Since the Hamas massacre in Israel on Oct. 7, U.S. antisemitic incidents reached the highest number of incidents during any two-month period since ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) began tracking in 1979, according to preliminary data released today.
Between Oct. 7 and Dec. 7, ADL recorded a total of 2,031 antisemitic incidents, up from 465 incidents during the same period in 2022, representing a 337-percent increase year-over-year. This includes 40 incidents of physical assault, 337 incidents of vandalism, 749 incidents of verbal or written harassment and 905 rallies including antisemitic rhetoric, expressions of support for terrorism against the state of Israel and/or anti-Zionism. On average, over the last 61 days, Jews in America experienced nearly 34 antisemitic incidents per day.
“This terrifying pattern of antisemitic attacks has been relentless since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, with no signs of diminishing,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “The lid to the sewers is off, and Jewish communities all across the country are being inundated with hate. Public officials and college leaders must turn down the temperature and take clear action to show this behavior is unacceptable to prevent more violence.”
The data includes one fatality that occurred at an anti-Israel protest in Los Angeles, where a Jewish man was killed after being hit in the head by a pro-Palestinian protester. There were about 250 antisemitic incidents that specifically targeted Jewish institutions such as synagogues and campus Hillels. On college and university campuses, ADL has recorded a total of 400 antisemitic incidents, compared to only 33 incidents during the same period in 2022. At least 1,411 of the total incidents could be clearly linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
An interactive map plotting where incidents occurred since Oct. 7 can be found here.
In addition to attacks against Jewish institutions, ADL tracked an increase in vandalism and harassment on businesses are Jewish or Israeli, such as a Dec. 3 rally in Philadelphia where a large group of protesters gathered outside a falafel shop and accused the owners of committing a “genocide.”
“Vandalism of a Jewish business isn’t political protest, it’s antisemitism and it’s criminal,” said Greenblatt. “Boycotts have historically targeted the Jewish community at times of crisis, and it’s alarming that it’s happening again now.”
