Antisemitic incidents reached an alarming all-time high last year, surging particularly in the consequences of the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, according to data compiled by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
In 2023, the United States witnessed over 8,800 antisemitic incidents, including assaults, harassment, and vandalism, marking the second consecutive year of record-breaking occurrences.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt described antisemitism as a “national emergency” that continues to plague communities across the country. He stressed the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat antisemitism at all levels of society.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt (Credits: CNN)
The escalation in antisemitic incidents was particularly pronounced following the outbreak of conflict between Hamas and Israel, with more than 5,200 incidents occurring in the repercussions of the attack. This surge underscores the role that international events can play in inflaming anti-Jewish sentiment.
ADL’s report highlighted a consequential rise in harassment and vandalism, with over 6,500 individuals targeted with antisemitic slurs, stereotypes, or conspiracy theories—an increase of 184 percent compared to the previous year. Vandalism incidents spiked by 69 percent, with swastikas appearing in over half of reported cases.
Jonathan Greenblatt (Credits: CNBC)
The most alarming increase was seen in bomb threats directed at Jewish institutions, soaring more than tenfold from 91 threats in 2022 to over 1,000 in 2023. ADL described this as the largest antisemitic bomb threat spree ever recorded.
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that the Jewish community is disproportionately targeted by various terrorist organizations.
Despite comprising only a small percentage of the population, the Jewish community faces a disproportionate share of religious-based hate crimes, highlighting the urgent need for collective action to address this alarming trend.
