A recent report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found a significant increase in antisemitic incidents in the United States following the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in Israel. The report recorded over 10,000 antisemitic incidents, a more than 200% rise compared to the previous year. This marked the largest number of incidents recorded in a single year since the ADL began tracking them in 1979. The CEO of ADL, Jonathan Greenblatt, highlighted the ongoing threats and violence faced by Jewish Americans since the attack, with over 8,000 incidents of verbal or written harassment, over 1,800 incidents of vandalism, and over 150 physical assaults among the reported incidents.
Of the incidents recorded, around 12% occurred on college campuses, a significant increase from the previous year. Additionally, around 20% occurred at Jewish institutions such as synagogues and Jewish centers, while roughly 30% occurred during anti-Israel rallies. The ADL clarified that it had recorded 8,873 antisemitic incidents in 2023 alone, a 140% increase from the prior year. The report also pointed out ongoing efforts to finalize figures in 2025 through surveys of partners, law enforcement, and victims, with expectations of a continued rise in incidents.
The increase in antisemitic incidents has not been limited to the United States, with Europe also experiencing a rise in such incidents. The Community Security Trust in the United Kingdom reported a record number of antisemitic incidents across the country between October and December 2023. In Canada, there has been a significant surge in anti-Jewish incidents, particularly targeting Jewish institutions like schools, community centers, and synagogues. Israel’s Consul General to Montréal warned of the dangerous situation for visibly Jewish individuals in the city, citing multiple attacks on Jewish community buildings.
Experts and watchdog groups have raised concerns about the disturbing trend of rising antisemitism globally. The widespread protests against Israel have been accompanied by antisemitic imagery and slogans, contributing to a tense and nervous atmosphere within the Jewish community. The alarming increase in hate crimes, specifically targeting Jewish communities, has led to calls for greater attention and action to address the issue. It has been suggested that Canada, in particular, has become one of the most hostile nations in the West for Jews, leading to concerns about the safety and security of Jewish individuals in the country.
