The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a 40-year peak in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States in 2022. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recorded 3,697 anti-Jewish events in the United States in its Audit of Anti-Semitic events 2022, which is the largest number recorded since the Jewish advocacy organization began keeping track of such occurrences in 1979.
Distribution of incidents by category
Every major audited category saw an increase in occurrences. Anti-Semitic offenses rose across the board, with harassment up 29% (2,298 occurrences), vandalism up 51% (1,288 incidents), and assaults up 26%. (111 incidents). Most attacks included no weapons, but one person lost their life: Arizona professor Thomas Meixner was shot and murdered by a former student who had mistakenly assumed he was Jewish.
In 2022, 53% of attacks against Jews specifically targeted those who seemed to be Orthodox. There were 345 occurrences in 2021, but only 241 in 2022; although this is a 35% drop from 2020, it is still an increase. Seventy of last year’s attacks were carried out by members of hostile anti-Zionist activist organizations, according to the study, while the other 46 “took the form of white supremacist groups’ efforts to foment anti-Israel and anti-Semitic beliefs.”
Incidents in educational institutions
As stated in the audit report, “the dramatic increase in anti-Semitic incidents in 2022 in almost all categories cannot be attributed to any one cause or ideology.” Attacks on Orthodox Jews (a 69 percent increase to 59 incidents) and bomb threats toward Jewish institutions (a 41 percent increase to 219 incidents) were among the most disturbing trends. White supremacist propaganda activity increased by 102 percent, targeting K-12 schools (49% more incidents) and college campuses (41% more incidents). (an increase from eight to 91 incidents).
There were 232 occurrences of anti-Semitic vandalism at K-12 schools, with swastikas visible in 205 of them. Messages such as “Kill all Jews,” “6M Oven,” and “Jews not welcome” were among the damage.
There was a rise in incidents at Jewish places of worship, Jewish community centers, and Jewish schools. There was a 12% rise in occurrences at these facilities last year, with 589 being recorded. The vast majority of reports were harassment, but there were also 86 cases of vandalism and nine cases of violence. In addition, the number of bomb threats against Jewish organizations rose to 91 in 2018, the highest level since 2017. Anti-Semitic terminology was often used in the calls and emails sent to and from Jewish community centers and schools.
How anti-Semitic attitudes in the U.S. have increased over the past three years
The rising number of instances is consistent with ADL statistics showing a surge in anti-Semitic sentiment in the United States. Eighty-five percent of Americans accept at least one anti-Jewish stereotype, while twenty percent of Americans believe six or more anti-Semitic stereotypes, compared to just eleven percent in 2019. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) argues that certain anti-Semites may feel empowered to act on their hate in the present context, even though there is no proof linking anti-Semitic beliefs with anti-Semitic behavior.
FAQ
What is the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) report about?
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a 40-year peak in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States in 2022, with 3,697 anti-Jewish events recorded in its Audit of Anti-Semitic events 2022, the largest number since 1979 when the organization started tracking such occurrences.
What are the categories of incidents recorded in the ADL report?
The ADL report recorded anti-Semitic offenses across all major audited categories, including harassment with a 29% rise, vandalism with a 51% increase, and assaults with a 26% increase.
Were there any attacks involving weapons in the incidents recorded in the ADL report?
Most attacks included no weapons, but one person lost their life: Arizona professor Thomas Meixner was shot and murdered by a former student who had mistakenly assumed he was Jewish.
What is the trend of anti-Semitic incidents in educational institutions according to the ADL report?
The ADL report shows a rise in anti-Semitic incidents in educational institutions, with 232 occurrences of anti-Semitic vandalism in K-12 schools, and a 41% increase in bomb threats towards Jewish institutions. There was also a 102% increase in white supremacist propaganda targeting K-12 schools and college campuses.
What is the trend of anti-Semitic attitudes in the U.S. over the past three years according to the ADL report?
The ADL report shows a surge in anti-Semitic sentiment in the United States, with 85% of Americans accepting at least one anti-Jewish stereotype, and 20% of Americans believing six or more anti-Semitic stereotypes, compared to just 11% in 2019.