Latest / Antisemitism Watch / Antisemitism Watch - August 16, 2026, 01 PM Eastern

Transcript

Antisemitism Watch - August 16, 2026, 01 PM Eastern · Antisemitism Watch

• 0:06
  Speaker 1: Welcome to Antisemitism. Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. Today we're tracking
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: a wave of incidents from physical assaults to institutional responses.
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: In New York City, a man faces multiple hate crime
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: charges after barging into Shabbat's services at Manhattan's Central Synagogue.
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: Larry Montes, forty six, of the Bronx, allegedly attacked a congregant,
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: causing a laceration, and head butded a security guard. He
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: is charged with assault and criminal mischief as hate crimes,
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: among fourteen offenses. The incident, which disrupted the service and
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: was captured on live stream, has drawn condemnation from Mayor
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: Zorn Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hotchell, Attorney General Lettisha James, and
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: Senator Chuck Schumer. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tish, who has personal
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: ties to the synagogue, stated that a sergeant on paid
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: detail immediately took Monty's into custody, emphasizing that a place
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: of worship should never be a crime scene. The synagogue
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: itself noted its congregants refused to let hate extinguish their
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: Shabbat light. According to reporting reviewed for this episode, Montes's
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: Facebook page featured posts about Israel and Judaism, and his
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: aunt stated he expressed a desire to convert to Judaism,
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: though she had not spoken with him in months. He
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: also reposted content comparing Mayor Mamdani to Iran's Iatola Ruhallacomini.
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: Some Jewish and Israeli advocates have criticized Mayor Mamdani, alleging
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: his past rhetoric against israel Fuel's anti Semitism, though other
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: reporting notes there is currently no evidence linking Manti's alleged
• 1:39
  Speaker 1: actions to the mayor's statements. Turning internationally, a newly opened
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: hobbad house in Heirektia, Sri Lanka became the target of
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: violent attacks and antisemitic harassment over Chabus. Protesters used loud speakers,
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: through firecrackers and stones, shattering windows and trapped Schlutchem and
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: Israeli tourists inside until police intervened. Rabbi Yasi Gabbi described
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: the incident as frightening and appealed for governmental intervention and
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: permanent security. Israeli m k Avi Maus has also called
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: for urgent intervention from Israel's Foreign Ministry. In Belfast, Northern Ireland,
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: an I twenty four news television crew filming a documentary
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: on rising antisemitism was physically assaulted while conducting interviews. A
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: man overheard they were from Israel, began shouting anti Israel slurs,
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: attempted to seize their camera equipment and throw a beer mug,
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: striking cameraman Nadav ABBA's in the head and causing a laceration.
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: The crew had experienced prior verbal altercations and slurs during
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: their time in the country. Also in New York, police
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: are seeking public assistance to identify a suspect involved in
• 2:49
  Speaker 1: the assault of a seventy six year old man in
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: Brooklyn following a minor scooter collision. The suspect allegedly punched
• 2:56
  Speaker 1: and kicked the victim multiple times before fleeing on a scooter.
• 3:00
  Speaker 1: On campus, Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada is establishing a
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: President's Implementation Task Force on campus expression, antisemitism and community Safety.
• 3:12
  Speaker 1: This follows a commissioned report that identified a polarized campus
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: climate and recommended the university adopt the IHRA Working Definition
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: of antisemitism, noting that opposition to Zionism can become discriminatory
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: when it denies Jewish self determination in political discourse, questions
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: have been raised about the U S granting a visa
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: to Romanian politician George Simeon, leader of the au R Party.
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: Concerns have been voiced by historians and Jewish organizations regarding
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: his record, which includes praising figures linked to Romania's fascist
• 3:46
  Speaker 1: and antisemitic past and opposing measures against Russian incursions. The
• 3:50
  Speaker 1: piece argues this is inconsistent with American values, given the
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: US role in Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism. Also examine
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: the broader pattern of disproportionate global focus on Jewish people
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: and Israel in media and political discourse, referencing analyzes that
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: have highlighted historical tropes and contemporary figures. Finally, in a
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: move to address antisemitism, the soccer club c F Montreal
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: has banned two supporters for antisemitic comments. That's all for
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: this edition of Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. Thank you
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: for joining us. This report was generated with AI assistance
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.