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How is antisemitism different from anti-Judaism?

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Antisemitism demonstration in Paris — antisemitism Demonstrators protesting antisemitism during a silent march in Paris. The march commemorated Mireille Knoll, a Jewish woman who had survived the Holocaust and was murdered in her home on March 23, 2018, in what authorities called a hate crime.

While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they represent distinct forms of hostility toward Jews.

Anti-Judaism refers to opposition or hostility specifically directed at the religion of Judaism or its beliefs and practices. Historically, this was often rooted in religious rivalry, such as the theological conflicts between early Christianity and Judaism, where Jews were criticized for their refusal to accept Christian doctrine.12

Antisemitism, by contrast, is a broader term for hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a people. While it has historical roots in religious prejudice, the term gained prominence in the 19th century alongside the rise of scientific racism. This modern form of antisemitism shifted from targeting Jewish religious identity to targeting Jews based on perceived biological or racial characteristics. This racist dimension—most infamously exemplified by Nazi ideology—asserted that Jews were inherently inferior or a threat, regardless of their religious practice or conversion status.34

In essence, anti-Judaism is primarily a religious critique, whereas antisemitism evolved into a systemic, often racialized, prejudice against Jewish people.23