Anti-Semitic Incidents Declined Significantly Across New York State in 2008

Date: June 1, 2009

Anti-Semitic incidents declined significantly in New York State in 2008, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The League's annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, issued today, counted a total of 207 incidents in New York State in 2008, down from the 351 incidents reported in 2007.

Reversing a longtime trend, New York State did not rank first in the nation for the overall number of anti-Jewish incidents. In 2008, New York came in third, behind New Jersey (with 238) and California (with 226).

In the five boroughs of New York City, there were a total of 106 incidents reported to ADL in 2008, compared to 193 in 2007, and all of the boroughs, with the exception of Brooklyn, experienced significant declines.

"It is heartening to see such a drastic decline in the number of anti-Semitic incidents in New York," said Kenneth Jacobson, Acting Director of ADL's New York Regional Office. "Over the years, New York has become a place where fairness and mutual respect win out. However, as demonstrated by the recently thwarted plot to bomb two synagogues in Riverdale, Jews continue to be targeted simply because they are Jewish. It takes only one serious incident to have serious repercussions for safety and well-being of the community, so we take the threat seriously."

"The decrease in anti-Semitic incidents in New York is welcome and encouraging," added David S. Hershberg, ADL New York Regional Board Chair. "Yet the high volume of incidents, including 10 physical assaults against Jews, is a sign that acts of intimidation and hatred against Jews continue to be a concern in New York State."

The decrease in anti-Semitic incidents – classified in the Audit as vandalism, harassment and physical assaults against Jewish individuals, property and community institutions – was consistent with, though nearly four times greater than the national decline. Nationwide, the ADL Audit reported a total of 1,352 incidents of vandalism, harassment and physical assaults against Jewish individuals, property and community institutions in 2008, marking a 7 percent decline from 1,460 incidents reported in 2007.

The 2008 Audit comprises data from 44 states and the District of Columbia, including official crime statistics as well as information provided to ADL's regional offices by victims, law enforcement officers and community leaders. The Audit identifies both criminal and non-criminal incidents of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate literature, threats and slurs, and includes anti-Semitic rallies and conferences.

New York: Anti-Semitic Acts by Region

According to the Audit, New York State experienced 36 incidents of harassment in 2008, a sharp decrease from the 111 reported incidents in 2007. The 10 reports of physical assault are down from 14 in 2007. The 161 instances of vandalism also represent a decline from the 239 cases reported in 2007.

All of New York City's boroughs experienced significant declines in the total number of anti-Semitic incidents, with the exception of Brooklyn, whose number decreased only by two. The Bronx only had one reported incident in 2008, versus 13 in 2007.

Following are the total number of anti-Semitic incidents in specific regions:

Brooklyn 68, down from 70 in 2007
Manhattan 27, down from 65
Queens 6, down from 35
Staten Island 4, down from 13
Bronx 1, down from 10
Westchester & Upstate NY 10, down from 40
Long Island Nassau: 70; Suffolk: 21 - 91, down from 118

Sampling of Anti-Semitic Incidents in New York State in 2008:

• Brooklyn, NY – A 16-year-old boy in Crown Heights was walking to a friend's house when he was surrounded by five black males who began punching and kicking him, yelling "Get the Jew boy," "you dirty Jew" and other obscenities. (January)
• Brooklyn, NY – A Jewish man walking near his home with his son was approached by a group of men who pushed the father to the ground, punched and kicked him, and pulled on his beard while yelling obscenities about Jews (February).
• Queens, NY – A cemetery caretaker discovered 11 tombstones defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti. Seven tombstones had spray-painted swastikas and four had anti-Semitic writing (February).
• Brooklyn, NY – While walking down the street, a man was approached by six black males who yelled obscenities at him and slapped his yarmulke off his head (April).
• Manhattan, NY – A school bus filled with children from a yeshiva was stoned by two Black males approximately 10-12 years of age (May).
• Kiamesha Lake (Sullivan County), NY - Three teens were arrested after allegedly beating four Orthodox Jewish men in an upstate parking lot (August).

About the ADL Audit

The Audit identifies both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs. Compiled using official crime statistics, as well as information provided to and evaluated by ADL’s professional staff by victims, law enforcement officers and community leaders, the Audit provides an annual snapshot of a nationwide problem while identifying possible trends or changes in the types of activity reported.

This information assists ADL in developing and enhancing its programs to counter and prevent the spread of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry.  More information on the Audit's methodology and state-by state-information is available on the League’s Web site.