Antisemitic Incidents Double In NJ Amid Nationwide Spike: New Report

NEW JERSEY — Antisemitic incidents including harassment, vandalism and assault more than doubled in New Jersey last year amid tensions over the war between Israel and Hamas, according to a new report by the Anti-Defamation League.

According to the new data released Tuesday, the ADL — a national nonprofit organization that tracks antisemitism and white supremacy across the country — said 8,873 antisemitic incidents were reported across the United States in 2023.

The number marks a 140 percent increase from the 3,698 incidents recorded in 2022 and is the highest number on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979.

On a per capita basis, New Jersey had the highest concentration of antisemitic incidents with nearly 9 incidents per 100,000 residents. In fact, nearly 1 out of every 10 antisemitic incidents reported nationally last year happened in the Garden State, according to the ADL.

In all, New Jersey reported 830 antisemitic incidents in 2023, up from 409 in 2022 and 370 in 2021.

Incidents were reported across the state and in nearly every county, the data shows. Cape May was the only county with no reported incidents.

According to the ADL, the incidents in New Jersey fell into the following categories:

• Harassment: 572
• Vandalism: 241
• Assault: 17

More than a half-million Jewish people live in New Jersey, according to the ADL, where antisemitic incidents since the Oct.7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas have targeted Jewish temples, schools, public meetings, and more.

In January, the Toms River Township Council was forced to cut its Zoom meeting short Wednesday night when an anti-Semitic commenter took over the meeting during public comment on an ordinance.

In November, antisemitic language was spray-painted on the Monroe Township Jewish Center.

In a message to the community, the congregation called the act “repulsive” and said they were working with authorities and various organizations to ensure the temple's safety.

“The climate of anti-Semitism and xenophobia are extremely high right now. From college campuses, synagogues and online we are facing a new wave of incidents and we must remain vigilant of acts of bias and hate,” the congregation said.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education also confirmed it was investigating Teaneck Public Schools and Rutgers University in Newark over possible claims of antisemitism and discrimination.

At colleges across the country, antisemitic activity reported on college and university campuses more than tripled in 2023. Incidents increased by 321 percent from 2022, according to the ADL. In non-Jewish K-12 schools, 1,162 incidents were reported, an increase of 135 percent.

Nationally, the ADL recorded 1,987 incidents targeting Jewish institutions such as synagogues, Jewish community centers, and Jewish schools, an increase of 237 percent from 589 in 2022. The increase was in part due to the dramatic spike in antisemitic bomb threats, the vast majority of which targeted synagogues in the fall.

In all, synagogues experienced 73 percent of all incidents affecting Jewish institutions in 2023.

Bomb threats toward Jewish institutions increased dramatically, with a total of 1,009 bomb threats — the highest number ever recorded and an increase of over 1,000 percent from 91 in 2022, according to the data.

In addition to New Jersey, the states with the highest number of incidents were California (1,266), New York (1,218), Florida (463) and Massachusetts (440). Combined, these five states accounted for 48 percent of the total incidents.

The ADL data is compiled using law enforcement data and information provided by faith leaders and community members before analysts verify it.