Antisemitism Watch

US Education Dept. Probes Campus Antisemitism Amid Harassment Allegations
Lawmakers Accuse NYC Mayor Mamdani of Antisemitism, Call for 9/11 Memorial Skip
Ventura Synagogue Vandalized with Swastikas; Europe Sees 50% Rise in Antisemitic Incidents

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Antisemitism Watch

Antisemitism Watch is a daily monitoring and analysis program tracking antisemitism worldwide — incidents, rhetoric, policy, and institutional responses — r

📝 Transcript

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has opened two federal civil rights investigations into the Etiwanda School District in California and the American Musical Dramatic Academy in New York. These probes follow complaints filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, the Anti-Defamation League, and StandWithUs. The complaints allege that Jewish students faced antisemitic harassment, retaliation, and hostile educational environments, and that their schools failed to adequately protect them, according to reporting from the ADL and other outlets. At Etiwanda Intermediate School, allegations include repeated harassment of a seventh-grade Jewish student, involving physical assault, anti-Jewish slurs, Nazi salutes, swastikas, and praise for Hitler. At AMDA, a Jewish student allegedly faced retaliation after reporting antisemitic harassment, including flyers glorifying violence against Jews.

In California, the State Education Department overturned a finding by the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. The department ruled that a teacher's supplemental materials accusing Israel of 'genocide' created an 'intimidating and discriminatory environment' for Jewish students, according to reporting reviewed for this episode. The state requires the district to implement mandatory training on preventing bias and prejudice in the classroom, with a specific emphasis on antisemitism.

Concerns also persist regarding the influence of organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, in K-12 education. Reports indicate CAIR produces curriculum materials and influences how Islam and the Middle East are taught, with some materials including controversial resources and avoiding terms like 'jihadists' when teaching about the September 11 attacks. House Education Chair Tim Walberg has called this 'deeply troubling given CAIR’s ties to terrorism and antisemitism.'

In the political arena, U.S. Representatives Mike Lawler and August Pfluger have publicly accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of antisemitism. As reported by Fox News, Representative Lawler stated, 'I think Mayor Mamdani has proven himself to be a vile antisemite. I think he has associated with people who believe America deserved 9/11.' Representative Pfluger also called on Mamdani to skip the upcoming 25th anniversary September 11th memorial events, stating he should not attend 'until he can... actually call out terror groups around the world for what they want to do to this country, and that includes Hamas.' An online petition signed by over 100,000 people reportedly cites Mamdani's past associations and statements, including praise for Imam Siraj Wahhaj and endorsement of candidates with controversial views on 9/11.

Historian James Loeffler believes American Jews are in a 'very dangerous moment,' caught between the antisemitic MAGA right and left-wing demagogues like Tucker Carlson and Hasan Piker.

In Ventura, California, three separate incidents of antisemitic vandalism occurred over Labor Day weekend. The Ventura Police Department reported swastikas and hateful messages, including 'You will be judged,' 'Zionist traitors,' and 'Death to Jews,' were found at Temple Beth Torah, a Reform synagogue, Higher Vision Church, and Juanamaria Park. The police are investigating these acts as hate crimes and have increased patrols near faith-based events. Ventura Mayor Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios called the vandalism an 'attack on the values we share as a community.'

Internationally, a 'Free Palestine, Death to Zionism' protest in Basel, Switzerland, saw demonstrators defend Hamas as a 'resistance organization' and call for the destruction of Israel. According to Shannon Seban of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, who documented the event, one demonstrator equated Zionism with fascism and Nazism, stating it was 'an ideology that should be abolished in general.' Police reportedly seized batons and Hamas propaganda at the rally.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement reports a significant rise in antisemitism across Europe, monitoring 2,962 incidents in 2025, a nearly 50% increase from the previous year.

In response to global trends, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, launched an international Task Force on Combating Antisemitism on September 10, 2026, with support from countries including the United States and the United Kingdom. Ambassador Danon stated the UN 'cannot turn a blind eye' to rising antisemitism.

Online discourse continues to be a critical vector for antisemitism. Reporting indicates a normalization of hateful language, with individuals unknowingly using phrases like 'Zionazi,' or blaming Jews collectively for Israel's actions. This trend, amplified significantly following October 7th, sees criticism of Israel often morphing into direct attacks on Jews, Jewish businesses, and synagogues. While some users apologize when called out, the repetition of these ideas in new language makes them feel less 'different' and more acceptable, blurring social boundaries, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

In local policy developments, the North Miami Beach City Commission unanimously adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism on August 27, 2026. Mayor Michael Joseph stated the IHRA definition provides a 'clear and internationally-recognized framework for identifying antisemitism' and will serve as a basis for municipal training and policy development.

The rise in antisemitism is also directly impacting Jewish community security. In London, the Metropolitan Police have launched a major security operation ahead of the Jewish High Holy Days, increasing patrols and measures at synagogues and community sites. This action follows a 23% surge in antisemitism across London in the last 12 months, according to Scotland Yard, and is a response to past attacks. A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the commitment but called for a government plan to tackle the surge, stating, 'The Jewish community cannot be expected to live behind ever higher walls.'

Jewish institutions in New York City are also boosting security for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur amid rising incidents. According to NYPD data, Jews were targeted in 181 of the 325 hate crimes reported citywide in the first half of 2026. Senior Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Emanu-El noted that congregants 'should be able to worship without feeling that doing so is an act of bravery.'

Overall, reporting highlights that Jewish communal institutions nationwide are spending an estimated one billion dollars annually on security, a figure shaped by past threats and foiled plots, according to a study by Jewish Federations of North America.

Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, has warned that Jewish communities are facing 'another dark hour' due to rising antisemitism. Speaking in May and June 2026, Lauder criticized more than $600 million spent by U.S. Jewish organizations since October 7th on advertising and media campaigns, arguing they had done little to stem hatred. Instead, he called for greater investment in long-term Jewish education and advocated for a dedicated government agency to counter misinformation and antisemitism, led by a professional from communications or journalism. Lauder also condemned what he described as 'a disgraceful failure of leadership' amid a wave of antisemitic incidents in New York.

In the United Kingdom, a man has been charged with a racially or religiously aggravated public order offense for performing a Nazi salute outside a synagogue as worshippers were leaving, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

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

📚 Sources

Sources:
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/antisemitism/three-incidents-of-jew-hatred-vandalism-in-southern-california-city-on-labor-day-weekend
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