How to choose a destination with low antisemitism: a practical guide

Introduction

In recent years — and especially since October 7 — the world has seen a sharp rise in antisemitism. Incidents against Jews now occur in public spaces, universities, social media and sometimes even as physical attacks. For Jews worldwide, the question “Where can I travel without facing antisemitism?” has become central to planning any trip.

This guide explains how to identify safer destinations, where antisemitism is rising, how to analyze a destination before you travel — and how to use safeforjews.org to make better decisions.

Antisemitism in Europe – a worrying trend

Europe has become a central arena for rising antisemitism in recent years. The reasons are complex and include political radicalization, demographic changes, imported conflicts and online hate that spills into the streets.

Two of the clearest examples are:

🇬🇧 United Kingdom – demographic shifts and political polarization

The UK was once seen as a relatively liberal, comfortable place for Jews. In the last decade, however — and especially since 7/10 — there has been a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents.

Key factors include:

• Significant growth of communities that include strongly anti‐Israel or anti‐Jewish voices in some major cities.
• The strengthening of pro‐Palestinian political and activist movements that sometimes cross the line into antisemitism.
• More frequent harassment on the street, in public transport and on campuses.
• Large demonstrations that sometimes create a threatening atmosphere for Jews.

The UK is not uniformly dangerous, but today it should be treated as a country with heightened caution, especially in certain urban centers.

🇫🇷 France – Europe’s hotspot for antisemitic incidents

France has been struggling with antisemitism for years, and in many metrics it leads Europe in the number and intensity of incidents:

• High‐tension suburbs with repeated antisemitic incidents.
• Attacks in streets, schools and even synagogues.
• Demonstrations that can quickly turn hostile to Jews.
• Many Jews report that they avoid wearing visible Jewish symbols in public.

This does not mean nobody can visit France — but it does mean that for many Jewish travelers, extra caution is required.

How to evaluate if a destination is safer for Jews

Choosing a destination should not rely on guesswork or marketing slogans, but on data and trends. Here are the key elements to check:

1. Official travel advisories

Government travel advisories can offer important signals about terrorism, instability or targeted risks. Even when they are not focused specifically on Jews, they can highlight areas with higher threat levels, civil unrest or extremist activity.

2. Recent news and incident tracking

Don’t rely only on generic travel blogs. Check:

• Local and international news for recent antisemitic incidents.
• Reports from Jewish organizations and community security groups.
• Coverage of protests, attacks or waves of hate crimes.

3. Demographics and radicalization

In some cities or neighborhoods, high concentrations of radicalized groups correlate with more antisemitic incidents. Look for:

• Areas with known extremist organizations or radical preachers.
• Reports of repeated anti‐Jewish demonstrations or slogans.

4. Long‐term trends

Is the country or city becoming safer or more dangerous for Jews over time? A single event can be an outlier; a pattern is what really matters.

5. City‐level differences

A country may be “mixed” overall — but specific cities can be dramatically different. Some urban centers are much more tense, while smaller cities or tourist regions may be calmer and more hospitable.

How safeforjews.org helps you choose safer destinations

The safeforjews.org platform is designed to answer two core questions for Jews everywhere:

• “Where can I travel with less antisemitic risk?”
• “Which countries and cities are currently safer for Jews?”

What makes it powerful:

🔹 Daily data collection from tens of thousands of sources

The system continuously scans news outlets, reports, community updates and open data from around the world, including antisemitic incidents, protests and attacks.

🔹 Deep web and social monitoring

Beyond mainstream media, the platform also tracks signals from social networks, local organizations and community channels to surface early warnings and smaller stories that might not reach global headlines.

🔹 Integration of multiple signals into a single view

Each country and city receives a safety severity level based on:

• Recent incidents and trends.
• Broader security and political context.
• Reports from Jewish communities and trusted sources.

🔹 Global antisemitism map

A visual map makes it easy to see, at a glance, which regions currently look safer and which are trending in a more worrying direction.

🔹 Real‐time incident feed

A live feed shows new reports, allowing travelers and communities to track changes day by day.

🔹 Trends over time

Trend views help you understand whether a place is getting safer, more dangerous or staying stable — crucial when planning trips weeks or months ahead.

Using safeforjews.org to support your decisions

Instead of manually collecting dozens of articles and reports, safeforjews.org centralizes the information and presents it in a structured way. You can:

• Compare different countries and cities by safety severity.
• Check recent incidents before booking.
• Monitor destinations in the weeks leading up to your trip.

The platform is built to support informed decisions — but it does not replace your own judgment or official government guidance.

Important note: The data and analyses on safeforjews.org are generated using AI and multiple external sources. They aim to be as up to date and accurate as possible, but they can never guarantee absolute safety or a complete picture of every situation. Each traveler remains responsible for their own decisions, and should always cross‐check with official advisories and local information.

Practical safety tips for Jewish travelers

Wherever you go, a few practical steps can significantly reduce risk and increase peace of mind:

• Consider when and where to display visible Jewish symbols, especially in areas with known tension.
• Before traveling, locate nearby synagogues, Chabad houses and Jewish organizations that can serve as points of contact.
• During the trip, keep an eye on local news and updates — including through platforms like safeforjews.org.
• Choose accommodation in central, well‐traveled neighborhoods with good transport access.
• Be aware of upcoming demonstrations or politically charged events.
• Avoid heated political debates with strangers, online or in person.
• Keep important documents and emergency contact information accessible.

If you witness or experience antisemitism, documenting it (safely) and sharing information with trusted organizations can help protect others as well.

Conclusion – traveling with open eyes, not with fear

In a world where antisemitism is again on the rise, especially in parts of Europe, choosing a travel destination can no longer be based only on price or scenery. Decisions should be grounded in:

• Reliable data
• Up‐to‐date incident reports
• Long‐term trends
• Local Jewish knowledge

safeforjews.org was built to make this process easier for Jews everywhere by aggregating signals of antisemitism and providing clear, actionable insights. It cannot replace your own judgment, but it can give you a much clearer picture of where it is safer for Jews to travel right now — and help you plan trips that are not only enjoyable, but also more secure.