Antisemitic Acts in Massachusetts Surge to Nearly Double Last Year’s Figures

According to a new report released Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League, New England experienced a stunning spike in antisemitic occurrences last year, which outpaced the national increase.

In 2023, the ADL’s New England area, which encompasses Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, reported 623 antisemitic instances of assault, harassment, and vandalism. According to the ADL, the amount is a record high for the region and marks a 205 percent rise from 2022. “We have seen a large increase in events, followed by a surge, and now by a tsunami.

Each tracked data point represents a family, synagogue, school, or child who has been targeted for hatred merely because of their Jewish identity,” Fish said in a statement. “This is unbearable in New England, as it is throughout the country. We urge everyone who values living in a decent society to band together and put an end to the rise in anti-Jewish hatred.”

Antisemitism skyrocketed in New England following Hamas’ attack on Israel last fall. The ADL reported that 44 percent of the events in the region last year occurred after October 7. Last year, there were 8,873 occurrences nationwide, marking another record high since the ADL began recording the statistics in 1979. That figure represents a 140 percent increase over 2022.

There were 440 antisemitic occurrences in Massachusetts in 2023, up over 190 percent from 152 in 2022. Massachusetts also has the fifth-greatest number of incidents per state in the US, after only California, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

The ADL reported a 70% rise in vandalism in Massachusetts, with 139 instances in 2023 compared to 82 in 2022. “Incidents of harassment increased by 444% (293 incidents in 2023 vs. 66 in 2022). Massachusetts suffered eight attacks, more than double the number recorded in 2022.

Last year, 127 Massachusetts cities and towns reported at least one antisemitic event, which included attacks, white supremacist propaganda, destruction of Jewish facilities, and occurrences in K-12 schools.

The ADL reported 52 antisemitic occurrences in Rhode Island last year, 43 in Vermont, 35 in New Hampshire, and 53 in Maine. Harassment incidents soared by 327 percent in the region, while vandalism rose by 94%.

In New England, incidents grew considerably at Jewish institutions and schools, non-Jewish K-12 schools, college campuses, public locations such as parks and transit, private companies, and houses. There were 81 occurrences on college campuses last year, up to 15 the year before. In K-12 schools, incidents nearly doubled, going from 53 in 2022 to 101 in 2023.

“Antisemitism is not a Jewish problem,” Fish explained. “This is a societal problem. We can only solve this collectively.”

During an advocacy event at the State House last week, faith-based school leaders urged Beacon Hill lawmakers to enhance money for nonprofit security grants in the face of rising hate crimes and antisemitism. In her fiscal 2025 budget plan, Gov. Maura Healey recommended $1.5 million for the state program, while the House proposes $3 million.

“I no longer feel safe, not in my school, not for my students, not for my children and the children of our community’s parents,” Rabbi Yaakov Green, head of Maimonides School in Brookline, stated. “The math doesn’t lie — dramatic rises in hate crimes and the incredibly out-of-whack percentage that are focused on Jews can no longer be quaintly ignored.”

Healey expressed her support for Israel over the weekend, after Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at the country.

“Massachusetts stands with the people of Israel and @POTUS in the face of this unprecedented attack by Iran,” Healey wrote on X on Saturday night. “We are continuing to monitor the situation and communicate with state law enforcement and public safety officials.”