MID-ATLANTIC EDITION

Headlines

NYC Mayor Mamdani's Oct. 7 Anniversary Remarks Spark Criticism
Seattle College Campus Vandalized During Anti-Israel March
Bomb Threats Issued to Brooklyn Orthodox Jewish Schools

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Transcript

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic edition, I'm Rachel Adler.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's remarks on the third anniversary of the October 7th attacks have drawn significant criticism from some within the city's Jewish community. According to reporting by jns.org, Mamdani issued a statement linking the attacks to the "ongoing genocide in Gaza." Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, called the statement "callous toward Jewish pain" and stated it made "Jewish New Yorkers less safe." Deborah Lipstadt, a historian and former U.S. special envoy for monitoring and combating antisemitism, commented on what she called the "orthodoxy of the pro-Palestinian cause" which, she noted, does not permit acknowledging Jewish pain. On October 8th, Mamdani defended his remarks in a press conference, asserting the need to mourn all victims and rejecting calls for an apology, as reported by abc7ny.com. City Council Speaker Julie Menin disagreed with the mayor's approach, telling abc7ny.com that the focus should be solely on the events of October 7th, similar to how September 11th is commemorated. Algemeiner also reported that Mamdani dined at the restaurant chain Ayat Hinds Hall on the anniversary, a chain that has faced criticism for accusing Israel of genocide and featuring "From the River to the Sea" slogans on its menu.

In Seattle, police are investigating property damage that occurred during an anti-Israel march on the third anniversary of October 7th. According to jns.org, protesters entered the Seattle Central College campus, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Long live October 7" and "Take another soldier out." Police reported "minor property damage including tagging of buildings" and stated that suspects have been identified and arrests will be made when it is safe to do so.

The Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey reported that two Orthodox Jewish schools in Brooklyn were targeted with bomb threats, as noted by timesofisrael.com, highlighting ongoing security concerns for religious institutions.

Following the October 7th attacks, there has been an increase in enrollment at Jewish schools as parents prioritize safety and identity preservation, according to ejewishphilanthropy.com. However, this trend has come with significantly higher security costs for these institutions, now averaging over $400,000 annually per school, which represents a 124% increase from pre-attack figures.

Stockton University's Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center will host its Annual Kristallnacht Program on November 10th. The event will feature a screening of the documentary “My Underground Mother,” which explores Holocaust sexual trauma by women survivors, followed by a talkback with director Marisa Fox, as detailed on stockton.edu. The film has received awards at festivals in 2026, and New Jersey educators can earn professional development hours for attending.

Combatantisemitism.org reports that more than 80 New York law enforcement officers recently received training to identify and combat evolving forms of antisemitism.

In Nassau County, plans are underway to engage the public and elicit personal experiences and concerns regarding antisemitism, according to facebook.com.

Survivors of the October 7th Hamas attack shared their harrowing experiences at local commemorations. Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud recounted their ordeal at the Nova music festival and a roadside shelter attack during an event at Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley in Bergen County, reported thepressgroup.net. Cohen, who was injured and taken hostage for 505 days, described the violence. Similar commemorations, including one in Tenafly attended by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, honored victims and hostages, also reported thepressgroup.net.

In Abington Township, Pennsylvania, community members gathered in a strong show of support following the discovery of racist and antisemitic graffiti at Weldon Playground. As reported by 6abc.com, three teenage boys have been charged in connection with the graffiti, with two also charged with ethnic intimidation. Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro addressed the gathering, emphasizing unity and the rejection of hate.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic edition.

For broader coverage of antisemitism across the United States and around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch at clockwork media dot org slash A W.

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This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

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Sources:
- stockton.edu: https://stockton.edu/events/2026/kristallnacht-program.html
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/anti-israel-protesters-marching-on-oct-7-damage-property-at-public-college-seattle-police-department-says
- 6abc.com: https://6abc.com/post/rallies-philadelphia-region-call-accountability-wake-cornell-case/19922968/
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/10/09/mamdani-dines-oct-7-anniversary-palestinian-restaurant-accuses-israel-genocide-occupation/
- abc7ny.com: https://abc7ny.com/post/zohran-mamdani-defends-oct-7-remarks-amid-backlash-heated-vigil/19922335/
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/protesters-jeer-mamdani-at-anti-occupation-oct-7-vigil-accuse-anti-israel-mayor-of-being-too-easy-on-jewish-state
- combatantisemitism.org: https://combatantisemitism.org/cam-news/pennsylvania-law-enforcement-officers-trained-to-identify-evolving-forms-of-antisemitism-at-philadelphia-cam-forum/
- facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/BruceBlakemanNewYorkFirst/posts/antisemitism-has-no-place-in-new-yorki-recently-spoke-about-the-importance-of-st/1756991719766636/
- ejewishphilanthropy.com: https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/after-oct-7-jewish-parents-chose-jewish-schools-now-we-have-to-keep-the-door-open/
- timesofisrael.com: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/bomb-threats-said-to-target-2-orthodox-jewish-schools-in-new-york-city/
- thepressgroup.net: https://thepressgroup.net/oct-7-survivors-recount-hamas-attack-captivity-at-temple-emanuel/
- 6abc.com: https://6abc.com/post/3-juveniles-charged-antisemitic-racist-graffiti-found-glenside-playground/19922894/

If you've witnessed or experienced an antisemitic incident, report it to your local Jewish Federation:

In a true emergency, call 911 first.

• Middlesex & Monmouth, NJ — Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey: Report an incident

• Greater MetroWest, NJ (Essex, Morris, Union, Somerset) — Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ: Report an incident

• Northern NJ (Bergen, Hudson, Passaic) — Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey: Report an incident

• Greater Philadelphia — Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: Report an incident

• NYC, Long Island, Westchester & Rockland — UJA-Federation of New York: Responding to antisemitism