A record number of antisemitic incidents were recorded in the United States last year, breaking the previous record set just the year before, according to an annual report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The alarming findings were outlined by ADL leaders March 23 during a virtual program on the report, which documented 3,697 antisemitic incidents in 2022, more than in any year since the ADL began tracking the issue in 1979.
Incidents took place in all 50 states, but five states with large Jewish populations recorded 54% all of incidents: New York led with 580; followed by California, 518; New Jersey, 408; Florida, 269 and Texas, 211. A majority targeted the Orthodox because they are the most identifiably Jewish.
“Antisemitic incidents registered a record high against virtually every watermark we monitor—assault, harassment and vandalism,” said Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president of ADL’s southern division. “This is the third time in the last five years this has been the highest number ever recorded.”
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt cited the ominous recent trend as “indicative of the fact this problem is growing, not going away. ” He called it “mind-boggling” that over the last decade antisemitic incidents have jumped by 500% and that “normalization” of antisemitic ideas and anti-Jewish tropes and conspiracy theories have spread across social media, contributing to antisemitic attitudes among Americans rising to their highest levels in 30 years, which Greenblatt labeled “a toxic combination.” He added that the high number of attacks on the Orthodox was an “extraordinary” occurrence since their numbers are smaller within the Jewish community as a whole.
New York and New Jersey Regional Director Scott Richman said his area’s combined total accounted for an “incredible” 27% all incidents nationally, the highest number ever tallied in the region and a 25% increase over 2021. He noted some of the most “heinous” and “truly horrific” acts and assaults recorded were committed in New York and New Jersey. Moreover, not only were 73% of the assaults recorded in the U.S. in the two states, but of the 83 counties there, nearly half of all incidents took place in just five—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Ocean, Bergen and Monmouth, all of which have significant Orthodox populations. Two-thirds of the New York incidents were in New York City, with Manhattan topping the five boroughs. In New Jersey, Ocean County, which saw a 30% increase, toppled Bergen from its previous position leading the state in incidents. They were followed by Monmouth, Middlesex and Essex counties.
To combat the increase, Richman said the ADL has worked to build a relationship with the chasidic and charedi communities to gather data and help build a more effective response.
“There are over 2.3 million Jews in New York and New Jersey,” said Richman. “These communities are vibrant and growing and are not defined by antisemitism. They are very concerned. The shocking number of incidents, the dramatic rise from the year before and the assaults leave people fearful and angry.”
Although the majority of incidents nationally took place in the public space, the largest rise was directed at homes, which saw a 140% hike, largely attributable to “white supremacist propaganda distributions.” The “massive” uptick in antisemitic propaganda by these hate groups was led by the Goyim Defense League, which has significant crossover with other such groups, according to Emily Snider, an antisemitic-incident specialist at the ADL’s Center on Extremism. These right-wing groups employ flyers, posters and other means to share their views, blaming Jews for everything from immigration and pornography to abortion.When the singer formerly known as Kanye West praised Hitler and posted conspiracy theories about Jews, he promoted antisemitism globally.
“Remember Kanye West has more followers on Twitter than there are Jews on the planet,” said Snider, adding that his posts triggered an explosion of antisemitic rhetoric and numerous cases of harassment, vandalism and assault. Promotion of an antisemitic movie by former Brooklyn Nets player Kyrie Irving likewise resulted in similar harassment and antisemitic propaganda, vandalism and harassment, she said.
Greenblatt explained the sharp increase in all types of incidents was “notably driven” not only by white supremacists, but also by the propagation of anti-Zionism. A jump in incidents tended to correlate to news events such as the Israeli war with Hamas, or when celebrities like West spewed “vile antisemitic conspiracy theories” to millions of their followers. Although the hostage situation in January at the synagogue Colleyville, Texas, stands out as the most harrowing incident, attacks on Jewish institutions—schools, synagogues and JCCs—are also on the rise.
“The fact that Jewish people aren’t safe in the places where we pray, in the locations where we convene together as a community, it’s absolutely unacceptable,” said Greenblatt, who called on congressional leaders to increase funding for security grants for nonprofits and faith-based entities and for training local and state law enforcement.
According to Greenblatt, college campuses have also seen “dramatically” spiking antisemitic incidents over the last several years, much related to the Boycott Divestment Sanction (BDS) campaign against Israel.
“Describing Zionism as racism, settler colonialism, white supremacy—it would be laughable if it wasn’t so detestable,” he stated, sympathizing with Jewish students subjected to such propaganda sanctioned by their colleges or universities, who are increasingly targets of intentional marginalization and a “concerted campaign to intimidate them in all spaces.”
Greenblatt said the ADL is demanding college administrators speak out and incorporate antisemitism in all its forms, including anti-Zionism, into their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) programs and called out those who don’t as “pathetic” and “insufficient.”
Anti-Zionism is antisemitism, said Greenblatt, adding, “If you are assaulting a Jewish person while decrying Israel, that isn’t critique. That is hate.”
The hate is coming from both the right and left and Greenblatt said it is imperative all of the ADL’s partners, lawmakers and allied organizations act on the report’s findings and use their bully pulpits to speak out for law enforcement to be properly trained to respond and for university leaders to respond forcefully to all antisemitic acts. In the end, Greenblatt downplayed fears expressed by some that the U.S. is no longer a safe haven for Jews and urged the Jewish community to get involved with the ADL and similar groups, synagogues and other institutions, ensuring businesses and campuses do DEI training and seeing that schools offer anti-bias training.
“I understand people’s anxiety,” he said. “I feel it too. I deal with this every day and when people ask me where should we go, what I tell them is that they should go to work because democracy is a contact sport. You’ve got to get on the field and everyone has a role to play. This is the greatest democracy I think of all humanity… The privileges and freedoms it has given to Jews and other minorities are without precedent. It’s a remarkable work in progress and we’ve got to fight for what we have.”
Snider urged the community to view the numbers as “a call to action” and “to be proud of our Jewish identity” and not hide in fear because by doing that “the haters win.”
Those who have experienced or witnessed antisemitism, hate, extremism, bias or bigotry should report it at adl.org/report or contact their local regional office.
By Debra Rubin
