Antisemitism Watch

NYPD Investigates Antisemitic Attack, Yarmulke Slapped Off Victim's Head
Australian Police Probe Antisemitic Threats and Nazi Salute Allegations
Rapper Macklemore Draws Criticism for 'Free Palestine' and Genocide Rhetoric

🎧 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.

We begin today with a physical assault in New York City, where the NYPD's hate crimes task force is investigating an antisemitic attack. According to reports, on May 5th, a 39-year-old Jewish man was attacked from behind in the Financial District. As he entered a business near Whitehall Street and Stone Street, his yarmulke was slapped off his head. Police said the victim reported no injuries, and the suspect fled on foot. The NYPD released photos of the suspect and is seeking public assistance to identify him, according to the New York Post.

Across the globe, in Australia, police have stormed the home of a man following allegations of antisemitic conduct. The Australian Federal Police, or AFP, took action after reports of an antisemitic Nazi salute in public and online threats. Reporting from AFP indicates this investigation is ongoing.

In the realm of music and media, rapper Macklemore is facing significant backlash for his rhetoric during a recent concert. While performing at an Ed Sheeran show in New Jersey, Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, called for "Free Palestine" and accused Israel of committing genocide. He wore a keffiyeh and performed his song "Hind's Hall," with images from Gaza displayed on screens, as reported by the California Post News. This performance has drawn sharp criticism. The Israeli-American Council launched a petition calling for Ed Sheeran to drop Macklemore from his tour, accusing the rapper of spreading antisemitic propaganda. Fellow artists P!NK and Boy George have also publicly criticized Macklemore's statements. P!NK reposted a call for refunds and apologies, while Boy George stated on X that slogans like "Free Palestine" can offer the appearance of moral courage without requiring political knowledge. Macklemore, in a social media video, stated his criticism was directed at Israel's actions, not Jewish people.

Looking internationally, reporting notes that the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, and the subsequent rise in antisemitism globally, are influencing Jewish communities worldwide. According to analysis citing Lvovich, these events are driving more Jews to consider moving to Israel, known as aliyah, marking what is described as a turning point in relations between Israel and the Jewish diaspora.

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:
- weeklytimesnow.com.au: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/south-australia/davoren-park-man-arrested-for-nazi-salute-in-public/news-story/52b9c38bc965737455d544dfef50acd2
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/09/08/us-news/nypd-hunting-for-antisemitic-brute-who-slapped-victims-yarmulke-off-in-nyc-attack/
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/09/08/us-news/macklemore-faces-backlash-over-anti-israel-rant-at-ed-sheeran-show/
- ynetnews.com: https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/hkfiftruze