August 12, 2025
STAY INFORMED – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS TO CONSIDER – STORIES MAKING NEWS
The massacre of Oct. 7, 2023, opened the flood gates of hatred against Jews, not only in Israel, but around the world. Whether used as a cover to unleash deep-seated antisemitism or the driving reason for attacks on Jews, the war in Gaza is largely fueling the global onslaught of online hate, defacement of synagogues and violence against Jews.
The Human Cost Behind the Numbers: ‘Burn Jews’
Only a fraction of the most extreme incidents reach the national consciousness: the murder of an American Jew and her Israeli Christian boyfriend in the nation’s capital, the firebombing of Jews supporting Israeli hostages in Boulder, CO – which claimed the life of 82-year-old Holocaust survivor weeks after she was gravely injured – and a destructive arson attack in Pennsylvania on the governor’s mansion just hours after his family’s Passover Seder.
Other recent attacks:
Attacks against Jews are not abstract crimes – they are direct violations of Jewish safety and dignity. The arson attacks in St. Louis and Harrisburg, PA, could easily have taken lives. The Jewish students targeted in Baltimore “feel afraid to walk down the hallways alone and are unable to focus on schoolwork.” In LA, school-children were traumatized on their first day back: “Jewish kids are more stressed to go to school than other kids since Oct. 7. Now, they are going through additional trauma.”
The danger does not stop with Jews. The criteria for an incident to be considered antisemitic includes a “certain perception of Jews directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals.” Recently, at a NYC farmers market, a Catholic student from the Univ. of South Florida was denied service – simply for browsing a table with Jewish-themed jewelry. The vendor’s assumption that she was Jewish made her a target.
Crimes Against Jews at Record High as Overall Crime Hits 60-Year Low
Overall crime in the U.S. – including violent crime – has dropped to its lowest level since the 1960s. However, violence against Jewish Americans is moving in the opposite direction, reaching a new record high. The FBI’s most recent report showed that Jews were targeted in 69% of religiously motivated hate crimes – and 16% of all hate crimes – despite being just 2% of the U.S. population.
Many states are taking action. The Anti-Defamation League recently launched the U.S. Jewish Policy Index to assess state-level policies crucial to addressing antisemitism. The index evaluates three categories: prioritizing the fight against antisemitism, education about the Jewish experience and protecting Jewish communities. Only nine states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia – received the highest grade.
Many Jews Do Not Report Attacks
Leaders in the American Jewish community warn that most attacks against Jews – including violent assaults – are not reported. This means that the actual hate crime numbers are far higher than what the statistics reveal. Other factors affecting under-reporting include the FBI’s strict definition of what counts as a hate crime, charges must be filed for an attack and not all police departments file the necessary paperwork.
‘Globalize the Intifada’ – Middle East Violence Used as a Pretext to Target Jews
Military escalations in Gaza and the Middle East frequently serve as excuses to target Jews. Jews historically have been scapegoats during times of crisis no matter how far removed or unassociated from the cause. These recent acts are not just political protests – they are often rooted in the false belief that all Jews are collectively responsible for events abroad. Former U.S. antisemitism Ambassador Dr. Deborah Lipstadt: “The dual loyalty canard has plagued Jews for centuries.”
Severe antisemitic attacks overseas during the past several weeks reinforce that violence towards Jews is a worldwide crisis:
A friend of one of the London victims explained: “The attack did not happen at a political protest. It happened in broad daylight, in a kosher restaurant, surrounded by other patrons. The attacker asked my friend if she was Jewish, then attacked her for a ‘Free Palestine’.”
In Canada, Jewish leaders condemned failures of political leaders, warning: “Words are not enough. Concrete steps must be taken to ensure the safety of our community.”
In Vienna, American Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, assaulted at an anti-Israel rally, described the grim reality: “A Jew has three options in Europe: to disappear from the public space, to conceal their identity or vocally fight the people trying to oppress us.”
New School Year Brings Growing Risks – and Hope for Lessons Learned
Jewish students, staff and parents are preparing for what many expect to be another stressful year. The Virginia House Education Committee chair recently blamed Zionism for how “evil our society can be.” He was criticized for “fueling hatred in the language of activism” and setting a poor “example for the young people he is entrusted with.” Some schools, administrators and educators have taken positive steps – in some cases, only after being forced through legal settlements.
Protecting Jewish Communities: Confronting Hate with Action
Pushing back against rising antisemitism requires urgency, clarity and a willingness to act before violence escalates further. Every person has a role to play:
20 Years Since Israel’s Withdrawal from Gaza and Temporary Occupation
August 15 marks 20 years since Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, ending its military presence and dismantling all Jewish communities in the region. The 2005 disengagement forced thousands of Israelis from their homes in 21 different communities – a unilateral move meant to give Palestinians the chance at self-governance and peace. In the decades since, Gaza has been controlled by Iran-backed Hamas – a U.S.-designated terrorist organization – whose rocket attacks, tunnel infiltrations and cross-border assaults have turned the territory into a launchpad for violence.
The Israeli government recently decided to move forces into Gaza City – not to re-establish permanent control – but in a temporary campaign to dismantle Hamas operational centers. Israeli leaders stressed that prolonging the rule of Iran-backed Hamas only deepens the tragedy for Palestinians and Israelis – leaving civilians in Gaza under oppression and hostages in captivity. The current war is a direct consequence of the Oct. 7 massacre, which shattered peace and drew Israel back into a conflict it had tried to leave behind.
Stories Impacting American Jews
Stories Impacting the U.S. and Israel
Stories From Around the World
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This content is developed by The Focus Project in partnership with MERCAZ USA. The Focus Project distributes weekly news and talking points on timely issues concerning Israel and the Jewish people, including antisemitism, anti-Zionism and the delegitimization of Israel. It represents a consensus view across a spectrum of major American Jewish organizations. MERCAZ USA recognizes and respects the diversity of views on these issues among its readers and the community at large.