“Never Again!” After Gaza, can it still mean anything?

“Never again” has long been the moral foundation of Holocaust memory, a universal promise against genocide, antisemitism, and persecution. But today the phrase has become contested terrain. Who does it apply to? Only Jews? Or all victims of genocide, wherever they may be? And does using the term genocide diminish the uniqueness of the Holocaust?

Based on decades of historical research, Foa examines how the meaning of “Never again” has evolved over time. She focuses in particular on the present moment, when the word antisemitism is invoked everywhere — from the persistence of anti-Jewish stereotypes in public debate to Israeli authorities and their supporters labeling any criticism of Israel as antisemitic.

But then, what is antisemitism? Who are the antisemites? How does it differ from anti-Zionism? And if antisemitism is indeed everywhere, how can we identify it and confront it? Anna Foa addresses these urgent questions, showing that what we have witnessed in the last two years puts at risk the values built around the memory of the Shoah — and argues that a “Never again” today must be truly universal, affirming the rights, dignity, and humanity of all people, regardless of faith or identity.