San Francisco, CA, March 5, 2008 ... Anti-Semitic incidents declined nationwide and in California in 2007, but they remain at a disturbingly high level, according to the Anti-Defamation League's annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents issued today. 

The Audit tracks incidents against Jewish individuals, synagogues, and community institutions.  In California, the number of reported incidents was down from 204 to 186, representing a 9 percent decline.

"Although incidents in California have followed the national declining trend, we continue to be alarmed that anti-Semitic incidents remain at such a high level, and that so many of these incidents appear to have been perpetrated by a younger generation," said Jonathan Bernstein, ADL San Francisco Regional Director.

In 2007, the Audit reported 52 incidents in Northern California, of which 27 percent occurred within the schools.  In 2006, anti-Semitic incidents in schools accounted for 28 percent of the total number of incidents reported.  Nationally, there were 197 anti-Semitic incidents reported at middle and high schools nationwide, representing 15 percent of the total number of incidents.

The Anti-Defamation League has been at the forefront of educational programming designed to combat anti-Semitism and bias within our schools.  Under the rubric of the A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute, ADL provides valuable skills to students and educators with the goal of eliminating prejudices.  "Our best hope towards fighting hatred and anti-Semitism begins with teaching our children to value a culture of acceptance and inclusion rather than one of hatred," said Bernstein. 

Nationally, incidents declined for the second consecutive year in 2007.  In 2007, the Audit reported a total of 1,358 anti-Semitic incidents nationwide, representing a 13 percent decline from 1,554 in 2006.

Among the incidents reported to the ADL Central Pacific Region in 2007: 

• Eli Wiesel, the Nobel Peace Prize winning Holocaust survivor and human rights activist, was physically and verbally assaulted at the Argent Hotel in San Francisco on February 15, 2007.  His assailant, Eric Hunt, allegedly sought to have Wiesel admit that the Holocaust, and his statements about it, were a lie.
• A San Francisco State University student was physically assaulted outside of a San Francisco nightclub and called a 'Kike.'
• A student at an East Bay high school was harassed by one of
• her classmates, who called her a "big nosed Jew Bitch."
• A 17 year-old high school student was beaten up by another girl, after being called a "filthy f***ing Jew."
• At UC Davis, a Sukkah was vandalized with the words "Free Palestine" and "End Israeli Occupation."

About the ADL Audit

The Audit identifies both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats, and slurs.  Compiled using official crime statistics, as well as information provided to and evaluated by ADL's professional staff by victims, law enforcement officers and community leaders, the Audit provides an annual snapshot 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.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.