Jewish Community in Wausau Seeing an Increase in Antisemitic Sentiment

Wednesday, June 5th, 2024 -- 11:00 AM

(Shereen Siewert, Wisconsin Public Radio) Amid a backdrop of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and rising antisemitic sentiment, Wausau is among the many Wisconsin communities in which flyers that denigrate Jews are being circulated, prompting members of one Jewish synagogue to explore ways to keep their congregation safe.

According to Shereen Siewert with Wisconsin Public Radio, advocacy groups say antisemitic incidents ranging from violent online messages to physical assaults, bomb threats and vandalism have increased exponentially since October, when war broke out in the Middle East.

The most recent spike far exceeded any other tally in the past 45 years, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Because of the potential for violence, leaders at Mount Sinai Congregation have been in close contact with the police and FBI agents who monitor social media to scan for red flags.

Ed Miller, a retired political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, is part of the congregation at Mount Sinai, which serves the Jewish population in Wausau and surrounding communities.  

“The FBI has been involved in relaying information to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, anything they hear about concerns or problems that could occur,” Miller said in a conversation with WPR’s Shereen Siewert. “It has been a problem and is of great concern to the congregation.”

The flyers distributed in Wausau bear Jewish hate speech and falsely claim the public health response to COVID-19 is being orchestrated by a “Jewish agenda.” Today, some Mount Sinai Congregation members are hesitant to put their Jewish faith on display, no longer placing menorahs in their windows during Hanukkah or wearing traditional clothing in public.

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