Headlines

Rabbi Returns to Work After NYC Stabbing
Utah Man Indicted for Synagogue Bomb Plot
Iranian Nationals Face Trial for Alleged UK Bomb Plot

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You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler. And we're also launching Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic, providing focused coverage from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the Philadelphia region. Visit clockworkmedia.org/MA.

We begin today with a chilling incident in Manhattan's Diamond District. Rabbi Yosef, a 26-year-old Chabad rabbi, returned to his daily outreach work on West 47th Street just a day after being stabbed in the back in what investigators are treating as a possible antisemitic attack. According to reporting reviewed for this episode, he noticed a woman following him before she allegedly attacked him with what may have been a large syringe. The New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating. Despite the attack, which has rattled him, Rabbi Yosef stated he drew strength from his Holocaust survivor grandparents and is determined to respond by embracing his Jewish identity, not concealing it, according to Chabad.org. This incident occurs amid a reported surge in antisemitism in New York City, where, according to The Algemeiner, Jews were targeted in over half of all confirmed hate crimes in the first six months of 2026, despite making up only about 10 percent of the population.

In Utah, a 22-year-old man, Skyler AJ Rose, has been federally indicted for attempting to commit a hate crime. According to federal prosecutors and reporting by FOX News, investigators found Rose with six functional pipe bombs, rifles, and ammunition after he allegedly made social media threats to "blow up a synagogue." Court documents cited by prosecutors indicate Rose searched online for a synagogue near him. The U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah stated that attempts to commit hate-motivated violence will be met with the full force of the federal government. The president of Congregation Brith Sholem in Ogden, the synagogue targeted, told JNS that the incident underscores the urgent need for all congregations to improve their security, noting that the community had proactively increased its security measures prior to this threat.

Abroad, two Iranian nationals, Rahman Salehi, 34, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, are due to go on trial next year in London, accused of preparing acts of terrorism. Prosecutors allege they conducted reconnaissance of Jewish sites in Manchester, England, on the eve of Yom Kippur, with the intent to attack the Jewish community. According to the prosecution, the men were in contact with a third party believed to be based in Iran, who allegedly provided instructions for assembling a homemade explosive device. The trial is scheduled to begin in Manchester on June 15.

Authorities have arrested a man in New York in connection with an attempted arson at an Orthodox synagogue. According to Nassau County Police, Azzm Khan, 29, was arrested for allegedly trying to burn the Young Israel of West Hempstead by setting a lawn sign on fire and attempting to push it under the synagogue's door. He then reportedly placed the burning sign in a bush, causing it to ignite, and subsequently kicked the synagogue door, causing damage. Khan was also reportedly responsible for damaging an official police vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.

In politics, Republican candidate for New York Attorney General, Saritha Komatireddy, has pledged to declare a state of emergency on antisemitism and prosecute hate crimes on her first day in office if elected. Speaking from the site of the recent stabbing of Rabbi Yosef, Komatireddy stated that the current attorney general's office has not directly prosecuted hate crimes, a failure she attributes to the current surge. According to NYPD data, anti-Jewish hate crimes account for over half of all hate crimes in New York City, despite Jewish New Yorkers comprising only 10 to 12 percent of the population. Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor who prosecuted terrorists, argued that public safety is the overriding issue in the race and that district attorneys have been ineffective in combating hate crimes.

Academically, the Anti-Defamation League and the Academic Engagement Network have expressed deep concern over programming at the American Studies Association's 2026 Annual Meeting. According to the ADL, sessions titled "Dezionizing the U.S. University" and "Zionism Is Racism: Introducing the Critical Zionism Studies Syllabus" portray Zionism as racist or an ideology to be dismantled, with little room for counter-perspectives. The ADL notes that for the majority of American Jews, Zionism is an important component of Jewish identity, and the ASA's programming risks sending a message that Jewish and Zionist scholars are unwelcome. The ASA's decision to feature Mazin Qumsiyeh, who has past statements praising an individual responsible for a deadly terrorist attack, also raises serious concerns.

In a different cultural sphere, British Jewish actor Sacha Baron Cohen revealed that the production team for Marvel's upcoming series 'Ironheart' expressed concerns about casting a Jewish actor as the demon Mephisto, due to historical antisemitic tropes associating Jewish people with the devil. Baron Cohen, speaking at an event in New York City, described the team's sensitivity and consideration as an "amazingly considerate, empathetic thing to say," highlighting a moment of feeling "seen." The Algemeiner reported on this revelation, noting that such tropes have historically linked Jewish people with Satan.

In institutional policy news, the UK government is encouraging schools and colleges to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. This move follows a recommendation in the landmark Bell Review, which found that three in five Jewish sixth-form pupils have faced antisemitism. According to The JC, children's minister Josh MacAllister insisted this adoption will not stifle legitimate political debate about the Middle East, while the Department for Education is urging schools to adopt the definition. Some teaching unions, however, have expressed concerns that the IHRA definition could hinder discussions around Israel and Palestine.

Also on the policy front, the U.S. Department of Justice's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced the first stop of its "American Tour Against Hate" will be in Southfield, Michigan. The announcement was made in relation to Pro Bono Week 2026, with Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. highlighting the Department's commitment to supporting pro bono service.

In campus news, a report by middleeasteye.net questioned the methodology of a survey on student antisemitism, noting that only 92 Jewish students out of 5,000 respondents participated. Meanwhile, in the UK, an ex-Ofsted chief expressed shock at threats faced by Jewish pupils, prompting calls for antisemitism training for teachers and strengthened safeguarding for students, as reported by The Telegraph.

Turning to community response and positive developments, the Stand Up Sunday initiative, held on October 18th, brought together over 100 houses of worship from diverse faiths across the United States. According to cathstan.org, participants gathered to combat rising antisemitism and other faith-based hate, with organizers emphasizing that they are strongest when united against bigotry.

Finally, Senior Counsel to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Civil Rights, Leo Terrell, was presented with the "Beacon Award for Courage" by combatantisemitism.org.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

For focused coverage from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the Philadelphia region, listen to Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic at clockwork media dot org slash M A.

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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:
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/10/23/well-never-back-down-chabad-rabbi-returns-nyc-diamond-district-day-after-antisemitic-stabbing/
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/10/23/iranian-men-go-trial-next-year-alleged-plot-target-uk-jewish-community/
- foxnews.com: https://www.foxnews.com/us/utah-man-charged-attempted-hate-crime-alleged-threat-blow-up-synagogue
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/suspect-identified-in-west-hempstead-ny-synagogue-arson-attempt
- middleeasteye.net: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-antisemitism-report-questioned-student-claim-fall-apart
- telegraph.co.uk: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/23/ofsted-chief-david-bell-anti-semitism-schools/
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/10/23/sacha-baron-cohen-says-ironheart-team-concerns-jewish-actor-playing-demon-antisemitic/
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/i-will-declare-a-state-of-emergency-on-antisemitism-gop-nominee-for-new-york-attorney-general-says
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/10/23/us-news/tish-james-gop-ag-rival-vows-to-declare-nyc-antisemitism-state-of-emergency/
- ADL: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/aen-and-adl-call-american-studies-association-uphold-academic-freedom-and
- middleeasteye.net: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/antisemitism-reviewer-david-bell-called-muslim-schools-potential-threat-uks-coherence
- justice.gov: https://www.justice.gov/opa/video/associate-attorney-general-stanley-e-woodward-jr-federal-government-pro-bono-week-2026
- thejc.com: https://www.thejc.com/news/politics/ihra-definition-stifle-israel-debate-not-true-childrens-minister-y1be6ofi
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/utah-synagogue-targeted-in-foiled-bombing-calls-for-all-congregations-to-harden-security
- cathstan.org: https://www.cathstan.org/local/stand-up-sunday-raises-awareness-of-antisemitism-and-other-acts-of-hatred-and-violence-against-people-of-faith
- combatantisemitism.org: https://combatantisemitism.org/government-and-policy/us-justice-department-senior-counsel-leo-terrell-honored-by-cam-for-exceptional-contributions-to-global-fight-against-antisemitism/