Assaults against U.S. Jews reach 46-year high
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Physical assaults against Jewish people in the U.S. last year reached the highest levels since 1979, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) announced Wednesday.
Why it matters: An overall decline in anti-Jewish harassment and vandalism didn't extend to a reduction in violence.
- ADL counted 6,274 antisemitic incidents in 2025, down 33% from 2024, but still the third-highest year on record.
- Last year saw 203 anti-Jewish assaults, up from 196 in 2024. 32 of those assaults involved deadly weapons, up from 23 in 2024.
Zoom in: Three people were killed in antisemitic attacks in 2025, the survey found. It was the first year since 2019 that Jewish people were murdered in the U.S. due to antisemitic violence.
- Those attacks include a shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., a Molotov cocktail attack at a rally for Israeli hostages in Colorado and a stabbing of a Jewish man in New York.
- A firebomb also hit Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence while the first family was inside. Shapiro is Jewish.
The big picture: Antisemitism isn't just a U.S. trend, and it's rising, often tied to geopolitical conflict in Gaza and Iran.
- In Europe, a wave of stabbings, arson attacks and synagogue vandalism has prompted counterterrorism probes and heightened security for Jewish communities.
- Global incidents spiked alongside the conflict, with one analysis finding a 34% surge in antisemitism worldwide after fighting escalated.
Yes, but: Meanwhile, U.S. college campuses saw the steepest drop: ADL recorded 583 incidents on colleges and universities, down 66% from 1,694 in 2024.
- Incidents tied to anti-Israel protests fell 83% on campuses.
What they're saying: "When the tide goes out… what's left is the stuff that is too heavy to wash away," Oren Segal, ADL senior vice president for counter-extremism and intelligence, tells Axios on the mixed bag the survey showed.
- Segal said the decline in incidents shouldn't be mistaken for progress, with antisemitism still "normalized in our public discussion and social media" and remaining at historically high levels.
- "Jews in this country are still being harassed, assaulted and targeted an average of 17 times a day. That is not a sign of deep progress."
Zoom out: Big metros drove the totals. New York (1,160 incidents, 90 assaults), Los Angeles County (398 incidents) and northern New Jersey remained the largest hotspots.
- New York City saw 860 incidents — by far the largest cluster nationally.
- Early FBI data reviewed by Axios showed anti-Jewish hate crimes fell in 2025, even as overall hate crimes remained historically high and anti-Latino and anti-Sikh hate crimes hit records.
- Hate crime expert Brian Levin, who compiled the early data, cautioned that anti-Jewish hate crime numbers could rise as more police departments submit final reports.
Between the lines: The data collected by the ADL's Center on Extremism not only includes hate crimes — defined as violence stemming from a victim's race, color, sexuality, religion or national origin — but also cases involving verbal harassment and speeches on college campuses.
- The ADL previously faced criticism for including campus protests against Israel's actions in Gaza as part of its tally, but the group says it only counts protests if it sees clear evidence of antisemitism, like stereotypes.
What we're watching: A growing push to fight antisemitism through relationship-building, not just enforcement, especially on college campuses, is being credited with helping reduce anti-Jewish bias.
- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's foundation, Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, is leading "unity dinners" bringing Black and Jewish students together to rebuild historic alliances strained after Oct. 7.
- Similar programs — like the Tikkun Olam Initiative and partnerships between Hillel, the United Negro College Fund and other groups — are focused on cross-community engagement and coalition building.
