By Josh Nathan-Kazis November 6, 2018

A rash of anti-Semitic political advertisements targeted Jewish Democratic elected officials in the wake of the Pittsburgh massacre, according to a report in the Washington Post.

The Post cites advertisements in Connecticut, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania that appear to use anti-Semitic tropes to attack Jewish politicians.

“What’s stunning is that these are old images that are very similar to those from other eras and other places,” Pamela Nadell, director of Jewish studies at American University, told the Post. “But I will say I have not seen images like this in 21st-century America before.”

Antisemitism Notebook

Your weekly guide through the news and the noise of how rising antisemitism and disputes over how to address it are shaping American Jewish life.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Among the advertisements described in the Post story are the attack ad depicting Matt Lesser, a state senate candidate in Connecticut, grasping a wad of cash. The Post also cites an ad attacking a Democratic congressional candidate in Washington state named Kim Schrier, who is Jewish, with an image of cash in her hands.

The advertisements come at a moment of heightened concern over the spread of anti-Semitism, days after the anti-Semitic murder of 11 Jews at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at nathankazis@forward.com or on Twitter, @joshnathankazis

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount