Online slang bible uses ‘grossly offensive’ definition of anti-Semitism
An online slang bible has been accused of using a “grossly offensive” definition of anti-Semitism, claiming that it does not apply to all Jews.
Urban Dictionary is a crowdsourced English-language online dictionary founded in 1999 that allows users to look up slang and non-slang terms.
It is billed as a “people-powered” slang dictionary because it is user-led and content is uploaded by people without moderation.
However, the British Friends of Israel, an organisation set up following the Oct 7 Hamas attack to campaign against anti-Semitism in the UK, has accused the platform of allowing definitions on its website that contravene its User Conduct code, by allowing “activity that violates others’ rights”.
In a letter sent to Urban Dictionary on Monday and seen by The Telegraph, the campaign group warns that it has allowed “grossly antisemitic” and offensive material to be published regarding two definitions.
It added that after its warning if the online site does not investigate and remove the material that it will then be considered the publisher of this material.
‘Totally inaccurate’
The first definition published by Urban Dictionary is that of “antisemitism”. It says: “One of the myths regarding antisemitism that has been perpetrated on the world is that only jews are semites. This is totally inaccurate.
“If one looks into the history of the word ‘semite’, it has to do with a language group and no more. [...] Christianity is a jewish sect.
“Islam is a judaeo-christian religious doctrine and is a continuity and complement of the legacy of semitic monotheism but Zionist propaganda portrays islam as the enemy of judaeo-christianity.”
It continues: “We are in the 21st century of secular values; the colossal zionist propaganda distorts religion with ethnicity, to hide the colonial anachronism.”
In response, the letter states: “This is a deliberate mis-representation of the history of the use of the term ‘antisemite’”, adding that the “reference to ‘the colossal zionist propaganda [sic]’ reveals his intent is to falsify history to erase the identity of the Jewish people.
“These comments are, frankly, lies intended to erase the identity – and the joint identity – of the Jewish people. They are thus a calumny on all Jews.”
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism states that it is “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.
“Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities”.
‘Stepping over corpses’
The second definition that the British Friends of Israel criticised is that of “Israeling”. Urban Dictionary defines this as “a sickly exaggerated desire to have something that belongs to someone else, and that you are ready to steal it by stepping over corpses”.
The campaign group said that this definition “denies the Jewish people their right to self-determination by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour” and that it “uses images associated with classic antisemitism – including alluding to Jews as greedy and willing to steal from others – to characterise Israel and Israelis”.
Laura Dodsworth, a photographer and author, and the director of British Friends of Israel, said: “The Urban Dictionary is a light-hearted website, but nevertheless, it must be very depressing for Jews to read these unpleasant and dangerous tropes being repeated, especially to what is likely to be a younger and sometimes impressionable audience. The definition of ‘anti-Semitism’ has a pseudo-academic quality that might mislead people. Our letter debunks its falsehoods.
“Decent people don’t want to see racism and lies perpetuated against a religious minority,” she said, adding: “The Urban Dictionary is responsible for publishing historically inaccurate lies which are intended by the contributor(s) to erase the identity of the Jewish people and reinforce conspiracy theories. The definition of ‘Israeling’ is a racist demonisation of Jews.”
According to the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors anti-Semitic incidents in the UK, in the 68 days between the Oct 7 Hamas attack and Dec 13 it recorded at least 2,093 anti-Semitic incidents across the UK.
Three people were attacked in Leicester Square, London, “for being Jewish” in the early hours of Sunday morning after they were overheard “speaking Hebrew”.
The three victims, all in their 20s, were enjoying a night out when they were attacked by a group of men.
A 28-year-old woman, Tehilla, told The Telegraph she was “physically attacked” and called the Metropolitan Police 10 times “afraid she was going to die” but that police did not attend.
Urban Dictionary was contacted for comment.
