Latest / Antisemitism Watch / Antisemitism Watch - September 12, 2026, 09 PM Eastern

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Antisemitism Watch - September 12, 2026, 09 PM Eastern · Antisemitism Watch

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  Speaker 1: You're listening to Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. This week,
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  Speaker 1: stark indicators point to the pervasive and escalating nature of
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  Speaker 1: antisemitic threats, forcing significant adaptations within Jewish communities and drawing
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  Speaker 1: sharp criticism of public figures and institutions. Across the United States,
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  Speaker 1: Jewish institutions are collectively spending over $ 1 billion on security
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  Speaker 1: measures due to escalating antisemitic threats, a figure reported by
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  Speaker 1: the New York Post. This immense financial burden diverts critical
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  Speaker 1: funds from educational programs and community services. The threat necessitates
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  Speaker 1: direct interventions for safety. In Italy, Delia Gubbe, vice president
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  Speaker 1: of the Milan Jewish community, states that children now require
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  Speaker 1: police escorts to attend school, a reality she finds inconceivable
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  Speaker 1: to non-Jewish friends, as reported by Haaretz. This necessity for
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  Speaker 1: round-the-clock security underscores profound anxiety over children's safety. a fear
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  Speaker 1: Gubbe herself has experienced firsthand. London has also seen a
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  Speaker 1: significant increase, with antisemitism rising by 23%, according to London's
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  Speaker 1: Metropolitan Police, as cited by the Jewish Chronicle. The palpable
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  Speaker 1: threat led to the last-minute cancellation of a mass Rosh
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  Speaker 1: Hashanah dinner in Phuket, Thailand. Organizers, acting on the advice
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  Speaker 1: of Israeli security officials, cited concerns that local protests, which
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  Speaker 1: included antisemitic rhetoric such as Jews out, could have turned violent,
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  Speaker 1: according to the Bangkok Post. On campuses, UCLA faced condemnation
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  Speaker 1: for hosting a symposium on terrorism that featured a lawyer
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  Speaker 1: for Al-Qaeda mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. UCLA Chancellor Julio Frank
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  Speaker 1: issued a statement rejecting antisemitism, as reported by the California Post.
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  Speaker 1: In New York City, a Brooklyn teacher faces Department of
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  Speaker 1: Education discipline for online posts containing 9-11 and antisemitic conspiracy theories,
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  Speaker 1: as detailed by the New York Post. In politics, Israeli
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  Speaker 1: Consul General Afir Akounis drew criticism for comparing New York
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  Speaker 1: City Mayor Zoran Mamdani's support for the Israel boycott movement
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  Speaker 1: to tactics used by Nazis, according to reporting reviewed for
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  Speaker 1: this episode. On campuses specifically, student Austin Franco at Cornell
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  Speaker 1: University continues to attract controversy. According to the New York Post,
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  Speaker 1: Franco gained notoriety for stating he was not interested in
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  Speaker 1: working for a Jew. Despite social ostracism and criticism from
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  Speaker 1: the student newspaper, Franco insists he is a campus celebrity
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  Speaker 1: and has continued posting antisemitic remarks online, including comments about
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  Speaker 1: admissions and crypto-Jew last names. This viral incident highlights ongoing
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  Speaker 1: concerns about the targeting of Jewish students at universities. In
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  Speaker 1: legal developments, a suspect has been charged with hate-related offenses
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  Speaker 1: following an investigation into alleged antisemitic posts that reportedly involved
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  Speaker 1: hate speech and the promotion of genocide. This case was
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  Speaker 1: reported on September 12, 2026, according to reporting reviewed for
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  Speaker 1: this episode. Turning to positive developments, the Voice of the
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  Speaker 1: People Global Jewish Leadership Initiative has opened applications for its
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  Speaker 1: second cohort. Supported by President Isaac Herzog's office, the World
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  Speaker 1: Zionist Organization, and the Jewish Agency for Israel. This program
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  Speaker 1: aims to build relationships and develop practical responses to challenges
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  Speaker 1: facing Jewish communities, including antisemitism. Applications for the second cohort,
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  Speaker 1: which will include 150 participants from Israel, the US, Canada,
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  Speaker 1: and other diaspora communities, are due by October 12, as
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  Speaker 1: reported by the media line. I'm Rachel Adler, thank you
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  Speaker 1: for listening to Antisemitism Watch. Follow Antisemitism Watch in your
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  Speaker 1: podcast app so you don't miss the next update. This
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  Speaker 1: report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies.
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  Speaker 1: Please verify important details with primary sources.