ADL report: Anti-Semitic incidents up 32 percent in New Jersey in 2017

WHIPPANY – The number of anti-Semitic incidents in New Jersey was 32 percent higher in 2017 than 2016, according to an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) report released this morning. With 208 reported anti-Semitic incidents throughout the state in 2017, New Jersey is the third highest in nation.

Of the 208 anti-Semitic incidents reported across the state in 2017, there were incidents of physical assaults, vandalism, and attacks on Jewish institutions. That figure represents a 32 percent increase over the 152 incidents in 2016. Every part of the state was affected, with an incident reported in almost every county, according to the report.

Bergen County had the highest number of incidents in the state, with 40 in 2017, up from 28 in 2016. Middlesex County was second, with 34 in 2017, up from 18 in 2016. In other parts of Central Jersey, Hunterdon County reported one incident in 2017 and none in 2016, Somerset County reported three in 2017 and two in 2016, and Union County reported six incidents in both years.

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Nationally, there were 1,986 anti-Semitic incidents reported across the United States in 2017 representing a 57 percent increase over the 1,267 incidents in 2016. These numbers also include 163 bomb threats against Jewish institutions in 2017, up 41 percent from 2016.

"New Jersey’s sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents this past year confirm what all of us have perceived: anti-Semitic incidents are proliferating and perpetrators of hate have become emboldened," said Joshua Cohen, ADL New Jersey Regional Director.

"It is shocking that there are, on average, four incidents a week in New Jersey," said A. Ross Pearlson, ADL New Jersey Regional Board Chair. "This surge in incidents only sharpens our resolve as we reaffirm our commitment to ADL’s century-old mission to stop the defamation of the Jewish people, and to secure justice and fair treatment to all."

According to Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of ADL, the report did not take into account online incidences of anti-Semitism.

Greenblatt said that last year, "anti-Semitism surged in the United States."

For the first time since the report's inception, there were incidents of anti-Semitism in all 50 states, he said. There were increases in every data collected except for assault, which saw a decrease from 36 incidents in 2016 to 19 incidents in 2017.

"That's literally the only area — the only bright spot, if you will — the only area where we saw a decline," he said. "Overall, this is the second highest number of incidences that the ADL has seen in any year since we started tracking this."

Although the audit did not take into account online anti-Semitism, Greenblatt said that ADL is planning on doing a "deeper dive" into online anti-Semitism later this year.

Incidents

Since 1979, ADL has counted anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. and reported the numbers in its annual "Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents." Last year, in response to concerns about rising anti-Semitism, ADL stepped up the frequency of reporting, issuing additional reports quarterly to share data more regularly throughout the year.

In 2017, according to ADL, there were 110 incidents of vandalism in New Jersey, an increase from 81 incidents in 2016; 95 incidents of harassment, an increase from 73 incidents in 2016; and three physical assaults, unchanged from three in 2016.

The dramatic increase in anti-Semitic acts of vandalism — which is a crime — is particularly concerning because it indicates perpetrators feel emboldened enough to break the law, according to the report. In the vast majority of vandalism cases the perpetrators remain unidentified.

Following are some selected New Jersey incidents of vandalism in 2017:

Three separate incidents of the Mahwah Eruv vandalized (Bergen County)

Swastika painted on wall of Jewish-owned business (Bergen County)

The mezuzah belonging to a Jewish resident was ripped from their doorpost (Essex County)

A white supremacist banner that read: "END JEWISH CONTROL OF AMERICA!

Anti-Semitic flyers from Vanguard America titled "Hate Facts With Hitler" were posted at several public locations. (Monmouth County)

White supremacist group, Vanguard America, placed an anti-Semitic banner on a Holocaust memorial that read “(((Heebs))) will not divide us." (Ocean County)

Following are some selected New Jersey incidents of harassment in 2017:

Bomb threats targeting Jewish community centers and Jewish institutions throughout New Jersey

Multiple synagogues received harassing anti-Semitic voicemails (Bergen County)

Jersey City Imam called for martyrdom among his constituents in the defeat of Israel, and called Jews pigs and apes, and asked that Allah kill every Jew (Hudson County)

New Jersey resident at a local township council meeting spoke of Hasidic Jews “sucking the blood” from a nearby town and asked the council members to “remove the infection” of Hasidic Jews. (Bergen County)

White supremacist group, Vanguard America, placed anti-Semitic fliers on the windshields of cars that read "Thieving Jews." (Ocean County)

Incidents in schools on rise

According to the report, anti-Semitic incidents in K-12 schools in 2017 more than doubled over 2016, with 61 incidents reported in non-Jewish schools in New Jersey, up from 29 reported incidents in 2016. School-based incidents represent almost 30 percent of all reported incidents in New Jersey.

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While college campuses across the country saw a total of 204 incidents in 2017, compared to 108 in 2016, New Jersey’s numbers remained almost unchanged from 2016 with 17 incidents reported in 2017.

"The increase of anti-Semitic incidents against students is deeply troubling," Cohen said. "Bullying is not a rite of passage. It is imperative for schools to have anti-bias and anti-bullying programs, and why we are committing to take our No Place for Hate program into more schools."

"This recent increase has been due in part to a significant increase of incidences in education environments," Greenblatt said, referring too schools and universities. "Shockingly, these incidents nearly doubled for the second year in a row."

Greenblatt said that anti-Semitic incidents in K-12 schools have risen 94 percent, while incidents on college campuses has risen 89 percent.

"So something is clearly at foot," he said. "The question is what caused the surge."

The following are selected K-12:

Jewish student told to “burn in Hitler’s EZ Bake Oven”

Middle School students created an online chat group chat called "Kill All Jews”

An online document that teachers had set up online was vandalized with anti-Semitic, racist, and sexual messages.

Students on a middle school bus were recorded on camera singing happy birthday to Hitler.

In addition, multiple incidents of racist and anti-Semitic posters/white supremacist recruitment flyers found at various locations around different state campuses, including Jewish institutions.

Jewish students, while walking home from Shabbat services, were harassed with anti-Semitic slurs and threats, while swastikas were spray-painted on multiple campus residence buildings.

How ADL is responding

ADL has a comprehensive approach to address anti-Semitic incidents and behavior, including educating youth to prevent these behaviors and working with law enforcement to apprehend the perpetrators. ADL trains 15,000 law enforcement officials per year, provides anti-bias training widely, including to every new FBI agent, and reaches 1.5 million kids in schools with our anti-bias and anti-bullying training.

"ADL New Jersey is, and has always been, the first responder to acts of hate and bigotry in our community — and we’re not about to stand down now," Cohen said. "The struggle against hate is not easy and it cannot be accomplished only through short-term measures. Rather, effective action requires a long-term commitment of energy, resources, passion and collaboration. Together, we will push back against this scourge of hate and ensure that our timeless mission is fulfilled."

Greenblatt said that the increase in anti-Semitic incidents could be attributed to many factors including: an increase in reporting; the divisive current state of national discourse, "which has contributed broadly to diminishment of civility in society;" extremists more frequently feel emboldened; and hate groups are gathering in public more frequently, among others.

George Selim, senior vice president of programs at ADL, said that the ADL is working to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry and racism.

He pointed to the ADL's new Center on Extremism.

"ADL is an organization that has offices in 27 cities and municipalities across the United States. We literally have hundreds of staff in these offices across the country," he said, "and this data that we're here reporting on today was collected, analyzed and aggregated by our Center on Extremism."

ADL is also sharing the following policy recommendations in response to the historic rise in anti-Semitic incidents:

"Speak Out Against Anti-Semitism" — Public officials and law enforcement authorities must use their bully pulpit to speak out against anti-Semitic incidents — and all acts of hate. These officials must support efforts to punish this conduct to the fullest extent of the law, while providing comfort and assistance to individual victims and community members. All New Jersey mayors should sign ADL’s Mayor’s Compact Against Hate and Extremism.

"Be An Ally" — Victims and bystanders should report all anti-Semitic incidents and vandalism to the Anti-Defamation League and to local police. If law enforcement officials and community members are to take these incidents seriously, those who experience the incidents must take them seriously and report them, both to ADL and to the police.

"Ensure Proper Investigation and Documentation of Hate Related Incidents" — Anti-Semitic incidents — and all hate-related incidents — demand a priority response because of their special impact on the victim and the victim’s community. Failure to address this unique type of crime could cause an isolated incident to explode into widespread community tension. The New Jersey Department of Law and Safety must ensure that state and local law enforcement are properly trained to recognize, investigate, respond, and document hate related incidents.

"Prioritize Anti-Bias Curriculum in Schools" — Children deserve an education in an environment that is free of anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry. The New Jersey Department of Education must provide schools and communities with the necessary resources to promote anti-bias and culturally responsive learning environments.

"Celebrate Diversity, Promote Inclusivity on Campus" — College and university administrators, faculty, and staff must receive the necessary training to effectively respond to anti-Semitic incidents, hate crimes, hate speech, and extremism on campus. Campus officials have a moral obligation to speak out against hate. Colleges and universities must build an institution for learning that works toward inclusion and equity while also ensuring open expression and a marketplace for ideas.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was founded in 1913 to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all. Today it is the world’s leading organization combating anti-Semitism, exposing hate groups, training law enforcement on hate crimes, developing anti-bias education programs for students, countering cyber-hate and relentlessly pursuing equal rights for all. Follow the ADL on Twitter @ADL_NJ.

"If this is the new normal, if prejudice is now simply part and parcel of typical political conversation, then we are very concerned that incidents could continue to raise," Greenblatt said. "As a country, we need to promote tolerance, understanding and respect."

Staff Writer Cheryl Makin: 732-565-7256; cmakin@gannettnj.com

Staff Writer Nick Muscavage: 908-243-6615; ngmuscavage@gannettnj.com