Latest / Antisemitism Watch / Antisemitism Watch - September 8, 2026, 01 PM Eastern

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Antisemitism Watch - September 8, 2026, 01 PM Eastern · Antisemitism Watch

• 0:06
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. Today, we're
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  Speaker 1: tracking a concerning indictment in New York, examining dangerous rhetoric
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  Speaker 1: from a Canadian political candidate, and looking at how online
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  Speaker 1: platforms are grappling with the language of hate. We also
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  Speaker 1: bring you updates on institutional accountability and vital security measures
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  Speaker 1: as Jewish communities prepare for the High Holy Days. We
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  Speaker 1: begin with a significant legal development in New York City.
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  Speaker 1: Raoul Morales has pleaded not guilty to hate crime charges
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  Speaker 1: related to a double stabbing on the Upper West Side.
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  Speaker 1: According to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Morales allegedly attacked
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  Speaker 1: a 57-year-old Asian man and then 50-year-old Mosh Grunhaus, a
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  Speaker 1: Jewish man, in July. Prosecutors allege antisemitism was the motive
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  Speaker 1: citing text messages found on Morales' phone. District Attorney Bragg
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  Speaker 1: stated that Morales was allegedly motivated by antisemitism and when
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  Speaker 1: he attacked two New Yorkers. Both victims sustained serious injuries,
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  Speaker 1: but are expected to recover. The DA's office also announced
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  Speaker 1: a hate crime indictment and provided a hotline for victims
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  Speaker 1: and witnesses. In Canada, concerns are mounting over rhetoric from
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  Speaker 1: a municipal council candidate. Rasha Zaid, running for Windsor City Council,
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  Speaker 1: was captured on video at a demonstration stating, Every person
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  Speaker 1: that announces they are a Zionist must be locked up.
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  Speaker 1: They are terrorists. She was also reportedly heard leading chants
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  Speaker 1: calling Zionists racists and terrorists. Social media posts attributed to Zaid,
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  Speaker 1: according to reporting, also claim antisemitism is staged and does
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  Speaker 1: not exist. Zaid has stated her opposition is directed at
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  Speaker 1: actions causing harm, not at those identifying as Zionist, and
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  Speaker 1: that her full context is often lost. However, Michael Tepper,
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  Speaker 1: president of several Canadian Jewish organizations, expressed concern. calling it
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  Speaker 1: an emerging pattern of candidates using elected office to advance
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  Speaker 1: anti-Israel ideology and a threat to Jewish life in Canada.
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  Speaker 1: In the United States, a new report highlights growing concerns
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  Speaker 1: among Jewish voters regarding the Democratic Party's handling of anti-Semitism
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  Speaker 1: within its progressive wing, potentially impacting critical Senate races. Polling
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  Speaker 1: indicates Jewish voters are increasingly alienated by what is described
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  Speaker 1: as a refusal to forcefully condemn anti-Semitism. Several Democratic nominees
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  Speaker 1: are noted. Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed reportedly made offensive comments about
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  Speaker 1: Jews and Israel, while Texas nominee James Tallarico has called
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  Speaker 1: Israel's actions in Gaza war crimes. Reports also note a
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  Speaker 1: trend where progressive candidates, sometimes described as anti-Israel at best
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  Speaker 1: and straight-up anti-Semitic at worst, have defeated more moderate, AIPAC-backed Democrats.
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  Speaker 1: the Republican Jewish Coalition stated that Democrats have handed their
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  Speaker 1: party over to the far-left mob. In New York City,
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  Speaker 1: Mayor Zoran Mamdani's rhetoric critical of Israel has drawn criticism
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  Speaker 1: from some Jewish leaders, who reportedly cite it as a
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  Speaker 1: factor in rising anti-Semitic attacks, and he faced calls not
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  Speaker 1: to attend the 9-11 anniversary ceremony. In Israel, remarks by
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  Speaker 1: Sarah Netanyahu suggesting Ya'ir Galen knew about the October 7
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  Speaker 1: attack are being characterized as an irresponsible legitimization of conspiracy
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  Speaker 1: theories targeting Israel and Jews. This statement comes amidst what
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  Speaker 1: the article describes as an explosion in radical anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.
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  Speaker 1: The piece notes that such theories, which have historically accompanied
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  Speaker 1: waves of anti-Semitism, are now feeding on clichés and falsehoods,
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  Speaker 1: echoing past conspiracy narratives, including those surrounding 9-11. The remarks
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  Speaker 1: are seen as contributing to a pattern of deflection and blame,
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  Speaker 1: particularly among supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On professional networks,
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  Speaker 1: the language used to combat hate is itself coming under scrutiny.
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  Speaker 1: One user on LinkedIn reported their private message, containing the
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  Speaker 1: word antisemitism, was flagged by the platform's kindness reminder system,
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  Speaker 1: questioning why the term itself has become a problem. An
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  Speaker 1: investigation into LinkedIn's moderation practices found that while it has
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  Speaker 1: a removal rate for antisemitic posts, much hate content remains.
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  Speaker 1: Reports indicate that even material like, Hitler was right, has
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  Speaker 1: sometimes been deemed compliant with LinkedIn's rules. Furthermore, Jewish users
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  Speaker 1: who have attempted to combat antisemitism on the platform have
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  Speaker 1: allegedly faced punishment, with one user suing for selective enforcement.
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  Speaker 1: This highlights how moderation systems, trained on user reports, can
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  Speaker 1: inadvertently penalize those fighting hate. A critical review of federal
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  Speaker 1: actions impacting higher education comes from former U.S. Department of
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  Speaker 1: Education civil rights attorneys. They allege that the Trump administration's
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  Speaker 1: interagency task force, tasked with investigating Title VI antisemitism complaints,
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  Speaker 1: acted unlawfully. In a letter, these former attorneys claim the
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  Speaker 1: task force used antisemitism as a smokescreen, for an ideologically
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  Speaker 1: motivated attack on universities. They contend the task force often
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  Speaker 1: made extreme findings without proper investigation, unlawfully compelled universities to
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  Speaker 1: alter curricula or programs, and threatened federal funding. The attorneys
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  Speaker 1: also express concern over universities disciplining faculty for criticizing Israel's conduct.
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  Speaker 1: Stating these actions, driven by fear of antisemitism accusations, offend
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  Speaker 1: academic freedom. As Jewish communities prepare for the High Holy Days,
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  Speaker 1: security measures are being significantly enhanced. In New York, Governor
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  Speaker 1: Kathy Hochul is allocating $ 70 million to Jewish non-profits to
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  Speaker 1: harden facilities and is increasing police presence around synagogues. This
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  Speaker 1: comes as New York City data shows hate crimes rose 15.8% year-over-year,
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  Speaker 1: with over half targeting the Jewish community. Across the Atlantic,
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  Speaker 1: in the UK, Thames Valley police have launched Operation Tishrei.
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  Speaker 1: significantly increasing security patrols around Jewish communities in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire,
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  Speaker 1: and Oxfordshire. These measures are a response to international increases
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  Speaker 1: in antisemitic incidents since October 7th. Experts emphasize that sustained
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  Speaker 1: preparedness is crucial, urging organizations to review emergency procedures, engage
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  Speaker 1: with law enforcement year-round, and train community members to work
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  Speaker 1: alongside security personnel and police. On the international stage, diplomatic
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  Speaker 1: tensions have escalated between the United Kingdom and Israel. Britain
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  Speaker 1: announced sweeping measures targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank,
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  Speaker 1: banning imports and sanctioning companies. Israel responded by closing the
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  Speaker 1: British consulate in Jerusalem and denying entry to several British
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  Speaker 1: nationals accused of anti-Semitic or anti-Israel activity. UK. Foreign Secretary
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  Speaker 1: Ed Miliband, who described himself as a proud British Jew.
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  Speaker 1: stated that while Britain's official view is that the occupation
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  Speaker 1: is unlawful, the sanctions target settlements, not Israel itself. He
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  Speaker 1: also condemned rising antisemitism in Britain, stating that holding British
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  Speaker 1: Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli government constitutes antisemitism. Finally,
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  Speaker 1: in London, advocacy groups are launching public witness appeals following
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  Speaker 1: reports of a Jewish schoolboy being beaten outside Belsize Park
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  Speaker 1: station last Friday. Notices circulated online state a pictured group
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  Speaker 1: of boys was allegedly involved in the assault. However, according
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  Speaker 1: to inquiries made by the Jerusalem Post, both the Metropolitan
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  Speaker 1: Police and the British Transport Police stated they have no
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  Speaker 1: record of any report matching the incident or any active
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  Speaker 1: official police appeal. The campaign against antisemitism has urged witnesses
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  Speaker 1: to come forward with any information. I'm Rachel Adler, thank
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  Speaker 1: you for listening to Antisemitism Watch. Follow Antisemitism Watch in
• 8:07
  Speaker 1: your podcast app so you don't miss the next update.
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  Speaker 1: This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies.
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  Speaker 1: Please verify important details with primary sources.