October 22, 2025… New York, NY — ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today released a troubling update on the state of antisemitism in New York City, revealing that 2025 has already seen hundreds of incidents of harassment, vandalism and physical violence targeting members of New York’s Jewish community. The ADL Center on Extremism (COE) warns that these incidents are growing in both frequency and intensity and occurring in all five boroughs.
“The sheer scale and number of antisemitic activities in New York City this year is alarming,” said Scott Richman, ADL NY/NJ Regional Director. “From violent attacks on visibly Jewish New Yorkers to threats targeting synagogues and dehumanizing rhetoric on campuses, antisemitism is no longer hiding in the shadows, it is out in the open, and it’s making Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe in one of the most important centers of Jewish life in the world.”
While final 2025 numbers will be included in ADL’s annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents next spring, preliminary data and trends indicate a dangerous continuation of the record-setting levels reported in 2024, when New York City led the nation with 976 incidents.
“What we are seeing in New York City is nothing short of shocking and right now the Jewish community needs all public officials to come out front on this issue,” said ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt. “On the eve of an important Mayoral debate, it is vital all candidates get on the record and publicly lay out their strategy for how they will keep Jewish New Yorkers safe during this unprecedented time.”
Key Trends in the 2025 update:
- Incidents in Every Borough: Hundreds of acts have been tracked in 2025 alone, spanning Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
- 157 incidents targeted synagogues, JCCs, and other communal sites in 2024, a trend that has continued unabated this year.
- Recent threats included a would-be attacker who claimed to be “a reincarnation of Adolf Hitler” and a plot to “slaughter” Jews at a Brooklyn religious center.
- Orthodox Jews Disproportionately Assaulted: More than half of 2024’s anti-Jewish assaults targeted visibly Orthodox victims, who represent roughly 20 percent of New York City’s Jewish population.
- In February 2025, three separate assaults on Orthodox Jews occurred within 48 hours; in June, a Shabbat-observant man was beaten unconscious while the assailant shouted about Gaza.
- Surging Anti-Zionist Extremism: Israel-related incidents jumped from 5 percent (2022) to 58 percent (2024) — a trend continuing in 2025.
- Rallies in 2025 featured chants of “Burn Tel Aviv to the ground,” glorification of terrorists and banners reading “Globalize the Intifada.”
- Campus Flashpoints: 191 incidents occurred on NYC campuses in 2024; Columbia University alone saw 53, the most of any U.S. school.
- 2025 incidents include flyers urging students to “Crush Zionism” and the vandalism of a Jewish prayer room.
As New Yorkers prepare to go to the polls this week, ADL continues to urge all candidates running for Mayor to provide detailed plans for responding to this tsunami of antisemitism in the city and outline a clear and detailed plan to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe.
If someone has experienced an incident of antisemitism, extremism, bias, bigotry or identity-based hate or discrimination, report it to ADL here. If it is an emergency and someone fears for their safety or the safety of another person, please call 911.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.