Please share a bit about yourself and what led you to where you are today.
My name is Egor Abakshin. I’m 22 years old, and I came to Israel two years ago with my wife. We’re both from Russia. We decided to move because of the government’s actions against Ukraine and against Russian people who refuse to stay silent. Now we’re studying Linguistics at Bar-Ilan University, and for the first time, we truly feel free and at peace here.
How did you first hear about Fighting Online Antisemitism, and what made you decide to get involved?
I heard about FOA from a friend at the university. She told me about the organization, and I was really surprised that such an organization exists — and even more surprised to learn how widespread antisemitism on social media actually is. I always knew antisemitism existed, but I thought it was limited to a small group of angry people who believe in aliens and conspiracy theories. But when I started reading through posts and comments, I was shocked by how much antisemitic content there is — and how popular it is.
What does your day-to-day work as a volunteer on the monitoring team look like?
I work and study almost every day, so I usually monitor social media while commuting or whenever I have time at home. Thank God I have a pretty stable mental state, because sometimes the amount — or even the nature — of the content can be overwhelming.
What motivates you personally to dedicate time and energy to reporting antisemitic content online?
Honestly, I’m not Jewish, but my wife is — though that’s not the main reason. I’ve been living in Israel for two years, and I’ve met so many interesting, kind, and supportive people from different countries and cultures. This experience helped me understand that these people don’t deserve the hatred directed at their roots, history, and heritage. That’s exactly why I put in the effort to fight against it.
Before joining FOA, how familiar were you with antisemitism and the ways it spreads online?
Not familiar at all. I didn’t really understand what was happening around this topic. As I said, I was completely shocked — and maybe even frustrated — when I realized it’s a serious issue with many followers and people who genuinely agree with these ideas.
Since joining, what has surprised you most about the patterns of hate you encounter online?
Sometimes it’s the cruelty of the words or images that promote violence against Jews. Other times, it’s the sheer ignorance — for example, people claiming the Holocaust wasn’t real or even saying that Hitler was “saving” Jews, and that there were cinemas, pools, and restaurants with the best food. It’s absolute madness.
What is the most difficult part of this work for you, and how do you cope with it?
This work is not as difficult for me as it is for my wife, because she is more emotional and sometimes genuinely scared. As a Jew, she fears that someone might move from hate speech to real action. As for me, I try to look at it as an issue that must be tackled. At the very least, we should limit the space available for such people and stop the spread of hate across the internet.
What do you hope will change in the online space in the coming years when it comes to antisemitism and hate speech?
I hope people will become more skeptical and value critical thinking more. In my opinion, hatred — especially blind hatred toward others, regardless of race, religion, or nationality — is more common among narrow-minded individuals. When you’re truly intelligent, you’re not interested in wasting your time or your life on something as destructive as hate.
What message would you like to share with people — from any background — about why this work matters and how they can take part?
This work is extremely important today, especially because children are exposed to technology and social media at such a young age. It’s in our hands to protect them from harmful content online. Honestly, I believe organizations monitoring hate speech should exist worldwide, with different subdivisions focusing on antisemitism, racism, and other forms of hate, in order to protect people and their rights online so they can feel safe.
This kind of work is especially crucial now, at a time when AI can generate fake images, videos, and misinformation. As for regular users, I would say this: if you see something disturbing or offensive — whether it’s racism, antisemitism, or anything similar — don’t just scroll past it. You can always help make the internet a more tolerant and safe place simply by reporting the post or video.