The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, issued today, details a total of 157 anti-Semitic incidents across New Jersey during the 2016 calendar year. This represents a 14 percent increase from the 137 incidents reported during the same period in 2015. Preliminary reports indicate 24 incidents reported in the first three months of 2017.

In 2016, the 157 anti-Semitic incidents included:

• Assaults: 3 incidents in 2016, compared with 1 in 2015;
• Vandalism: 81 incidents in 2016, compared with 79 in 2015;
• Harassment, threats and events: 73 incidents in 2015, compared with 57 in 2015.

In the first quarter of 2017, preliminary reports of 24 incidents included:

• Assaults: 0 incidents
• Vandalism: 9 incidents
• Harassment, threats and events: 15 incidents

“The surge in reported incidents is a sobering reminder that New Jersey is not immune to anti-Jewish hate,” said Joshua Cohen, ADL New Jersey Regional Director. “Clearly, we have work to do and must utilize every available resource to put a stop to anti-Semitism.”

Nationally, ADL recorded a 34 percent year-over-year increase in incidents – assaults, vandalism, and harassment – with a total of 1,266 acts targeting Jews and Jewish institutions. Nearly 30 percent of these incidents (369) occurred in November and December. The surge has continued during the first three months of 2017, with preliminary reports of another 541 incidents (including 161 bomb threats), putting this year on pace for more than 2,000 incidents. Americans of all faiths have felt the increase and in a poll ADL released earlier this month a majority said they are concerned about violence in the U.S. directed at Jews.

New Jersey ranked third in the nation for anti-Semitic incidents in 2016, behind New York and California, which reported 211 and 199 incidents, respectively.

“It is deeply troubling that there are at least 3 anti-Semitic incidents reported in New Jersey every week” said Ross Pearlson, ADL New Jersey Regional Board Chair. “We know that for every incident reported, there’s likely another that goes unreported. We encourage the community to remain vigilant and bring incidents of anti-Semitism to our attention when they occur.”

Incidents on college campuses remained mostly flat, but anti-Semitic incidents at non-Jewish elementary, middle, and high schools increased nationally by 106 percent, from 114 in 2015 to 235 in 2016. This increase accelerated in Q1 2017, when 95 incidents were reported.

“It is imperative that leaders in our communities speak out against this cancer of hate,” Mr. Cohen added. “The increase in incidents should only motivate us to increase our vital work towards respectful, inclusive communities free from hatred in all forms.”

Domestic Anti-Semitism: Selected Incidents from 2016

Harassment:

• South Brunswick, NJ (October 2016): During a funeral at a Jewish cemetery, an individual drove by and yelled “Heil Hitler” out of the window.
• Toms River, NJ (September 2016): Orthodox Jewish woman was harassed at a supermarket. Among other things, offender yelled, “You people are ruining this community” and “Go have 12 children somewhere else.”
• Lakewood, NJ (July 2016): Several men yelled “dirty Jews” at a Jewish woman sitting on her porch. The same vehicle drove by the next day, and passengers yelled “jews, Jews, Jews” and “Get out of town.”

Vandalism

• Saddle brook, NJ (February 2016): A Jewish woman’s car was vandalized with eggs, a yellow swastika drawn on the driver’s side window, and the words “(moderated)” on the windshield.
• Toms River, NJ (March 2016): “Burn the Jews” and “(moderated)” etched into playground equipment at a public park.

Assaults

• Jersey City, NJ (December 2016): Victim was parked in his vehicle when offender approached, pointed a handgun, and fired at the vehicle. A witness stated that they heard the offender yell, “Where’s that Jew (moderated) at” after the shooting.

ADL has been tracking anti-Semitic incidents in the United States since 1979. The audit includes both criminal and non-criminal incidents acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs. Compiled using information provided by victims, law enforcement and community leaders and evaluated by ADL’s professional staff, the Audit provides an annual snapshot of one specific aspect of a nationwide problem while identifying possible trends or changes in the types of activity reported. This information assists ADL in developing and enhancing its programs to counter and prevent the spread of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry.