The Anti-Defamation League recorded over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the US this past year, a 200% increase from previous years. A significant portion of these incidents, about 1,200, happened on college campuses, marking a 500% increase compared to the same period the year before. The surge in antisemitic attacks is attributed to a rise in hate crimes following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel, which was noted as the deadliest act against Jews since the Holocaust.
Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the ADL, expressed deep concern over the rise in antisemitic incidents, especially in the wake of the tragic events of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. He highlighted the constant threats faced by Jewish Americans and the increase in calls for violence against Jews and Israelis. The uptick in antisemitic attacks has put Jewish communities on high alert for potential threats and terror attacks, particularly around the one-year anniversary of the Israel massacre.
The ADL reported that the number of antisemitic incidents in the past year far exceeded any previous counts since the organization began tracking such data. The tally of over 10,000 incidents is significantly higher than the 3,325 incidents recorded in the same period the year before, and it is expected to increase even further as more reports are finalized. A large portion of these incidents, over 2,000, occurred at Jewish institutions like synagogues, with many involving bomb threats and other violent threats.
The surge in antisemitic acts included various forms of harassment, vandalism, and physical attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions. Verbal and written harassment accounted for over 8,015 incidents, while there were 1,840 reports of vandalism and more than 150 physical assaults. The ADL also noted a concerning trend of antisemitic expressions at anti-Israel rallies, where there were explicit displays of support for terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and others.
In response to the rise in antisemitic incidents, cities like New York are preparing for potential hate crimes and unrests, particularly around planned anti-Israel protests. An anti-Israel “Week of Rage” is scheduled to take place on college campuses across the US, raising concerns about further escalating tensions and hostilities toward Jewish communities. The ADL and other organizations are working to address and combat antisemitism, but the increasing frequency of these hate crimes underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Jewish Americans in today’s society.
