Learning Center

Simon Wiesenthal Center Learning Center

Reference guides on extremist symbols and codes, movements and ideologies, conspiracy claims and denial, and the historical record.

Jewish History and Heritage

Jewish History, Heritage, and the Enduring Connection to IsraelJewish history spans thousands of years and many regions, languages, and traditions. This guide introduces that diversity and t...
What Is Zionism? Meaning, Origins, and HistoryZionism is one of the most used and least explained words in public debate. This guide sets out what it means, where it came fr...

Holocaust History and Reference, Key Facts and ContextThis guide offers a clear framework for the Holocaust, the systematic persecution and murder of six million Jews by Nazi German...
Nazi Hunters and Simon Wiesenthal’s LegacyNazi hunters gathered documents, traced fugitives, and pressed governments to act long after official interest faded. This guid...
Nazi Prosecutions and the Ongoing Pursuit of JusticePostwar trials established a legal record of Nazi crimes, but many perpetrators were never prosecuted. This guide covers the ma...
Nazi Ratlines, Escape Routes, and the Pursuit of AccountabilityAfter World War II, overlapping escape networks helped Nazi officials, SS members, collaborators, and other suspects leave Euro...

Historic Hate Tropes, How They Began and ReappearBlood libel, hidden-control myths, dual-loyalty accusations, and claims about Jewish money have shifted across centuries. This ...
Holocaust Denial and Distortion, What It Is and How It SpreadsHolocaust denial rejects the established record. Distortion works differently, by minimizing victims, excusing perpetrators, sh...
September 11 Conspiracy Claims About Jews and Israel, ExaminedFalse claims that Jews or Israel planned, enabled, or celebrated the September 11 attacks reuse older ideas about secret Jewish...

Black Hebrew Israelite Movements, Beliefs, and ContextBlack Hebrew Israelite communities differ widely in belief and practice. This guide explains those differences and why concern ...
Nation of Islam Teachings, Leadership, and Anti-Jewish ClaimsThis guide covers the Nation of Islam's history and teachings, Louis Farrakhan's leadership, and public statements about Jews. ...
White Nationalist Groups, Symbols, and IdeologyWhite nationalist activity spans formal organizations, loose networks, local clubs, online communities, and unaffiliated indivi...
White Supremacist Symbols and Terminology ExplainedWhite supremacist, white nationalist, neo-Nazi, and accelerationist are related terms, but they aren't interchangeable. This gu...

Extremist Symbols and Hate Symbols, What They MeanSymbols don't carry one fixed meaning. This guide covers common extremist symbols, coded numbers, insignia, and tattoos, with t...
How to Recognize Extremist Tattoos and MarkingsTattoos can combine numbers, runes, military insignia, and movement slogans. This guide explains combinations seen in extremist...
Runes, SS Bolts, and Extremist Insignia ExplainedLearn how Nazi organizations and later extremist movements used SS bolts, runes, death-head imagery, and military-style insigni...
What 88, 14/88, and Other Numeric Hate Codes MeanNumbers can be ordinary, personal, or coded. This guide explains why 88, 14, 14/88, and 1488 appear in extremist communication ...

Hate Incident Data, Reporting, and How Harm Is MeasuredHate-crime statistics, civil-rights complaints, community logs, platform reports, and surveys each measure something different....
Online Hate and Media Literacy, How to Recognize Harmful ContentOnline hate can appear as direct abuse, coded symbols, manipulated media, conspiracy claims, or coordinated harassment. This gu...
The IHRA Definition, A Practical Framework for Recognizing HateThe IHRA working definition gives institutions a shared way to examine anti-Jewish hostility. Its examples guide review, but co...