Antisemitism Watch

Redondo Beach Man Faces Hate Crime Charges for JCC Threat
NYC Hate Crimes Surge, Anti-Jewish Incidents Top 50%
HHS Issues New Guidance Clarifying Civil Rights for Jewish Patients, Incorporating IHRA

🎧 Listen & Subscribe Here

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. Today we're tracking serious threats, disturbing trends, and important policy responses.

We begin with hate crimes and physical violence. In Redondo Beach, California, Paul Dean Andrews, 43, faces hate crime and criminal threats charges for allegedly threatening to 'shoot up' a Jewish Community Center, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors say Andrews made antisemitic remarks, including 'we do not want Jews in the South Bay,' and threatened violence against children. District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated, 'Hate crimes have no place in our community.' Andrews had previously been in a diversion program after a firearm negligence charge, during which he allegedly made antisemitic statements to the Museum of Tolerance, vowing 'All Jews need to hang from trees,' according to the district attorney's office. He faces up to nine years and four months in prison.

In New York City, a sharp increase in reported hate crimes has been recorded through the first eight months of 2026. According to new NYPD statistics, there were 425 incidents, a 15.8% rise from the 367 recorded in the same period last year. Anti-Jewish incidents accounted for over half of all confirmed hate crimes. This trend occurs as the city reports historically low levels of overall violent crime. Mayor Zohran Mamdani's rhetoric regarding Israel has drawn criticism, though he highlights increased city funding to combat hate. The Justice Department is reportedly investigating concerns over the 'unequal treatment' of Jewish New Yorkers.

Meanwhile, in Newton, Massachusetts, police are investigating hateful graffiti found at a playground, including swastikas and a Nazi greeting phrase. A spokesperson for the Newton Police Department stated, 'these acts of hate will not be tolerated in our community,' describing the incident as isolated with no apparent threat to public safety.

Turning to campuses, The Michigan Daily reports that the University of Michigan Hillel has cut ties with J Street. Critics argue this decision sends an 'aggressive and wholly inaccurate' message from hardline pro-Israel Jews, excluding Jewish students with diverse perspectives on Israel and conflating Judaism with a specific, close-minded Zionist ideology. This action is seen by some as reflecting an inability to deal with rising antisemitism.

In a different campus development, Touro University, in association with the National Jewish Advocacy Center, has launched a first-of-its-kind teaching fellowship aimed at helping university professors build and teach rigorous undergraduate and graduate courses on antisemitism. Dr. Mark Goldfeder, director of the Touro University Antisemitism Institute, stated the program seeks to reclaim campuses for scholarship and equip students with tools to think clearly, noting, 'the repair must begin' in the classroom. The fellowship aims to reach thousands of students annually.

In the political and media sphere, a Harvard-Harris poll indicates that Americans overwhelmingly reject hardline anti-Israel pundits Hasan Piker and Candace Owens. The poll found 77% of all respondents reject Piker and 75% reject Owens. Significant majorities across political parties expressed opposition; 72% of Democrats rejected Piker, while 79% of Republicans rejected Owens. Piker has been criticized for remarks comparing Israel to Nazi Germany and praising Hamas, while Owens has spread conspiracy theories about Jewish influence.

Vice President JD Vance faced criticism for his handling of questions regarding Tucker Carlson's antisemitism at the Republican Jewish Coalition, according to reports. Vance stated that attendees might 'disagree with things that Tucker Carlson… has said,' but did not personally condemn Carlson, who has interviewed Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes and engaged in anti-Israel rhetoric. Critics, including Nikki Haley and Laura Loomer, argued Vance should have offered a stronger condemnation. CUNY professor Jeffrey Lax criticized Vance's response as 'Jewsplaining' Carlson's rhetoric as a mere 'difference of opinion,' effectively 'erasing the line' between genuine hatred and disagreement. Senator Dave McCormick also weighed in, stating Republicans must 'beat the s**t' out of antisemites.

An ADL report details patterns of antisemitism and the dehumanization of Jews during the Israel-Hamas war, including observations of children in Gaza City watching cartoons.

We now turn to institutional and policy responses. Multiple Jewish organizations, including the ADL and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, have welcomed new guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, according to statements from the organizations. This guidance clarifies federal civil rights protections against antisemitic discrimination in healthcare settings and is the first federal directive to incorporate the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. Kenneth L. Marcus, Chairman and CEO of the Brandeis Center, stated this is an 'important recognition' that must be backed by 'vigorous enforcement.'

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act by a 237-169 vote. The bill would make colleges and universities ineligible for federal student aid if they participate in commercial boycotts of Israel. Supporters, like Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Virginia Foxx, view it as a measure to combat antisemitism on campuses and protect academic freedom. Critics, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, expressed concerns about the bill's drafting and potential for misuse. Some Democratic representatives broke ranks to support the bill.

In a cultural decision, the Metropolitan Museum of Art canceled plans for a 2027 Met Gala exhibit that would have honored fashion designer John Galliano. The decision followed significant backlash over Galliano's past racist and antisemitic statements, including a prior hate crime conviction.

From watchdog organizations, The ADL has reportedly been training security personnel in Chicago in anticipation of a concert by the artist Ye, citing his history of antisemitic remarks.

Finally, on a note of solidarity, the passing of feminist icon Gloria Steinem, 92, was marked by her profound commitment to the Jewish people. Steinem, who had Jewish heritage, stated, 'wherever there is antisemitism, I identify as a Jew.' Her non-Jewish mother had taught her to value her Jewish roots, and her grandmother had worked to rescue family members from Europe during the Nazi rise.

That's our report for today. I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

Follow Antisemitism Watch 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.

📚 Sources

Sources:
- columbusjewishnews.com: https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/jns/case-to-proceed-against-los-angeles-man-accused-of-threatening-to-shoot-up-jcc/article_e4367be0-24bc-510c-95fc-7de91f74c849.html
- 5townscentral.com: https://5townscentral.com/2026/09/03/nyc-hate-crimes-jump-nearly-16-despite-record-low-summer-violence/
- nbcboston.com: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/newton-police-investigate-antisemitic-graffiti-at-playground/4009131/
- michigandaily.com: https://www.michigandaily.com/opinion/columns/dear-university-of-michigan-hillel-i-am-a-part-of-the-jewish-community-too/
- jewishlink.news: https://jewishlink.news/touro-universitys-new-teaching-fellowship-targets-campus-antisemitism-through-the-classroom/
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/03/antisemitic-pundits-hasan-piker-candace-owens-rejected-overwhelming-majority-democrats-republicans-poll-shows/
- worldisraelnews.com: https://worldisraelnews.com/vance-faces-growing-backlash-for-jewsplaining-tucker-carlsons-antisemitism/
- ground.news: https://ground.news/article/vance-defends-tucker-carlson-friendship-despite-calls-to-distance-himself
- jewishinsider.com: https://jewishinsider.com/2026/09/dave-mccormick-gop-antisemitism-democrats-rjc-summit/
- facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/washingtonpost/videos/children-gathered-among-tents-in-gaza-city-on-sept-2-to-watch-cartoons-as-part-o/1039383112272192/
- ADL: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-ajma-brandeis-center-swu-and-cca-hadassah-and-jewish-federations-north
- israelnationalnews.com: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/432686
- washingtonexaminer.com: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/entertainment/4712958/take-the-l-concha-rips-wintour-defending-john-galliano-met-gala-exhibit-scrapped/
- jta.org: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/03/politics/us-house-passes-bill-stripping-federal-funds-from-universities-that-boycott-israel
- theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/03/israel-boycott-university-ban-bill
- brandeiscenter.com: https://brandeiscenter.com/brandeis-center-chairman-responds-to-new-hhs-guidance-on-anti-semitism-in-healthcare/
- wgntv.com: https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/adl-trains-security-antisemitism-ye-chicago-concert/
- forward.com: https://forward.com/news/848303/gloria-steinem-death-jewish-legacy/