Scoop: ADL says only 9 states "leading" on fighting antisemitism

Zoom out: The ADL's Ratings and Assessments Institute report will say only California, Tennessee, Virginia, Arizona, Florida, Colorado, Texas, Illinois and New York were designated "leading states."

• That means those states showed high alignment with ADL's recommendations on responding to rising antisemitism through their laws, policies, and public commitments.
• 29 states were classified as "progressing states," showing alignment with some key pieces of the policy agenda and demonstrating "a clear path for future action," the ADL said.
• 12 states were categorized as "limited action states," revealing significant legislative gaps.

Zoom in: California and Virginia received the highest marks, according to the ADL's "Jewish Policy Index."

• Montana and Wyoming received the worst.
• The index shows the percentage of Jewish Americans in each state and the recent actions (or lack thereof) the states have taken to fight antisemitism.

State of play: Hate crimes in the United States last year hit their second-largest total since the FBI started keeping data, the agency said this week.

• The numbers show that anti-Jewish hate crimes are still near or around record levels, analyst Brian Levin told Axios.

Caveat: The ADL said its index is not a ranking of "best" or "worst" states to live in or where it's safe or not safe for Jews.

• Instead, the group said it's "a tool for understanding and advocating for better policy."

Yes, but: The ADL has faced criticism from some more left-leaning Jewish organizations over its annual tally of antisemitic incidents that also included campus rallies of students being critical of Israel.

What we're watching: The ADL's Jewish Policy Index could prompt legislators in some states to respond with new laws and policy changes.

• Those proposals could become campaign issues in next year's midterm elections.