Antisemitism Watch

NYC Hate Crimes Surge, Over Half Target Jews; Mayor Mamdani Faces Federal Probe
Columbia Hosts Activist Amid Allegations of Antisemitic Rhetoric; K-12 Schools See 400% Rise in Incidents
Jewish Figures Divided Over Mark Ruffalo's Antisemitism Accusations; Vance Defends Tucker Carlson Amid Criticism

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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

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

New NYPD data reveals a significant rise in hate crimes across New York City during the first eight months of 2026, with more than half of all recorded incidents targeting Jewish individuals. According to the data, antisemitic offenses increased by 8% year-over-year, a disproportionate surge given the city's Jewish population. Among the serious incidents cited was the stabbing of a Jewish man near a synagogue on Manhattan's Upper West Side in July. This rise in antisemitic incidents occurs amidst political controversy surrounding Mayor Zohran Mamdani's anti-Israel positions, which critics, including Jewish leaders, claim contribute to a hostile atmosphere. The Trump administration's Justice Department has reportedly opened a federal investigation into the matter. Mamdani's office, however, highlights increased funding for hate-crime prevention by over 800% and an expansion of the city's office combating antisemitism, noting that antisemitic hate crimes fell 13.6% in August compared to the previous year, though overall eight-month data indicates these offenses continue to comprise over half of all hate crimes citywide.

On college campuses, Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute is set to host Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi for a symposium on September 9th and 10th. This decision follows a more than $220 million settlement Columbia reached with the federal government over allegations that the university fostered a campus environment hostile to Jewish students and employees. An investigative report by researchers David Collier and Rachel Feldman has compiled years of alleged Arabic-language social media activity attributed to Mahdawi, reportedly including statements such as "Soon, very soon, we will annihilate the Jews" and celebrations of militants involved in attacks on Israelis. The report also details allegations from a Vermont gun shop owner who claimed Mahdawi expressed interest in purchasing a sniper rifle and an automatic weapon, stating he had built modified submachine guns "to kill Jews." Mahdawi has denied these allegations when interviewed by the FBI. U.S. Senator Rick Scott has condemned media coverage of Mahdawi, arguing that some outlets have wrongly portrayed him as a victim, stating that his alleged views are "antisemitic and anti-American."

Meanwhile, K-12 schools are facing an alarming rise in antisemitism, with reports indicating a 400% increase in incidents compared to 2020. The Anti-Defamation League has documented severe harassment cases, including a California classmate telling a Jewish ninth-grader his family should "burn in hell" and be killed by Hamas, with administrators dismissing the student's complaint. In Boulder, Colorado, a Jewish eighth-grader endured two years of relentless harassment, including being targeted in antisemitic games and physical assaults. The district confirmed the bullying was based on the student's Jewish identity, but the superintendent previously failed to adequately respond to urgent parental concerns. Following a federal civil-rights complaint filed by the ADL, the Boulder superintendent has apologized for failing to protect Jewish students and proposed writing antisemitism explicitly into district policy.

In politics and media, actor Mark Ruffalo is facing accusations of antisemitism for comments linking a media merger to Israel's actions in Gaza. Ruffalo asserted that Oracle, owned by Larry Ellison, a prominent Jewish supporter of Israel, is responsible for an "apartheid system of oppression" in Gaza and called Ellison a "classic oligarch." This has created a division among notable Jewish figures. Around 170 personalities, including entertainers, rabbis, and filmmakers, have signed an open letter defending Ruffalo, calling the accusations a "false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism." However, several Jewish groups have condemned Ruffalo's remarks, stating he invoked "recognizable antisemitic tropes" concerning Jewish wealth and global power.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is also under scrutiny for his ongoing relationship with Tucker Carlson, who has a documented history of antisemitic rhetoric. Conservative commentator Mark Levin has publicly criticized Republicans, including Vance, for continuing to support Carlson. Vance defended his friendship, stating he would not "throw friends under the bus." In Toronto, Mayor Olivia Chow is drawing criticism for declining to attend a debate on antisemitism and public safety, citing her re-election campaign launch date. Opponents accuse her of not taking anti-Jewish hate seriously.

An analysis drawing on the work of Ruth Wisse and Dara Horn posits that antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment are being used as convenient "organizing targets" for "grievance coalitions" on the left, a phenomenon compared to historical patterns in Nazi Germany, where focusing on Jews provided a simple way to unite disparate groups with grievances.

In legal and policy developments, the Alberta Court of Appeal has dismissed a former school board trustee's sanction requiring a "sincere" public apology for posting a meme juxtaposing swastika and pride flags, ruling the requirement for sincerity legally unreasonable.

Finally, in Europe, the Conference of European Rabbis unveiled a seven-point manifesto in Brussels, urging governments and the EU to confront the underlying ideologies and networks driving antisemitism, moving beyond mere protection of institutions. In the United States, the House of Representatives passed a bill to withhold funding from universities that boycott Israel, following Columbia University's adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. The EU has also released new handbooks to help public authorities and the public combat antisemitism and reclaim Jewish heritage. Separately, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the Trump administration's special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, met with UAE President MBZ in Abu Dhabi, signaling diplomatic engagement on the issue.

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

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