Latest / Antisemitism Watch / Antisemitism Watch - August 31, 2026, 05 PM Eastern

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Antisemitism Watch - August 31, 2026, 05 PM Eastern · Antisemitism Watch

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  Speaker 1: You're listening to Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. Today, we
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  Speaker 1: examine how rising antisemitism impacts political discourse, cultural institutions, and
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  Speaker 1: everyday community life, alongside efforts to combat it. In New
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  Speaker 1: York City, Mayor Zoran Mamdani's condemnation of a recent antisemitic
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  Speaker 1: attack on the Central Synagogue is being met with skepticism,
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  Speaker 1: according to the Aljaminer. citing New York Police Department figures
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  Speaker 1: showing Jewish individuals targeted in 70% of hate crimes in July.
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  Speaker 1: The outlet suggests that such rhetoric from politicians feels hollow
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  Speaker 1: amid a marked rise in anti-Semitic incidents since Mamdani took office.
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  Speaker 1: This criticism extends to other Democratic leaders, with the algeminar
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  Speaker 1: arguing that the establishment's refusal to disassociate from anti-Semitic elements
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  Speaker 1: renders their vows of concern insincere. Meanwhile, in Michigan, U.S.,
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  Speaker 1: Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed issued a second apology for past
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  Speaker 1: comments that linked a car-ramming attack at Temple Israel to
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  Speaker 1: Israel's war in Lebanon, stating, Hurt people hurt people. Speaking
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  Speaker 1: to Michigan Jewish Democrats, El-Sayed sought to earn their trust,
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  Speaker 1: acknowledging that his words were perceived as justifying the attack,
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  Speaker 1: which he did not intend. On the Republican side, candidate
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  Speaker 1: Peter Obracker faces scrutiny over a 10-year-old Facebook post resurfacing.
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  Speaker 1: which appeared to salute his grandfather who fought for Nazi
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  Speaker 1: Germany and wore a Nazi insignia. His opponent, Josh Reilly,
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  Speaker 1: called the post a betrayal of our Jewish community. In
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  Speaker 1: the cultural sphere, the Metropolitan Museum of Art cancelled an
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  Speaker 1: upcoming exhibition and met gala-honoring designer John Galliano following backlash
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  Speaker 1: over his past anti-Semitic remarks, including an incident in 2011
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  Speaker 1: where he made derogatory comments referencing Hitler and the Holocaust.
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  Speaker 1: Galliano withdrew from the event, and the museum agreed to
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  Speaker 1: cancel the exhibition. Elsewhere, Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander was
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  Speaker 1: reportedly confronted at a protest with antisemitic insults, an incident
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  Speaker 1: decried by the Israeli Consul General as evidence of Jew
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  Speaker 1: hatred that does not distinguish between Jews based on their
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  Speaker 1: political views. Separately, reporting suggests the Trump administration's task force
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  Speaker 1: to combat antisemitism on university campuses may have served as
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  Speaker 1: a pretext for financial gain. Leaders at the Republican Jewish
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  Speaker 1: Coalition's annual leadership summit, however, condemned rising anti-Semitism and reaffirmed
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  Speaker 1: support for Israel, praising former President Trump's administration for his
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  Speaker 1: policies benefiting the Jewish community. In Manchester, England, approximately 800
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  Speaker 1: people gathered for a memorial service marking the anniversary of
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  Speaker 1: last year's attack on the Heaton Park Synagogue. The event
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  Speaker 1: honored victims Adrian Dalby and Melvin Kravitz, who were killed
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  Speaker 1: defending the synagogue. Attendees included Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mervis and
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  Speaker 1: Communities Secretary Angela Rayner, with a message from King Charles.
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  Speaker 1: Rabbi Daniel Walker told attendees that the Jewish community feels
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  Speaker 1: less safe now than immediately after the attack, citing rising
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  Speaker 1: antisemitism and a perceived lack of action to address core problems.
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  Speaker 1: Sherelle Dressner, representing Melvin Kravitz's family, shared that she had
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  Speaker 1: received antisemitic abuse. The chief rabbi spoke of how hateful
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  Speaker 1: thoughts translate into hate speech and then into hate crime.
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  Speaker 1: The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, or J-R-C-I, has been
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  Speaker 1: granted trusted flagger status under the EU's Digital Services Act.
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  Speaker 1: As reported by The Ditch, this designation allows J-R-C-I to
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  Speaker 1: expedite content moderation notices to major online platforms. the JRCI
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  Speaker 1: stated it will internally classify material denying Jewish self-determination, such
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  Speaker 1: as claims that Israel's existence is racist, as anti-Semitic, utilizing
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  Speaker 1: the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, or IHRA, definition. While regulators
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  Speaker 1: raised concerns about the IHRA definition not being a legal
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  Speaker 1: standard under Irish or EU law, the JRCI plans to
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  Speaker 1: use it internally to help frame content potentially harmful or anti-Semitic.
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  Speaker 1: Jay Street has warned that the proposed bill H.R. 4795
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  Speaker 1: runs the risk of inflaming antisemitism on college campuses. Separately,
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  Speaker 1: broader reporting indicates a crisis in schools involving terrifying acts
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  Speaker 1: of Jew hatred, historic antisemitism in support of Nazism, terrorism
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  Speaker 1: in violence, and bullying on campus and in classrooms. Oklahoma
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  Speaker 1: Governor Kevin Stitt has offered to proudly welcome Jewish families
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  Speaker 1: lawfully coming to the United States seeking safety and opportunity
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  Speaker 1: in a letter to President Trump. The governor cited a
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  Speaker 1: disturbing surge in antisemitism, particularly noting concerns in Canada since
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  Speaker 1: the October 7th Hamas massacre in Israel. He emphasized that
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  Speaker 1: Oklahoma is prepared to receive new Jewish neighbors. The security
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  Speaker 1: reality for Jewish institutions remains challenging in 2026. Antisemitism continues
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  Speaker 1: at extremely high levels, posing threats that range from harassment
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  Speaker 1: and vandalism to arson, vehicle attacks, active assailants and terrorism.
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  Speaker 1: Experts recommend preparedness models such as deter, detect, delay, defend.
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  Speaker 1: Emphasizing that basic security measures like working locks and cameras,
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  Speaker 1: alongside clear emergency plans, are vital components in protecting communal spaces.
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  Speaker 1: An item from the Israel Today Telegram channel claims the
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  Speaker 1: UN is providing 10 times more money to Palestinians, than
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  Speaker 1: to needy populations elsewhere. Suggesting this disparity is politically motivated.
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  Speaker 1: The channel also stated, it pays to have the Jews
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  Speaker 1: as your enemies. In response to increased antisemitism and negative
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  Speaker 1: dating app experiences following October 7th, many Jewish individuals are
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  Speaker 1: increasingly seeking partners exclusively within the Jewish community. This trend
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  Speaker 1: described as October 8th endogamy is also affecting LGBTQ plus
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  Speaker 1: singles who report facing exclusionary rhetoric in some queer spaces. Additionally,
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  Speaker 1: an evening of solidarity is being promoted to counter antisemitism,
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  Speaker 1: citing recent antisemitic acts in Texas. The fight against antisemitism
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  Speaker 1: requires vigilance across many fronts, from policy halls to online
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  Speaker 1: spaces and within our communities. I'm Rachel Adler, thank you
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  Speaker 1: for listening to Antisemitism Watch. This report was generated with
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  Speaker 1: AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details
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  Speaker 1: with primary sources.