The Synagogue of Satan Uniting Extremist Groups in the Revival of Antisemitic Libel Online

Key Findings:

During early 2023, the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) published a report examining the targeting of synagogues during the first two months of 2023. Open source intelligence gathering was performed on the proliferation of the “Synagogue of Satan” concept on Twitter to understand the themes and components of the conspiracy and delineate how the term is deployed by the Black Hebrew Israelites, Nation of Islam, QAnon-related groups and white supremacists.

Key Findings:

Mentions of “synagogue” on Twitter have doubled on average since October 2022, with surges in negative sentiment for comments containing the term during the same period.

The “Synagogue of Satan’’ is an antisemitic libel, accounting lately for nearly 20% of all comments mentioning the term “synagogue” on Twitter and is often accompanied by calls for direct action. 

The term has its roots in Christian antisemitic libel and has found purchase across numerous modern conspiracy groups, often depicting Jews as satanic conspirators who seek to control the world. The phrase is derived from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, specifically Revelation 2:9 and 3:9, which portrays Jewish opponents as inauthentic arch-enemies with secret loyalty to the Devil. The term has been used to incite violence against Jews throughout history and shows prominent use by modern extremist Christian nationalists, and it is growing today into a point of common convergence and “bridge building” across extremists groups. This “bridge building” is especially evident online. 

While Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader, has been the most influential account for disseminating the term, controversies involving rapper Kanye West and basketball player Kyrie Irving have revived the trope. QAnon influencers, Christian nationalists, White nationalists, Black Hebrew Israelites, and Nation of Islam accounts all amplify the term and its associated antisemitic narratives.

The study found 33 monitored incidents antisemitic incidents in which Jewish institutions were targeted globally – 12 of which were U.S. synagogues. This marked a 71.4% increase from the seven such incidents involving U.S. synagogues during the corresponding time period the previous year.

NCRI notes a convergence of the same themes around the use of “Synagogue of Satan”: Supersession (Replacement); Secret or Occult Cabals; Apocalyptic Thinking; Calls for Action/Revolution.

It is notable in these cases, from Farrakhan to Flynn, the “Synagogue of Satan” meme often points toward a necessity for insurrection or direct action.