Physical activity barriers and facilitators in patients awaiting spine surgery: A qualitative study.

“If we want to fight antisemitism, let us walk tall and proud as Jews, and let us work with all humanity to banish hatred forever.” Graduating physicians take oaths to respect sanctity of life, bring humility, and enter a covenant of service. All health profession trainees are trained to adhere to professional ethics charters. These oaths and charters are challenged by contradictions posed by antisemitism in healthcare, particularly its educational component, which surged after the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The moral imperative to counter antisemitism in medicine is inclusive of medical education and professional conduct. Advocacy against hate is a core component of medical professionalism. The health professions have challenged past and ongoing injustices. Antisemitism is no exception and deserves attention—there is work to be done in countering all forms of discrimination. This includes antisemitism in the health professions, albeit challenging as an under-recognized prejudice and because antisemitism has adapted over the millennia, leading to its label as a “mutating virus” that constantly changes its structure. The history of this virus through the millennia, adapting to the zeitgeist, includes hate on religious grounds, then shifting to racial hate (leading to the horror of the Holocaust), and then to anti-Israel hate/demonization or an anti-Zionist form. Elie Wiesel taught about harm of bystander silence, of the inherent complicity. Antisemitism is often described as a “canary in the coal mine,” a predictor of wider societal decay and bigotry. Attitudes and behavior not tolerated for other groups, therefore, cannot be tolerated for Jews. We identified the need for a narrative review given the above and this international and inter-professional issue not being extensively described. Federal investigations into antisemitic harassment constituting hostile learning environments in medical schools, have recently been initiated in the United States (US) as well as investigations of rampant antisemitism within a national psychological association. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics showed a 5.8% increase in hate crimes in 2024 versus 2023 against Jews, the highest number or percent yearly increase recorded. Religion-related hate crimes in the US disproportionately impact Jews (2% of the population), representing 16% of reported hate crimes and 70% of religion-based 2024 hate crimes. While Jews make up approximately 10% of the population of New York City, >50% of hate crimes were committed against Jews in the first quarter of 2026. In a US Jewish community 2025 survey, 55% had experienced at least one form of antisemitism in the last 12 months, antisemitism had become a “normal Jewish experience” for 57%, while 79% expressed concerns about antisemitism, and 48% reported having taken actions to increase personal security and safety. In Europe and Australia, since October 7, 2023, there has been a 400% rise in hate incidents and violence targeting Jews. The United Kingdom (UK) Community Security Trust reported a 324% increase in antisemitic incidents between October 7 and 10, 2023 versus the same period the year before and a 413% increase in incidents in universities in the year following the Hamas October 7, 2023 atrocities.