MID-ATLANTIC EDITION

Headlines

Vandalism at PA Playground Targets Jewish and Black Communities
NYC Mayor's Antisemitism Plan Criticized by Jewish Groups
Brooklyn School Ends Synagogue Partnership Citing 'Discomfort About Israel'

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Transcript

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

In Abington, Pennsylvania, police are investigating a disturbing act of vandalism discovered Saturday morning at the Glenside-Weldon playground. According to 6abc.com, responding officers found hateful messages and symbols, including swastikas and the N-word, spray-painted on playground equipment, a plaque, and parking lot surfaces. Abington Township Police Sgt. Troy Hummel told 6abc.com that investigators believe juveniles may be responsible based on debris found at the scene. CBS News reported that community members expressed horror and alarm. Volunteers mobilized quickly to begin cleanup, though police briefly delayed the process for evidence collection. Sgt. Hummel stated to CBS News that the incident does not reflect the township's character and highlighted the community's swift, unified response, with Glenside Civic Association President Krystn Kuckelman calling the behavior 'not going to be tolerated.' The Abington Township Human Relations Commission also condemned the vandalism, adding that 'Hate may have been written in one of our public spaces, but it does not define that space, and it does not define Abington.' Police are reviewing surveillance footage and have not announced suspects, but have not ruled out the graffiti possibly being a hate crime, according to CBS News.

Across the region, a Brooklyn public school has ended a decades-long relationship with a local synagogue. JNS.org reports that P.S. 321, an elementary school in Park Slope, quietly moved its graduation ceremonies away from Congregation Beth Elohim, with which it had a 50-year rental agreement. Rabbi Rachel Timoner told JNS that the decision stemmed from 'discomfort about Israel,' and that the school's principal, Elizabeth Phillips, later confirmed to the rabbi that the desire to change venues was due to 'discomfort about Israel and therefore about us.' Rabbi Timoner expressed that the move felt like a 'double gut punch,' leading to feelings of alienation and misunderstanding among congregants, especially as it coincided with other local actions perceived as anti-Israel. Rabbi Timoner and Principal Phillips have since met and plan to issue a joint statement to their communities, according to JNS.org.

In New York City, a coalition of over 25 Jewish community groups is criticizing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's newly released plan to combat antisemitism. The New York Post reported that the groups claim the 33-page blueprint 'falls dangerously short' by 'largely sidestepping the biggest threat Jewish New Yorkers face: anti-Jewish harassment and 'violence cloaked as anti-Israel activism'.' In a letter to the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, the coalition demanded a new plan that defines antisemitism and addresses anti-Zionist hatred. They argue the omission is the 'central failure' of the report. Mayor Mamdani's spokesman, Sam Raskin, told The Post that the administration stands by the plan, stating it reflects a commitment 'to rooting out antisemitism in all its forms and ensuring every Jewish New Yorker can live safely and proudly in our city, regardless of their political views.'

Meanwhile, allegations of bias on major online platforms are surfacing. JNS.org reports that a Wikipedia editor added disputed text to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's biography, describing the pro-Israel media watchdog CAMERA as 'an organization that has denied Israel’s genocide in Gaza' and linking to a page on 'Gaza genocide denial.' The description was later removed. CAMERA's board chair, Carol Greenwald, told JNS that Wikipedia has been 'hijacked by anti-Israel activists to promote the ‘genocide’ libel.' She noted that Wikipedia's own co-founders, Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, have previously criticized the site's neutrality and bias regarding Israel, with Sanger having been banned from the site.

In other regional news, CAMERA.org noted that Pennsylvania lawmakers recently drew on CAMERA research into antisemitism in Philadelphia schools during a public hearing. Separately, Patch.com reported on an accusation of spray paint hate crime vandalism at a coffee shop in Allenstown, New Hampshire.

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:
- 6abc.com: https://6abc.com/post/police-investigate-anti-semitic-racist-graffiti-glenside-playground/19905415/
- cbsnews.com: https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/weldon-playground-graffiti-abington-glenside/
- patch.com: https://patch.com/new-hampshire/concord-nh/fatal-crash-principal-arrested-2nd-dui-charge-best-high-schools-nh-more
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/nyc-public-school-suddenly-ended-longstanding-rental-of-reform-synagogue-for-graduation-because-of-israel
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/10/03/us-news/jewish-groups-blast-nyc-mayor-mamdanis-antisemitism-plan/
- camera.org: https://www.camera.org/article/the-news-you-didnt-hear-about-this-week-friday-oct-2-2026/
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/robert-krafts-wikipedia-entry-edited-to-describe-pro-israel-media-watchdog-as-genocide-denier
- sajr.co.za: https://www.sajr.co.za/zara-removes-halloween-costume-likened-to-concentration-camp-uniform/

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