The exploding wave of antisemitism that has spread across New Jersey and other states has resulted in a sharp increase in antisemitic harassment, intimidation and violence that has “deeply alarmed” the federal Department of Justice (DOJ).

With the number of incidents rising since the Oct. 7 Israel-Hamas War began, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said, “We know those numbers are low because so many go unreported.”

He made his remarks Feb 27 during a virtual program sponsored by the DOJ and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, “United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting, Preventing Hate Crimes and Discrimination.”

In particular, the number of incidents taking place on college campuses and schools is “quite concerning,” said Sellinger who also noted “antisemitic hate crimes will not be tolerated” by law enforcement officials.

He cited the vigorous response to attacks on the Orthodox community in Lakewood and various investigations and prosecutions undertaken by police, the FBI and federal agencies in Newark, Teaneck and elsewhere. The FBI recently launched a national anti-hate crimes campaign.

Backing up Sellinger’s concerns about the surging antisemitism was Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, administrator of Rutgers Chabad, who said, “Rutgers has really become a different place for Jewish students in the last few months.”

He reported fearful students have taken off their Magen Davids and yarmulkes to hide their Jewish identity and have been harassed and spit on. Students have taken to “ literally sheltering” in Chabad on College Avenue on the university’s New Brunswick campus.

“There’s nothing we can tell students when there are 200 students outside yelling ‘Intifada, Intifada, Intifada,’” said Rabbi Carlebach. “It disrupts everyone’s daily life. Students have been made to feel very afraid.”

He said while pro-Palestinian students have a First Amendment right to free speech, he questioned when it crossed the line. Rabbi Carlebach said at Chabad they are searching for ways to make students feel safe, and while campus and state law enforcement have been responsive, the administration has been somewhat less so.

Rutgers had suspended Students for Justice in Palestine for one month for violating campus policy. The group has been reinstated, but is under a one- year probationary period.

Lyndsay Ruotolo, first assistant New Jersey attorney general, said there is “a sense of urgency “ to stem the hate “our youngest New Jerseyans” have been subjected to.

“Simply put, hate and bias is infecting our communities in ways we’ve never seen in our lifetime,” she said, and emphasized she wanted to make it “crystal clear that hate has no place in New Jersey.”

Naomi Knopf, chief impact officer of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, said one of the overriding concerns she hears from people is the disappointment they feel toward their neighbors, communities and schools, who many believe have abandoned them since the war.

“They are afraid to wear their kippahs or Jewish stars,” she said. “They are reporting swastikas. It’s not out of the norm anymore to see swastikas in schools. They’re seeing antisemitic posters around town.”

Additionally, students don’t understand why they are hearing antisemitism from classmates and witnessing hateful rallies in towns like Teaneck with large Jewish populations “with people yelling all sorts of racist language.”

Knopf said the community seems to feel that even reporting such incidents has less impact than it does for other communities.

“It makes our community feel unseen and it makes our community feel unprotected,” she said. “They report to us but they don’t report to authorities because they don’t think anyone cares.”

The fight against antisemitic incidents and hate crimes has become a “core objective” of the DOJ, said Jonathan Smith, deputy assistant attorney general for its Department of Civil Rights.

“We are using all the tools in our toolbox,” he said, noting Attorney General Merrick Garland had instructed all regional districts and field offices of the FBI to seek out and prosecute unlawful antisemitic acts.

Underscoring that, in recent weeks individuals have been arrested, indicted and prosecuted in New Jersey and across the country.

James Dennehy, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Newark Field Office, said most hate crimes in the state fall in the category of individual “crimes of opportunity,” not committed by an organized hate group, and can range from destruction of property and vandalism, harassment and intimidation to assault. Blacks have traditionally been the most targeted group, but there has been a surge of anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim incidents since Oct. 7.

Calling the protection of civil rights the FBI’s “highest priority,” Dennehy added, “We ask you to report all suspected hate crimes.”

Toward that end, building partnerships with law enforcement and other communities as well as developing educational tools is critical.

Rabbi David Levy, New Jersey director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), said it offers training to law enforcement in recognizing and responding to antisemitism. One of the important points stressed during the training is that while Jews are often thought of as white and privileged, they are actually racially, politically, ethnically and culturally diverse.

“Law enforcement needs to understand there are religious Jews, secular Jews, right wing Jews, left wing Jews, Black Jews, Mizrahi Jews,” he said. “Law enforcement has to remember that the color of a Jew’s skin does not protect him from antisemitism.”

Brandi Katz Rubin, senior associate regional director of the New York/New Jersey Region of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), said additionally law enforcement needs to understand that it is members of the Jewish community, not just Jewish institutions, that are under attack. She noted the ADL tracks all hate-related incidents and “on a daily basis” works with federal and state law enforcement concerning threats.

“Education is really a critical tool to help heal divisions,” she said, adding the ADL runs anti-bias programs in schools to build understanding.

Knopf said while her federation had built up a number of interfaith relationships over time, it realized more than a year ago it had not formed many partnerships with various communities to work for the common good of both. While Oct.7 presented a challenge, those partnerships “are beginning to come back together. We may not agree on everything but we work together in a civil manner to lower the temperature.”

Rabbi Carlebach said prior to Oct. 7 there had been a lot of interfaith cooperation at Rutgers. However, Chabad representatives were heartened that the previous week when Christian students came and spoke at a pro-Israel program.

“We definitely want to see more interfaith coalitions,” he said.

Rabbi Levy said a recent AJC survey produced some good news, finding that a majority of American adults now recognize antisemitism is a serious problem that affects all of American society and feel concerted efforts must be undertaken to staunch it.

Debra Rubin has had a long career in journalism writing for secular weekly and daily newspapers and Jewish publications. She most recently served as Middlesex/Monmouth bureau chief for the New Jersey Jewish News. She also worked with the media at several nonprofits, including serving as assistant public relations director of HIAS and assistant director of media relations at Yeshiva University.