MID-ATLANTIC EDITION

Headlines

Midtown Rabbi Attacked with Syringe; Suspect Arrested in Hate Crime Probe
NYC Hate Crimes Rise Amidst Mayor's Stance on Israel; DSA Faces Antisemitism Accusations
FBI Data: Jews Most Targeted Religious Group; Holocaust Education Fellowship Launched

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Transcript

Welcome to Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic. I'm Rachel Adler.

We begin with a concerning incident in Midtown Manhattan. An Orthodox Jewish man, identified by reporting as Yosef, was stabbed with a syringe on a busy street near West 47th Street and Fifth Avenue. Yosef, who is 26, believes he was targeted because he is 'visibly Jewish,' according to The New York Post and JTA reporting. He described the attacker approaching him from behind and using a sharp, needle-like object. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident as a potential hate crime. Despite the attack, Yosef, who identified himself as a rabbi and Chabad-Lubavitch man, returned to his Jewish outreach work the next day, drawing strength from his Holocaust survivor grandparents, as reported by The New York Post and JTA. VINnews reports that, according to Manhattan Shomrim, a suspect has since been taken into custody in connection with this and another assault. This incident underscores ongoing worries about safety for visibly Jewish residents in public spaces.

In politics and media, reporting highlights concerns surrounding Mayor Mamdani's tenure and the Democratic Socialists of America. The New York Daily News reports that antisemitic hate crimes rose 8.5% and accounted for 57% of all hate crimes in the city during Mayor Mamdani's first seven months in office. The article links the escalation of assaults on Jews to the demonization of Israel and its supporters, noting that while the mayor has strategies to combat antisemitism, his approach to addressing the impact of anti-Israel rhetoric on Jewish safety has drawn criticism.

Separately, comments from two members of Congress address the Democratic Socialists of America. On Fox News, Rep. Mike Lawler of New York told host Kellyanne Conway that the DSA is 'absolutely rooted in antisemitism and Jew hatred, Marxist theory,' and that the movement 'hate[s] America' and 'Judeo-Christian values.' Also appearing on Fox News, Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan responded to questions about DSA antisemitism by stating the group has 'different members, they've got different titles, they have different positions,' and then pivoted to discuss the Democratic Party's broader legislative goals.

Turning to institutional responses, FBI Miami Field Office Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles addressed the ongoing threat of hate crimes targeting the Jewish community at a Secure Community Network conference. According to VINnews, Skiles emphasized the FBI's commitment to partnerships with local law enforcement and community organizations to prevent attacks and ensure accountability. The FBI's own data, as reported, consistently shows Jews as the most targeted religious group in the U.S., accounting for approximately 63-64 percent of religion-based hate crimes in 2025.

Finally, in community response and positive developments, Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, has become the exclusive New Jersey partner for the Auschwitz Legacy Fellowship. This program, funded by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation, will send six New Jersey high school teachers to Poland for specialized Holocaust education training. As reported by the Press of Atlantic City, the year-long fellowship aims to equip educators with the knowledge and tools to teach the Holocaust with depth, accuracy, and empathy, and is part of a national effort to train teachers across all 50 states.

This has been Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic. I'm Rachel Adler. Thank you for listening.

For broader coverage of antisemitism across the United States and around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch at clockwork media dot org slash A W.

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

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Sources:
- vinnews.com: https://vinnews.com/2026/10/24/suspect-arrested-in-syringe-attack-on-orthodox-jewish-man-in-midtown-manhattan/
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/10/24/us-news/rabbi-stabbed-with-syringe-in-nyc-returns-to-midtown-street-after-attack/
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-912679
- breitbart.com: https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/10/24/dingell-on-dsa-antisemitism-concerns-different-members-have-different-positions/
- nydailynews.com: https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/10/24/mamdanis-anti-israel-animus-is-spreading/
- breitbart.com: https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/10/24/gop-rep-lawler-dsa-movement-rooted-in-antisemitism-and-jew-hatred-marxist-theory/
- vinnews.com: https://vinnews.com/2026/10/23/fbi-miami-chief-addresses-hate-crimes-targeting-jews-at-secure-community-network-event/
- pressofatlanticcity.com: https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/community/article_e99575c7-f442-5563-afa5-568e4cb4df25.html

If you've witnessed or experienced an antisemitic incident, report it to your local Jewish Federation:

In a true emergency, call 911 first.

• Middlesex & Monmouth, NJ — Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey: Report an incident

• Greater MetroWest, NJ (Essex, Morris, Union, Somerset) — Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ: Report an incident

• Northern NJ (Bergen, Hudson, Passaic) — Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey: Report an incident

• Greater Philadelphia — Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: Report an incident

• NYC, Long Island, Westchester & Rockland — UJA-Federation of New York: Responding to antisemitism