MID-ATLANTIC EDITION

Headlines

Haverford Professor Arrested on Federal Charges for Antisemitic Threats
NYC Hate Crimes Climb; Jewish Incidents Now Over Half of Total
Mayor Mamdani's Antisemitism Plan Faces Criticism Over Group Funding

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Transcript

Welcome to Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic. I'm Rachel Adler.

We begin with a serious development on the campus front. Haverford College professor Guangtian Ha was arrested on October 6, 2026, on federal cyberstalking charges, according to a report from forward.com. Authorities allege Ha used anonymous online accounts to send approximately 50 threatening messages to a Jewish person between October 2025 and May 2026. Messages cited in the federal indictment include phrases like "Eliminate the Jewish cockroaches. Exterminate the Jewish state," and "If Jews are so special then they should be placed in special camps and receive special treatments." In one instance, Ha allegedly replied to the victim’s posts with their home address and the message, "The goyim have woken up, Jew. Run. Flee. Leave." Haverford College President Wendy Raymond informed students that Ha, who was on sabbatical, has been placed on administrative leave and barred from campus. Ha was previously named in a 2024 antisemitism lawsuit filed by Jewish students at the college.

Turning to New York City, new NYPD crime statistics reveal a significant increase in hate crimes, according to the New York Post. Over the first nine months of the year, hate crimes jumped by nearly 13 percent compared to the same period last year. Crucially, antisemitic incidents accounted for more than half of all confirmed hate crimes, totaling 245 out of 463 incidents. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the trend "deeply concerning," stating that "53% of all confirmed hate crimes have targeted Jewish New Yorkers, despite Jews making up only roughly 10 percent of the city’s population." These numbers come as a new poll indicates heightened fear within the city’s Jewish community, with 51 percent of Jewish voters reporting they fear for their safety and 42 percent saying they have experienced verbal harassment, according to the Honan Strategy Group poll cited by the New York Post.

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani's recently unveiled strategy to combat antisemitism is drawing criticism from some Jewish leaders, as reported by the New York Post and jpost.com. The plan includes a $6.4 million increase for Partners Against the Hate, or P.A.T.H., a grant program that partners with community organizations. However, critics point to the inclusion of the Arab American Association of New York, described as an anti-Israel group previously run by Linda Sarsour. Concerns have also been raised because the strategy does not adopt a formal definition of antisemitism, and the terms "Zionism" or "anti-Zionism" do not appear in the document.

In Philadelphia, attention remains on Hannah Gann, a high school teacher who confessed in late September to fabricating a Palestinian and Black identity while being Jewish. According to reporting from JTA and jpost.com, Jewish groups, including the Philadelphia Jewish Community Relations Council, had raised concerns about Gann’s activism and alleged antisemitic rhetoric for years. These concerns predate the identity scandal, with Jason Holtzman of the JCRC recalling "pretty strident remarks" at a pro-Palestine rally in December 2023, where Gann stated, "We owe them to take it to the streets and f–k the police until Palestine is free." Critics also allege Gann brought inflammatory content into the classroom, citing a planned lesson on "Black Power & Palestine," a map of Israel filled with keffiyeh designs, and social media posts featuring symbols associated with Hamas attacks. JCRC officials state their efforts to have the School District of Philadelphia discipline Gann over her conduct were largely ignored before the identity fraud came to light.

Finally, a story of resilience. A new documentary, "The Bridge," chronicles the experience of ten survivors of the October 7th Hamas-led attacks, specifically from the Nova Music Festival. As reported by JTA, the film documents how these survivors participated in a week-long rock camp in Los Angeles in March 2024, finding a pathway from trauma to healing through music. The project highlights the enduring Jewish tradition of using music as an expression of survival, determination, and memory in the face of overwhelming devastation.

I'm Rachel Adler. Thank you for joining us for Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic.

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:
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/10/06/us-news/uptick-in-hate-crimes-antisemitic-attacks-continues-even-as-nyc-hits-historic-lows-in-major-crimes/
- cair.com: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-philadelphia-condemns-antisemitic-and-racist-vandalism-in-glenside-urges-community-to-join-public-gathering/
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/10/06/united-states/the-philadelphia-teacher-who-pretended-to-be-palestinian-raised-alarms-for-jewish-groups-before-she-became-infamous
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-910859
- forward.com: https://forward.com/news/854246/haverford-professor-ha-cyberstalking-jewish-student-indictment/
- forward.com: https://forward.com/fast-forward/854180/the-philadelphia-teacher-who-pretended-to-be-palestinian-raised-alarms-for-jewish-groups-before-she-became-infamous/
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/10/05/us-news/mamdani-plan-to-fight-antisemitism-includes-increased-funds-for-anti-israel-group/
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-910822
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/10/06/us-news/more-than-half-of-jewish-new-yorkers-fear-for-their-safety-after-oct-7-attacks-poll/
- jewishexponent.com: https://www.jewishexponent.com/linda-berris-devoted-to-family-and-jewish-community-dies-at-89/
- jta.org: https://www.jta.org/2026/10/06/culture/they-survived-oct-7-at-rock-camp-they-found-a-way-to-feel-alive-again

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