MID-ATLANTIC EDITION

Headlines

Philadelphia Area Sees Vandalism Targeting Playground and Golf Courses with Swastikas, Slurs
NYC Teacher Investigated for Praising Hamas Leader Yahya al-Sinwar
Rep. Gottheimer Calls for DOJ Probe into New Jersey City's Antisemitic Incidents

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Transcript

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

In the Philadelphia area, vandalism targeting public and private spaces with hate symbols has drawn condemnation. Between September 19th and October 3rd, vandals spray-painted swastikas and the N-word on a playground in Abington Township, according to the Forward. Around the same time, swastikas were carved into the greens of the Yardley Country Club, about 25 miles away, and a racist slur was found on another golf course in Morrisville the week prior, reporting revealed. Abington Township police have investigative leads and Deputy Chief Ed Quinn expressed confidence in making an arrest, though it remains too early to determine if hate crime charges will apply. Yardley's police chief declined to comment on leads or potential charges. The Yardley Country Club is adjacent to the Abrams Hebrew Academy, a Jewish elementary school. Rabbi Ira Budow, who runs the school, suggested the vandalism might have been a prank but noted it could help the school secure additional security grants. A spokesperson for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated that "antisemitism and hate have no place in Pennsylvania" and that "these acts are intended to intimidate our neighbors."

In New York City, the Department of Education is investigating a Brooklyn teacher for allegedly praising the late Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar. According to reporting from JTA and the New York Post, Damien Neva, a teacher at PS 77, reportedly posted "Long live Yahya Al-Sinwar" in a November 2024 group chat linked to the Park Slope Food Coop. Neva's social media also allegedly featured anti-Israel imagery. Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels' office released a statement saying, "Antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations have absolutely no place in our school system." Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, called for Neva's immediate termination, stating, "The idea that anyone connected to education — who believes Sinwar is a hero — could be teaching in the classroom is incomprehensible." Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office deferred comment to the DOE.

Turning to policy and institutional responses, U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer has urged the Department of Justice to investigate a New Jersey city for alleged antisemitic incidents, according to Jewish Insider. This call for federal intervention comes amidst reports of protests against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu by incoming anti-Israel members of Congress outside the UN.

On campuses and in educational settings across the region, discussions and actions continue. A Pennsylvania Senate hearing addressed antisemitism in schools, informed by a 2026 campus report card indicating significant incidents. Meanwhile, in Northern New Jersey, nearly 70 colleges and Jewish organizations have launched a collaborative initiative, including a "Jewish Life on Campus Fair" set for October 11th, aimed at helping Jewish students and their families find supportive communities and resources. In New York City, high school and campus anti-Zionist groups are planning protest walkouts outside City Hall on October 7th. Separately, regional roundtable discussions involving Somerset Hills mayors and the school district continue to address critical issues, including incidents of antisemitism.

Finally, reporting highlights ongoing debates surrounding rhetoric related to Israel. A blog post notes the statement "protest against Israel is not antisemitism," connecting it to the context of October 7th and publications like The Jewish Standard and Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, indicating a notable discussion on the boundaries of criticism and antisemitism.

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:
- forward.com: https://forward.com/news/853895/swastikas-abington-township-playground-yardley-golf-course-jewish-school/
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/10/05/ny/letitia-james-challenger-met-with-black-hebrew-israelite-group
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/10/05/us-news/nyc-teacher-praised-oct-7-mastermind-in-park-slope-food-coop-group-chat-lawsuit/
- jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com: https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/antisemitism-in-schools-takes-center-stage-at-pennsylvania-senate-hearing/
- insidernj.com: https://www.insidernj.com/press-releases/jewish-life-belongs-on-the-college-search-checklist
- timesofisrael.com: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/anti-zionist-groups-announce-resistance-rally-outside-nyc-city-hall-on-oct-7-criticize-mamdani/
- tapinto.net: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/bernardsville-and-bedminster/articles/somerset-hills-mayors-school-district-continue-regional-roundtable-discussions
- jewishnews.co.uk: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/on-antisemitism-and-the-green-party/
- blogs.timesofisrael.com: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/what-happened-to-october-7-in-mamdanis-plan/
- jewishinsider.com: https://jewishinsider.com/2026/10/israel-elections-netanyahu-eisenkot-coalition-stalemate/

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