U.S. Jewish assaults hit 46-year high in 2025 amid rising antisemitism

Antisemitic violence surges to 46-year high in the U.S.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) announced on Wednesday that physical assaults against Jewish people in the U.S. last year reached the highest levels since 1979. The findings, based on the ADL's annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, reveal a troubling rise in violence despite an overall decline in reported antisemitic incidents.

Key findings from the 2025 audit

• Total incidents: 6,274 antisemitic incidents were recorded in 2025, a 33% decrease from 2024 but still the third-highest total on record.
• Assaults: Anti-Jewish assaults rose to 203 in 2025, up from 196 in 2024. Of these, 32 involved deadly weapons, compared to 23 in 2024.
• Fatalities: Three people were killed in antisemitic attacks in 2025—the first year since 2019 that Jewish people were murdered in the U.S. due to antisemitic violence.

Notable antisemitic attacks in 2025

• A shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
• A Molotov cocktail attack at a rally for Israeli hostages in Colorado
• The stabbing of a Jewish man in New York
• A firebombing of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence while the first family was inside. Shapiro is Jewish.

Global antisemitism trends

Antisemitism is not limited to the U.S. and has risen worldwide, often linked to geopolitical conflicts in Gaza and Iran. In Europe, a wave of stabbings, arson attacks, and synagogue vandalism has led to counterterrorism probes and heightened security for Jewish communities. Global incidents spiked by 34% following the escalation of fighting in the region.

Campus incidents decline sharply

While antisemitism surged in many areas, U.S. college campuses saw a significant drop in incidents. The ADL recorded 583 antisemitic incidents on campuses in 2025, a 66% decrease from 1,694 in 2024. Incidents tied to anti-Israel protests fell by 83%.

Expert analysis: Progress is an illusion

"When the tide goes out… what's left is the stuff that is too heavy to wash away." — Oren Segal, ADL senior vice president for counter-extremism and intelligence

Segal emphasized that the decline in incidents should not be misinterpreted as progress. "Antisemitism remains normalized in our public discussion and social media," he said. "Jews in this country are still being harassed, assaulted, and targeted an average of 17 times a day. That is not a sign of deep progress."

Geographic hotspots

Large metropolitan areas continued to drive the totals. The highest concentrations of incidents were recorded in:

• New York: 1,160 incidents, including 90 assaults. New York City alone saw 860 incidents—the largest cluster nationally.
• Los Angeles County: 398 incidents.
• Northern New Jersey: Remained a significant hotspot.

Early FBI data shows mixed trends

Early FBI data reviewed by Axios indicated that anti-Jewish hate crimes fell in 2025, even as overall hate crimes remained at historically high levels. Anti-Latino and anti-Sikh hate crimes also hit records. Hate crime expert Brian Levin cautioned that anti-Jewish hate crime numbers could rise as more police departments submit final reports.

Scope of the ADL's audit

The ADL's Center on Extremism collects data on antisemitic incidents, including hate crimes—defined as violence stemming from a victim's race, color, sexuality, religion, or national origin—as well as verbal harassment and speeches on college campuses. The ADL has previously faced criticism for including campus incidents in its reports.