Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations

Mass murders, vandalism, social media abuse, propaganda, assault – by virtually every yardstick, antisemitism in the U.S. and Europe is rising and worsening in ways not seen since the 1930s.

Like a virus, it mutates and evolves across cultures, borders and ideologies, making it all but impossible to stop. Filmmaker Andrew Goldberg explores its infectious behavior in his film Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations premiering Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Written, produced and directed by Goldberg, and produced and edited by Diana Robinson, the 90-minute documentary -which had a short theatrical release earlier this year – visits four countries to speak first hand with victims, witnesses and anti-Semites. Interviewees include: Fomer US President Bill Clinton, Former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, Journalists Fareed Zakaria and George Will, and Professor Deborah Lipstadt. The film is narrated in part by Julianna Margulies.

Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations examines the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and the rise of anti-semitism on the far right. In Hungary, it looks at how Prime Minister Viktor Orbán launched a massive campaign reminiscent of Nazi propaganda against Jewish billionaire George Soros. In England, members of the traditionally anti-racist, far-left Labour party conflate Israel and Jews with antisemitic vitriol, causing tremendous pain for the Jewish community. And in France, the film illuminates the seemingly endless wave of violence against Jews by Islamists and radicals.