Antisemitism Watch

Manhattan DA Indicts Suspect in Antisemitic and Anti-Black Attacks at Central Synagogue
Colorado School District Agrees to Systemic Reforms After Antisemitic Bullying Settlement
Rabbis Report 'Worst Uptick' in Antisemitism as Congregations Brace for High Holy Days

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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. This week, we're tracking legal accountability, institutional reform, and community concerns as the High Holy Days approach.

We begin with a significant development out of Manhattan, where District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on September 9th, 2026, a hate crime indictment against an individual for antisemitic and anti-Black attacks that occurred at Central Synagogue. This indictment marks a key step toward accountability for targeted violence.

In educational settings, the Boulder Valley School District in Colorado has reached a settlement with the ADL and a family, agreeing to implement comprehensive, districtwide reforms. This follows a federal civil rights complaint alleging the district failed to protect an eighth-grade Jewish student from repeated antisemitic bullying and assault. The settlement, secured through the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, includes updating policies, enhancing reporting, providing antisemitism training, and delivering educational programming. ADL stated the measures will make schools safer for Jewish students. Separately, major Jewish organizations including AJC, Jewish Federations of North America, ADL, COP, and StandWithUs have released a 'Jewish Students' Bill of Rights' for K-12 schools. This initiative addresses persistent antisemitism in these institutions, where incidents have not declined according to recent data, offering a roadmap for schools to ensure Jewish students can learn without fear. In other campus news, the ADL welcomed the creation of the bipartisan Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus.

As the High Holy Days approach, rabbis across the United States report deep unease within their congregations. They cite a significant upsurge of antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiment, describing it as the 'worst uptick of antisemitism' they've seen in their lifetime, contributing to a pervasive sense of vulnerability. In response, the Secure Community Network is providing enhanced security webinars and training. This heightened concern is mirrored in Toronto, where the police service is increasing security measures, deploying officers and counter-terrorism units to Jewish neighborhoods, community centers, and synagogues during the holidays. Rabbis note that even as external threats rise, internal community divisions over Israel's policies are also a source of concern.

On the political and rhetorical front, over 5,000 leaders from entertainment, academia, and public life have signed an open letter rejecting the accusation that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The signatories warn that this charge is a dangerous vehicle for scapegoating Jews and fueling antisemitism globally, noting a surge in antisemitic incidents worldwide. In entertainment, rapper Macklemore faced significant backlash for calling for 'Free Palestine' and accusing Israel of genocide during a concert, though he stated his criticism was not directed at Jewish people. The Israeli-American Council accused him of spreading antisemitic propaganda. Meanwhile, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared that boycotting Israel is antisemitic, a stance echoed by bipartisan legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would penalize academic institutions involved in BDS. In the UK, politician Margaret Hodge, reflecting on her memoir, discussed her past efforts in tackling antisemitism, including within the Labour Party.

Turning to specific incidents, the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating antisemitic graffiti, including a swastika and anti-Jewish rhetoric, discovered at a bus stop in Kew Gardens last month. Separately, in Lower Manhattan on May 7th, 2026, police are investigating an incident where a suspect slapped a man's yarmulke, causing it to fall, before fleeing the scene. The incident is being treated as aggravated harassment as a hate crime.

In British policy, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced measures targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including sanctions and import bans. He also dedicated significant government resources to combating antisemitism, announcing an additional £250 million for security for Jewish communities and that Britain would host a J7 meeting in October focused on combating antisemitism. Miliband emphasized that criticism of Israel should not be confused with targeting British Jews.

That’s all for this edition of Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening.

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

📚 Sources

Sources:
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- 5townscentral.com: https://5townscentral.com/2026/09/09/nypd-seeks-suspect-in-alleged-antisemitic-attack-on-mans-yarmulke/
- westsiderag.com: https://www.westsiderag.com/2026/09/08/man-indicted-for-alleged-antisemitic-stabbings-on-the-upper-west-side-manhattan-da
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- x.com: https://x.com/ADL/status/2097701023598915888
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- junonews.com: https://www.junonews.com/p/toronto-police-to-enhance-security
- seattletimes.com: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/us-jews-feel-precarious-as-high-holy-days-approach-amid-antisemitism-fears-and-internal-divisions/
- manhattanda.org: https://manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-announces-hate-crime-indictment-of-man-for-antisemitic-and-anti-black-attacks-at-central-synagogue/