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Anti-Semitism Map: AI Website Helps Jewish Travelers Avoid Trouble. Albania Among the Safest Countries

2026-08-12 21:35:14Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

By Zev Stub – Times of Israel

Safe for Jews uses artificial intelligence, official announcements and other sources to rate countries and cities for travelers who want to avoid harassment or violence. Albania, Bolivia and Cambodia rank among the least dangerous countries.

A year ago, Shay Yaish quit his tech job with the intention of launching a new startup on his own. Frustrated by his inability to come up with an idea for his venture, he told his wife that he needed a break to think. And that's when the idea came to him.

“With all the anti-Semitism that exists around the world, we started looking for safe places for us Israelis to visit,” he said. “And then I thought: Why isn’t there a website where I can easily find this information?”

That idea led Yaish to create “Safe for Jews,” a website in Hebrew and English that uses artificial intelligence, official government travel advisories and community reports to assess the relative safety of countries and cities for Jewish travelers. He said hundreds of people now visit the site every day for help deciding where to vacation.

Traveling as a Jew, especially when it is visible, has always been problematic in some parts of the world. The rise in global anti-Semitism following the attacks of October 7, 2023, and international outrage over Israel's response to Gaza appear to have reduced the number of places where Jews from Israel or elsewhere can expect to feel sufficiently safe from anti-Semitic attacks or harassment.

Many travelers now think twice before traveling to parts of the world where anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli sentiments are particularly strong, or at least make sure to hide any outward symbols that might indicate they are Jewish.

“When I first created this page, I thought that hating Israel would just be a temporary fad,” Yaish said. “I never imagined that it would still be like this today.”

Yaish, 34, was born in Tiberias and now lives in Pardes Hanna. He described himself as a “natural developer,” having been programming since he was 16. He developed “Safe for Jews” with the help of artificial intelligence tools and uses AI to update the site with news about anti-Semitic incidents.

The site also relies on official Israeli travel advice for various countries, which are not always based on anti-Semitic attitudes or threats against Jews, as well as reports submitted by site users, to create a travel advisory and a summary of relevant information for travelers.

“It's not just about the question 'is this place safe?' but 'what's happening in the specific region I'm planning to visit and what kind of incidents have been reported there recently?'” Yaish said.

Everything is compiled automatically using AI, Yaish said, though he checks the information every few days to make sure it looks accurate. Because the site relies on artificial intelligence and reports gathered from the internet, its advice isn't always up-to-date or based on rigorous research. The site advises users not to rely solely on its advice.

“We have a statement on the site reminding users that this is not an official rating and that we are not responsible for decisions made using the site,” Yaish stressed. “People should do their own research and use their own judgment.”

The list of safe places for Jews to visit has shrunk over time, the site shows. Among the countries with the highest safety ratings are Eastern European countries, such as the Czech Republic, Albania, Lithuania and Belarus; South American countries, such as Bolivia, Paraguay and Ecuador; and Far Eastern countries, such as Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Nepal, Iceland and Cyprus are also classified as safe countries, as are remote and exotic destinations such as the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau and Tuvalu.

"There are a lot of places that people haven't heard of," Yaish admitted.

Many common destinations, such as the United States, Australia and most of Europe, are classified on the website as "caution", with a note that "Jewish/Israeli symbols should be kept to a minimum".

Other countries where more pronounced anti-Semitic activities have been noted, including Spain, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Russia, have been marked as "warning", with a reminder to remain vigilant and avoid identifying as Jewish or Israeli.

A number of predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, Afghanistan and Egypt, have been classified as "dangerous".

Yaish said the different levels are intended to reflect the ever-changing realities on the ground and the complex tensions that many Jews experience when traveling.

“I have friends who might feel comfortable saying they are Israeli when they are in Cyprus, but if they are, for example, in Spain, they try to hide their identity,” Yaish said. “It depends on the country and their comfort level.”

Yaish currently makes no money from the site, which was launched a year ago. In the future, he hopes to expand it into a hub where Jewish travelers can find Jewish-friendly hotels, kosher restaurants, and other resources that meet their specific needs.

But for now, navigating Jewish travelers through the chaos of global anti-Semitism is quite challenging.

“Things are really confusing right now for Israelis who want to travel,” Yaish said. “People just want to understand where they can go without taking on a risk.”


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