FBI Report Reinforces Trend: American Jews ‘Top Target’ For Hate Crimes

Among the incidents against Jews last year, 56 percent targeted individuals directly. Fifty-three percent involved vandalism or property destruction; 33 percent involved intimidation; and 10 percent entailed either simple or aggravated assault.

In other notable findings, more than 120 incidents of anti-Jew hatred in New York State were categorized as destruction, damage or vandalism of property, while 37 incidents were “simple assault.” Of 116 incidents in California, nine were classified as “aggravated assault,” eight as “simple assault” and 80 incidents were destruction, damage or vandalism. In New Jersey, 38 percent of anti-Jew incidents were classified as intimidation, and 8 percent of all bias incidents targeted Jews in the Garden State occurred at either a park or playground, with another 14 percent occurring at an elementary or secondary school.

“Every hate crime is heinous and unacceptable, no matter its target, and we must stand resolutely with any targeted group. Yet the fact that American Jews — who make up no more than 2 percent of the U.S. population — are the targets of nearly 60 percent of religious bias crimes should set off alarm bells,” said David Harris, CEO of American Jewish Committee.

“For decades, we have cautioned that anti-Semitism is a rising threat and that it comes from multiple sources, including the far right, the hard left, and Islamist extremists. Fighting Jew-hatred in America must become a national priority and it must be a bipartisan and cross-communal effort.”