Simon Wiesenthal Center

Three decades. Different audiences. An evolving war on western minds. The Simon Wiesenthal Center's new report, The War for Western Minds, examines how Iran has used antisemitic conspiracy theories to exploit divisions across Western societies. The findings trace an influence infrastructure that predates social media, messaging tailored to opposing political movements, and narratives that can continue spreading long after their initial introduction. Swipe through three key findings and see how Iran uses antisemitic lies and conspiracy theories to spread hate and weaken democracies around the world. Read the full report at the link in bio.

Eight years ago, on October 27, 2018, the Jewish community of Pittsburgh experienced the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history when a gunman opened fire inside the Tree of Life synagogue building, murdering 11 innocent worshippers and wounding six others. What should have been a peaceful Shabbat morning became a day of unimaginable tragedy, forever changing the lives of the victims’ families, survivors, and the entire Jewish community. Today, the Simon Wiesenthal Center honors the memory of the 11 lives stolen by hatred and stands in solidarity with the Pittsburgh community. Their memory serves as a solemn reminder of the devastating consequences of antisemitism and the urgent responsibility we share to confront it wherever it emerges. Eight years later, we remember. We mourn. And we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to combating antisemitism and ensuring that Jewish communities can worship and live without fear. May their memories forever be a blessing.

For decades, the Iranian regime has sought to influence American public opinion, spread antisemitism, and deepen divisions across the political spectrum. The Simon Wiesenthal Center's Erik Simon joined @foxla to discuss our new groundbreaking report, The War for Western Minds, which exposes the Iranian regime's use of disinformation and influence operations to manipulate public discourse and undermine American society from within. The interview examines how these tactics have evolved over time, the antisemitic narratives being amplified, and why understanding the scope of this campaign is critical to recognizing and confronting its influence today. Thank you to FOX 11 Los Angeles for spotlighting this important research and bringing greater attention to the threats identified in our report. Watch the full FOX 11 segment and download the full report for yourself at the link in our bio.

Iran’s campaign of influence is not confined to the Middle East. It is reaching into the heart of American society. Our new groundbreaking report, The War on Western Minds, exposes how the Iranian regime has spent three decades spreading antisemitism, manipulating public opinion, and exploiting divisions within the United States. The findings are now getting national attention. In @jns_org, Aaron Bandler speaks with our Head of North American Advocacy, Vlad Khaykin, about how Tehran uses “asymmetric warfare,” including propaganda networks, alternative media, and online influencers, to cast Jews as a scapegoat and sow division. On @knxnews, Emily Valdez reports on Iran’s decades-long effort to divide America from within. And in the latest episode of CUFI Weekly, (TAGGED) Kasim examines how Iran’s influence operations seek to infiltrate public discourse, amplify antisemitic narratives, and undermine American society. We thank JNS, KNX News, and @christiansunitedforisrael Weekly for helping to bring attention to our findings. The threat demands awareness, vigilance, and action. Read, listen, watch, and download the full report at the links in our bio.

How does Iran use antisemitism to manipulate people on opposite ends of the political spectrum? A new Simon Wiesenthal Center report reveals how Iran has spent more than three decades adapting antisemitic conspiracy theories for different audiences, exploiting existing grievances, and spreading distrust across political and ideological lines. From Holocaust-denial conferences and state-backed media to fabricated news websites and fake social media accounts, the tactics have evolved, but the objective remains: weakening the institutions and shared trust that hold societies together. The Jerusalem Post explores these findings in its latest coverage of The War for Western Minds. Read the article through the link in our bio.

A campaign more than 30 years in the making. The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s groundbreaking new investigation, The War for Western Minds: Iran’s Thirty-Year Campaign to Divide America, reveals how Iran has built and adapted an influence infrastructure targeting the U.S. and its allies, exploiting existing divisions and using antisemitism as a tool to reach audiences across the political spectrum. From conferences and state media to fake American news sites, fabricated personas and AI-assisted content, the tactics have changed. The mission behind them has endured. For SWC, exposing antisemitism means exposing the forces that weaponize it. Read the full report at the link in bio.

Statement from Jim Berk, CEO, Simon Wiesenthal Center “The United Nations rose from the ashes of the Holocaust, built on the promise that human dignity and fundamental rights would never again be denied to any people. For Jews, that promise was not abstract, it was a lifeline, a vow that their suffering would not be repeated or forgotten. The memory of the 2001 Durban conference lingers like a bruise. What was meant to be a gathering against racism became, for Jews, a stage for old hatreds in new disguise. Jewish participants faced harassment, and antisemitic conspiracies found fertile ground. The promise of solidarity was overshadowed by hostility toward Israel and Zionism. Twenty-five years later, that history cannot simply be set aside. The struggle against racism loses its soul when it turns a blind eye to antisemitism. It is not enough for international bodies to denounce hatred in the abstract; they must have the courage to confront it when it festers in their own halls. The Simon Wiesenthal Center calls on the UN to reckon honestly with the antisemitic legacy of Durban and to ensure that its anti-racism efforts shield Jewish communities with the same vigilance and resolve shown to all others. Any institution that claims to fight racism must be willing to face the antisemitism woven into its own story. If it cannot, its promise of universal human rights rings hollow.”

Three years later, we remember. Together. 🕯️ On the third anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks, members of the Chicago-area Jewish community gathered in Deerfield, Illinois, to honor the lives lost and stand together in remembrance. SWC Midwest Regional Director Alison Pure-Slovin joined the commemoration, which featured “Unbroken: Israeli Sports in Times of War,” an exhibition sharing the stories of Israeli athletes and sports fans affected by October 7 and the war that followed. Thank you to our partners at StandWithUs and Consul General Elad Strohmayer for joining the community in remembrance and solidarity. Three years later, their stories remain with us. We will never forget.

As Yom Kippur begins, we join Jewish communities around the world in a time of prayer, reflection, repentance and renewal. May this sacred day offer an opportunity to reflect on the year behind us and look toward the year ahead with renewed purpose, while remembering the enduring strength of the Jewish people and the importance of standing together. From all of us at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, we wish those observing a meaningful fast. G’mar Chatima Tova. May you be sealed in the Book of Life.

Today, we mark the yahrzeit of Simon Wiesenthal and reflect on the enduring legacy of the man whose name the Simon Wiesenthal Center proudly carries. After surviving Nazi persecution and liberation from Mauthausen in 1945, Wiesenthal dedicated the decades that followed to documenting Nazi crimes and helping bring perpetrators to justice. His persistence provided critical leads in cases involving Adolf Eichmann, Franz Stangl, Karl Silberbauer and others. His work demonstrated the importance of persistence, documentation and accountability in confronting hatred and preserving the truth of the Holocaust. That legacy remains at the heart of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s work today. Our ongoing efforts surrounding the Credit Suisse case and its historical connections to Nazi-linked accounts and assets reflect the same determination to uncover the truth and pursue accountability, no matter how much time has passed. It is a reminder of a principle that continues to guide our work: justice has no expiration date. As we remember Simon Wiesenthal, we recommit ourselves to carrying forward the pursuit of justice that defined his life and to standing against antisemitism and all forms of hate.

Come with me to the VIP reception of the TIFF world premier of Our Loves - by Israeli filmmaker Avi Nesher #tiff2026 #tiff

On this day, September 15, 1935, Nazi Germany enacted the Nuremberg Laws, transforming antisemitic ideology into state policy. The laws stripped German Jews of citizenship, prohibited marriage and sexual relations between Jews and people classified as “German or related blood,” and established racial definitions used to determine who the Nazi regime considered Jewish. The accompanying photograph, on display at the Center for Studies of the Holocaust and Religious Minorities in Oslo, Norway, documents this history and serves as a reminder that the Holocaust did not begin with mass murder. It was preceded by years of laws, propaganda, and systematic efforts to isolate Jews from society and deprive them of their rights. The Simon Wiesenthal Center preserves and teaches this history so future generations understand why antisemitism and discrimination must be confronted before it escalates.

Israeli Film OUR LOVES by acclaimed filmmaker Avi Nesher premieres at TIFF to a thunderous response despite calls for a boycott. Moriah Media, the Academy Award-winning storytelling arm of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, proudly joined other distinguished entertainment companies in ensuring that acclaimed Israeli filmmaker Avi Nesher’s compelling new film, OUR LOVES, was presented to a global audience with its world premiere this past opening weekend at the Toronto International Film Festival. The response spoke for itself: a sustained standing ovation from a sold-out theater and warm reviews for a deeply moving story about five lives forever changed by the events of October 7. At a time when there are growing efforts to exclude Israeli artists and stories from the international cultural stage, Moriah Media will not stand idly by and allow Israeli films and filmmakers to be blocked from participating in the world’s great festivals. SWC CEO Jim Berk, CFO Sheldon Rabinowitz, and Trustee Fernando Swez joined acclaimed Israeli filmmaker Avi Nesher, the cast, and fellow supporters for the world premiere. Through feature films and television series, Moriah Media is committed to creating and supporting mission-aligned entertainment that humanizes, informs, and celebrates the Jewish experience. Photo Credit: Pavlotski Productions

As Jewish New Yorkers observe the High Holidays, the ability to gather, worship, and celebrate safely remains a critical priority. Madison Mounty, SWC’s Director of Government Relations and Advocacy, Northeast, joined Governor Kathy Hochul as she outlined efforts to strengthen security across New York, including an increased State Police presence at religious sites through Yom Kippur. Through advocacy and partnership with government and community leaders, SWC continues working to protect Jewish institutions, confront antisemitism and help keep our communities safe.