NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Just days before Yom Hashoah, the annual day of Holocaust remembrance, the Anti-Defamation League released a disturbing report showing antisemitic assaults in New York and total antisemitic incidents in New Jersey hit all-time highs last year.
New York and New Jersey led the U.S. in reported antisemitic incidents, with 416 and 370, respectively, out of a record 2,700 nationwide in 2021, according to a new audit by the ADL.
The 416 incidents in New York represent a 24% increase relative to incidents reported in 2020, when the ADL recorded 336 incidents in the state. The ADL said the state’s number accounted for an “astounding” 15% of all antisemitic incidents in the U.S.
There were 51 antisemitic-fueled assaults last year in New York, the highest number every recorded in the state. That’s a 325% increase from the 12 assaults recorded in 2020 and a 46% increase from the 35 assaults recorded in 2019. The state’s assaults represent 57% of all antisemitic assaults recorded nationwide. Of the 51 assaults in the state, 48 were in New York City, a share of 94%.
There were also “notable increases” in antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and incidents involving swastika symbols in New York last year, the ADL said. Taken together, the incidents increased by 20% in last year, from 153 in 2020 to 183 in 2021.
Of the antisemitic incidents recorded in New York state last year, 63% were in New York City. There were 109 incidents in Manhattan, 84 in Brooklyn, 32 in Queens, 22 in the Bronx and 31 on Staten Island. There were another 69 on Long Island, 23 in Westchester, eight in Rockland and 54 Upstate.
Reported antisemitic incidents increased by 144% in the Bronx and by 33% in Manhattan and Queens, and decreased by 7% in Brooklyn and 48% on Staten Island. Reported antisemitic incidents increased on Long Island and in Westchester and Rockland Counties, by 23%, 28% and 100%, respectively, the ADL said.
In New Jersey, reported antisemitic incidents in 2021 rose by 25%, reaching a total of 370 incidents. That’s the highest number ever recorded by ADL in the state, which had 14% of the nation’s recorded antisemitic incidents.
In New Jersey, there were 252 incidents of harassment (34% increase), 112 incidents of vandalism (7% increase) and six incidents of assault, the ADL said.
The highest number of antisemitic incidents were in Bergen County (70), Ocean County (44), Mercer County (39), Middlesex County (31) and Union County (30).
“It’s very, very troubling. Many in the Jewish community feel scared,” said Scott Richman, the regional director for ADL New York/New Jersey.
Six counties in New York and New Jersey with the highest Orthodox populations accounted for half of the incidents in the area, he said.
While New York and New Jersey have a high population of Orthodox who are easily identifiable as Jewish, Richman said social media, the rise of white supremacy, polarization and the burdens of COVID-19 on the economy are also factors.
“These kinds of stresses always bring out these forms of hate. The people look for a scapegoat,” Richman said.
He said there was one thing in particular to 2021—the May 2021 conflict in Israel.
“We did have the Israel-Hamas conflict in May, and that did add to the numbers. It doesn’t account for all of the rise,” Richman said.
Nationwide, the ADL counted 2,717 antisemitic incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism in 2021, a 34% increase over the previous year and the highest number since the New York City-based group began tracking such incidents in 1979.
The group's tally of 2,717 incidents included 1,776 cases of harassment, a 43% increase from 1,242 in 2020. ADL also counted a 14% increase in vandalism cases (from 751 in 2020 to 853 last year) and a 167% increase in assault incidents (from 33 in 2020 to 88 last year). The 88 assault incidents involved 131 victims, none of whom were killed, the report said.
Among the incidents cited by the ADL was a May 20 incident in Manhattan, where a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke was attacked on his way to a pro-Israel rally. His attackers yelled anti-Jewish and anti-Israel slurs while they punched, kicked and pepper-sprayed him, according to the report.
The ADL said it compiles data for its annual audit by evaluating information reported by news media, victims, law enforcement and community leaders. The group said it avoids conflating general criticism of Israel or anti-Israel activism with antisemitism.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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