PHILADELPHIA, PA – Concerns over anti-Semitism are ramping up in the U.S. and across the pond in Europe, too.
On Tuesday, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a new report which claims 200 “anti-Semitic incidents” in New Jersey throughout 2018. That’s the 3rd highest number of incidents in the country out of all 50 states notwithstanding a 4% dip from 2017.
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The cited 2018 incidents range in severity from anti-Semitic texts exchanged among middle school students to actual physical assault.
Historically, the ADL said the 2018 total is 20% higher than average (167 annual incidents since 1979).
“While we are moderately encouraged to see a slight dip in anti-Jewish activity across New Jersey last year, we remain deeply concerned at the high levels of anti-Semitism in the Garden State,” said Nancy K. Baron-Baer, the Regional Director of ADL’s Philadelphia Region which includes South Jersey. “We cannot allow these elevated numbers to become the new normal in New Jersey. Now is not the time to let up – we need our elected officials, law enforcement officers, faith leaders and community members to continue pushing back against anti-Semitism.”
The recent Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has brought new attention to anti-Semitism as has surging anti-Semitic sentiment inside the Democrat Party embodied by Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
Only California, Florida and New York are home to more Jewish Americans than New Jersey where approximately 6% of the population is Jewish.
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