Press Release: 2024-04-17

Antisemitic Incidents in New England Soared 205 percent in 2023

 




  • April 16, 2024





Antisemitic Incidents in New England Soared 205 percent in 2023 – Outpacing National Increase  



Massive spike post-Oct. 7 recorded; campus incidents tripled; bomb threats targeting Jewish institutions up tenfold across the country 



Boston, MA, April 16, 2024 …ADL’s annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, issued today, recorded a total of 623 antisemitic incidents of assault, harassment, and vandalism in the New England Region (covering Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) in 2023, a 205 percent increase from 2022 and the highest number of antisemitic incidents ever recorded in the region. The regional increase in antisemitic incidents reported to ADL outpaced the 140 percent increase reported across the country. Nationally, ADL recorded 8,873 antisemitic incidents in 2023, the highest total since ADL started tracking such data in 1979. The ADL Audit of Antisemitic Incidents also recorded a dramatic spike of 351 antisemitic acts across the region post-Oct. 7. Of the 623 incidents counted in 2023, 44 percent (351) occurred in the final 3 months of the year, post October 7.   





A total of 440 antisemitic incidents were recorded in Massachusetts, a 189 percent increase from 2022 incidents (152), also outpacing the increase nationally. Incidents of vandalism increased by 70 percent (139 incidents in 2023, compared to 82 in 2022). Incidents of harassment increased by 444 percent (293 incidents in 2023, compared to 66 in 2022). Massachusetts recorded 8 assaults, doubling the number recorded in 2022. 



Massachusetts recorded the fifth-highest number of incidents per state in the country following California (1,266), New York (1,218), New Jersey (830), and Florida (463). The number of incidents in these five states combined accounted for 48 percent of the total incidents reported to ADL in 2023. In 2022, Massachusetts was ranked sixth among highest number of incidents per state. 



All five states in ADL’s New England region (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) recorded an increase year over year. ADL tracked 52 incidents in Rhode Island (up from 19 incidents in 2022), 43 in Vermont (up from 6 in 2022), 35 in New Hampshire (up from 14 in 2022), and 53in Maine (up from 13 in 2022). The majority were incidents of harassment (410), followed by incidents of vandalism (202). Harassment and vandalism across the region increased by 327 percent and 94 percent, respectively.     



“ADL has been carefully tracking antisemitic incidents for 45 years,” said Rabbi Ron Fish, ADL New England Interim Region Director. “The numbers are simply stunning. We have observed a significant rise of incidents, followed by a surge, followed now by a tsunami. Behind each tracked data point is a family, a synagogue, a school, or a child who has been targeted for hate, simply because of their Jewish identity. This is intolerable in New England as it is anywhere in the country. We call upon everyone who cares about living in a decent society to unite and stop this rise in anti-Jewish hate. Antisemitism is not a Jewish problem. It is a societal problem. We can only solve it together.” 



A total of 127 cities and towns in Massachusetts saw at least one antisemitic incident in 2023, an increase from 71 towns in 2022. Included in the count are antisemitic assaults, incidents of white supremacist propaganda, incidents in K-12 schools, and vandalism of Jewish institutions. 



Antisemitic incidents in New England took place in a variety of locations, with each location type seeing a significant increase from 2022, including most notably a greater than fivefold increase on college campuses and nearly a doubling of incidents reported in non-Jewish K-12 schools:    




  • Incidents at Jewish institutions and schools: 92 (up from 23 in 2022)    

  • Incidents in non-Jewish K-12 schools: 101 (up from 53 incidents in 2022)   

  • Incidents on college campuses: 81 (up from 15 in 2022)   

  • Incidents in public areas(parks/streets/transit/buildings): 246 (up from 68 in 2022)    

  • Incidents at private businesses and retail establishments: 42 (up from 19 in 2022)   

  • Incidents in homes: 46 (up from 20 in 2022)  



Examples include: 




  • Swastika graffiti was located at the West Natick MBTA station – 4/20/2023 

  • An individual made violent threats against a synagogue on social media in Westborough – 6/14 

  • A Brookline synagogue was targeted with an antisemitic bomb threat hoax – 8/18 

  • A swastika and “kike” were spray-painted on a Taunton synagogue – 6/16 

  • A synagogue was targeted with an antisemitic bomb threat hoax in Cranston, RI – 11/22 

  • Swastikas were painted on the property of a Jewish family  

  • An individual associated with the antisemitic Goyim Defense League disrupted a Cambridge city council meeting with antisemitic comments – 11/3 

  • An individual entered a Jewish owned business and made antisemitic comments in Andover – 1/2 

  • A Jewish middle school student was targeted with antisemitic bullying, including physical assault, by classmates at school – 5/25 

  • A group of orthodox school children were assaulted while walking to school – Brookline, 9/14 

  • A Jewish student at a pro-Israel rally at UMass was punched by a counter-protestor – 11/3 

  • A Jewish middle schooler was targeted for being Jewish and physically attacked – May  



Of the 623 antisemitic incidents recorded in New England, 115 had an extremist nexus (up from 28 in 2022). This follows a national trend of increased extremist activity targeting Jewish communities. These incidents include cases of white supremacist propaganda distribution, swatting, bomb threats, municipal disruptions, and public demonstrations.   



ADL tracked 11 incidents of assaults in 2023, up from 4 in 2022, representing a startling rise in threats targeting the physical safety and security of Jewish people. These incidents include physical violence directed toward Jews in the workplace, on college and K-12 campuses, and in public areas.  The near doubling of incidents in K-12 schools, ranging from antisemitic graffiti and taunts, harassment and bullying on playgrounds, in the classroom and on athletic fields, is a grim reminder of the need to ensure that these schools are safe and welcoming for all students. Incidents, such as a Jewish student from UMass Amherst being punched on campus while holding an Israeli flag in the fall of 2023, add to the growing concern for student safety across the region.    



National Findings  



The ADL Audit of Antisemitic Incidents recorded a dramatic spike of 5,204 antisemitic acts post-Oct. 7, reflecting global trends as Jewish communities worldwide faced heightened tensions and hatred in response to the massacre and conflict – on campuses, in the public square and at anti-Israel demonstrations. With those incidents, the 12-month total for 2023 surpassed the totals of all the past three years combined and averaged about 24 anti-Jewish incidents in the U.S. per day.  



In response to the new findings, ADL today called on governor’s offices across the country to create their own state-level versions of the White House’s landmark National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, the first of its kind, comprehensive effort to address antisemitism from across the political spectrum. 



In 2023, ADL counted antisemitic incidents in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Audit classifies incidents into three categories: 




  • Assaults: 161 incidents were categorized as assault, defined as cases where Jewish people (or people perceived to be Jewish) were targeted with physical violence accompanied by evidence of antisemitic animus. This was a 45 percent increase compared to 2022. Most antisemitic assaults (141 out of 161) were perpetrated without the use of a deadly weapon. Orthodox Jews were targeted in 34 percent of assault incidents nationally. The 161 incidents of assault targeted 196 victims, none of which were fatal

  • Harassment: 6,535 incidents were categorized as harassment, defined as cases where one or more Jewish people (or people perceived to be Jewish) were harassed with antisemitic slurs, stereotypes or conspiracy theories. Acts of harassment increased 184 percent, up from 2,298 incidents in 2022

  • Vandalism: 2,177 incidents were categorized as vandalism, defined as cases where property was damaged along with evidence of antisemitic intent or had an antisemitic impact on Jews. Acts of antisemitic vandalism increased 69 percent from the 1,289 incidents reported in 2022. Swastikas, which are generally interpreted as symbols of antisemitic hatred, were present in 1,117 of these incidents, up 41 percent from last year. 



There were 1,987 incidents targeting Jewish institutions such as synagogues, Jewish community centers and Jewish schools, an increase of 237 percentfrom 589 in 2022. This significant increase was in part due to the dramatic spike in antisemitic bomb threats, the vast majority of which targeted synagogues in the fall. In total, synagogues experienced 73 percent of all incidents affecting Jewish institutions in 2023.  



Antisemitic activity reported on college and university campuses increased by 321 percent from 2022. In non-Jewish K-12 schools, 1,162 incidents were reported, an increase of 135 percent.  



White Supremacist Propaganda



The report also found an increase in activity by organized white supremacist groups, who were responsible for 1,160 antisemitic propaganda distributions last year – an increase from the 852 propaganda incidents attributed to white supremacist groups in 2022. 



Bomb Threats and Swatting 



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.  



Additionally, swatting was increasingly used as a tactic to intimidate and harass minority communities, with 104 swatting incidents targeting Jewish institutions.    



Anti-Zionism and Incidents at Anti-Israel Protests 



Of the 8,873 incidents in 2023, 3,162 (36 percent of the total) specifically contained elements referencing Israel or Zionism. This is significantly higher than the 241 incidents reported in 2022, which accounted for 6.5 percent of the total incidents.  



Israel-related antisemitic incidents most often took place in public areas, with 1,540 incidents in locations like libraries, public transportation and on the streets. Another 644 Israel-related incidents took place on college and university campuses. Jewish institutions were targeted in Israel-related incidents on 377 occasions and 156 Israel-related incidents took place at K-12 schools. 



Beginning immediately after Oct. 7, many anti-Israel organizations began protests and campaigns across the United States that continued through the end of 2023. The rhetoric used at these rallies included the promotion of classic antisemitic tropes, signage equating Judaism or Zionism with Nazism, unapologetic support for terrorism, glorification of terrorist groups and extreme anti-Zionism.  



Methodology   



The ADL Audit includes both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs, as well as vandalism and assault. Compiled using information provided by victims, law enforcement and community leaders, and evaluated by ADL’s professional staff, the Audit provides a regular snapshot of one specific aspect of the Jewish-American experience while identifying possible trends in the types of activity reported.   



ADL’s 2023 Audit numbers contain 1,350 incidents included due to a post-October 7 methodology update (see Methodology in the Audit). Excluding incidents included under the methodology update, ADL tabulated 7,523 incidents, a 103-percent increase in antisemitic incidents from the incident total in 2022. 



The complete dataset for antisemitic incidents for 2016-2023 is available on ADL’s H.E.A.T. Map, an interactive online tool that allows users to geographically chart antisemitic incidents and extremist activity.   



The Audit offers a snapshot of one of the ways American Jews encounter antisemitism, but a full understanding of antisemitism in the U.S. requires other forms of analysis as well, including public opinion polling, assessments of online antisemitism and examinations of extremist activity, all of which ADL offers in other reports, such as the ADL Survey of Antisemitic Attitudes in America 2024, Campus Antisemitism: A Study of Campus Climate Before and After the Hamas Terrorist Attacks, ADL Global 100, Online Hate and Harassment: The American Experience, Murder and Extremism and White Supremacist Propaganda.    



ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More atwww.adl.org.