to be developed by the center.

Public Policy

The final pillar, and an outgrowth of the academic research and education, is public policy. Antisemitism is, unfortunately, a rapidly growing phenomenon and gaining growing public and government attention. While it is to be studied, it is also to be acted upon – and because its shape is developing, there is a need for robust public policy to guide such action. With few academic research centers dedicated to the study of antisemitism, the Center is uniquely placed to take a lead not only in academic research but in public policy as well – specifically in areas where public policy has not been developed relative to antisemitism.