MID-ATLANTIC EDITION

Headlines

NYPD Data: Antisemitic Hate Crimes Surge, Account for Over Half of All Hate Crimes in NYC
Mayor Mamdani Accused of Antisemitism Amid Political Debate; Own Rhetoric Under Scrutiny
Pennsylvania Eyes IHRA Definition Bill as ADL Launches Campus Training Program

🎧 Click Here to Listen & Subscribe

Transcript

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

NYPD data reveals a significant surge in antisemitic hate crimes across New York City. According to the NYPD, these incidents accounted for 53% of all confirmed hate crimes in the city during the first nine months of 2026, totaling 245 incidents. Reports from Rabbi Avrohom Hecht, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Canarsie, detail vandalism including Nazi swastikas and antisemitic graffiti in Canarsie, objects thrown at synagogues, and bomb scares at schools in Flatbush and Williamsburg. On Staten Island, police reporting confirms a swastika was found on a desk in a New York City public school classroom. Scott Richman, New York and New Jersey regional director at the Anti-Defamation League, confirmed to JNS that the disproportionate number of anti-Jewish incidents continues to be a critical concern for the Jewish community.

In political discourse, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has responded to accusations made by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Blakeman called Mamdani antisemitic and anti-Christian during a gubernatorial debate, prompting Mamdani to accuse Blakeman of trafficking in racism and bigotry, as reported by news12.com outlets. Jewishlink.news highlighted Mamdani's October 7 statement, in which he accused Israel of genocide, rhetoric described by New York Times columnist Bret Stephens as 'Zohran Mamdani’s Moral Obscenity,' and seen by the publication as revealing hostility toward Israel. This rhetoric aligns with criteria outlined in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism, specifically concerning the denial of Jewish self-determination and demonization of Israel. Separately, a new report by the Anti-Defamation League details how anti-Israel editors have been subtly injecting bias into Wikipedia articles related to Israel and Jewish people, a concern amplified by Wikipedia's role in training large language models.

On the policy front, Pennsylvania State Senator Judy Schwank plans to reintroduce legislation defining antisemitism using the IHRA working definition. She told JNS that Governor Josh Shapiro has pledged to sign the bill if it passes the legislature. On campuses, the Anti-Defamation League and Gratz College have launched a new development program titled 'From Recognition to Response: Antisemitism on Campus,' aiming to equip school professionals to identify and effectively combat Jew-hatred. The ADL recorded 1,694 antisemitic incidents on college campuses in 2024, according to their reporting.

Community commemorations in Northern New Jersey marked the third anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attack. Events on October 7th and 8th at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly and Temple Emanu-El in Woodcliff Lake featured elected officials, including Representative Josh Gottheimer and County Executive James Tedesco, focusing on remembrance, heroism, and Jewish pride, according to reports from the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. Similarly, the JCC of Middlesex County held 'A Day of Remembrance, Reflection and Unity,' drawing over 100 attendees and elected officials like Rep. Frank Pallone and Edison Mayor Sam Joshi. Speakers emphasized holding media accountable for misinformation and the importance of education.

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.

Follow Antisemitism Watch Mid-Atlantic in your podcast app so you don’t miss the next update.
This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

🎧 Click Here to Listen & Subscribe

Sources:
- silive.com: https://www.silive.com/crime-safety/2026/10/swastikas-threats-hate-crimes-continue-to-surge-on-staten-island-this-year.html
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/nypd-says-major-crimes-are-down-in-2026-but-jewish-new-yorkers-still-feel-unsafe/article_07e233e9-4f89-5aff-a1c1-61a3c44ece2b.html
- columbiaspectator.com: https://www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2026/10/15/when-political-expression-becomes-a-discrimination-case-at-columbia/
- bronx.news12.com: https://bronx.news12.com/mayor-mamdani-accuses-blakeman-of-bigotry-after-debate-antisemitism-attack
- blogs.timesofisrael.com: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/nyc-mayors-oct-7-statement-gives-permission-for-antisemitism/
- brooklyn.news12.com: https://brooklyn.news12.com/mayor-mamdani-accuses-blakeman-of-bigotry-after-debate-antisemitism-attack
- jewishlink.news: https://jewishlink.news/antisemites-dont-get-to-define-antisemitism/
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/pennsylvania-governor-will-sign-ihra-definition-bill-when-it-passes-legislature-state-senator-says
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/adl-gratz-college-launch-program-to-combat-campus-antisemitism/article_ad0f01f4-f440-5da7-a729-5d98ce4e3227.html
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/yael-foundation-calls-on-european-lawmakers-to-invest-in-jewish-education-to-combat-antisemitism/article_119651cb-3093-5e66-828d-80312aa6a3c5.html
- columbusjewishnews.com: https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/jns/anti-israel-editors-using-subtler-ways-to-slander-jewish-state-on-wikipedia-adl-says/article_214a51df-0612-5b7d-ba06-dff346c63419.html
- jewishinsider.com: https://jewishinsider.com/2026/10/irish-jewish-leader-says-dublin-hotel-canceled-guest-rooms-for-conference-on-fighting-antisemitism/
- jewishlink.news: https://jewishlink.news/northern-new-jersey-remembers-oct-7-at-two-mega-events/
- longisland.news12.com: https://longisland.news12.com/optimum-partnership-brings-125000-investment-to-local-businesses-in-woodbridge
- jewishlink.news: https://jewishlink.news/jcc-of-middlesex-county-commemorates-oct-7/

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