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Antisemitic Incidents in U.S. Decline for First Time in Five Years, ADL Reports
The number of antisemitic incidents across the United States fell by 33% in 2025, marking the first decline in five years according to the Anti-Defamation League’s annual audit released Wednesday. The organization reported 6,274 incidents of antisemitic assaults, harassment, and vandalism, down from the record high of 9,354 tallied in 2024.
A significant factor in this decline was the sharp decrease in incidents on college campuses, which fell by 66% from 1,694 in 2024 to 583 in 2025. This reduction comes after many universities implemented stronger measures to curb anti-Zionist and pro-Palestinian protests, largely in response to pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration.
Despite the overall reduction, ADL National Director Jonathan Greenblatt characterized 2025 as “one of the most violent years for American Jews,” noting a record-high 203 physical assaults. The report documented three fatal antisemitic attacks, including a May shooting outside Washington D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum that killed two Jewish people and a June firebombing at a Boulder, Colorado event about Israeli hostages that resulted in the death of an 82-year-old Jewish woman.
“Numbers that would have shocked us five years ago are now our floor,” Greenblatt said. “People are being murdered because of antisemitism on American soil, and thousands more are threatened.”
New York led the nation with 1,160 antisemitic incidents, followed by California (817) and New Jersey (687).
The proportion of antisemitic incidents related to Israel or Zionism dropped to 45% in 2025, compared to 58% the previous year. The ADL noted that anti-Israel rallies featuring “extreme anti-Israel rhetoric that crossed the line into antisemitism” decreased significantly—by 67% overall and by 83% on college campuses.
This decline follows concerted efforts by the ADL to address campus antisemitism, including launching a Campus Antisemitism Report Card that grades colleges on their policies, filing lawsuits, and reaching settlements with institutions like Pomona College.
However, Greenblatt cautioned against complacency, noting that despite the decrease, “campus incidents in 2025 are still nearly four times higher than they were in 2021.”
The ADL’s methodology has become a flashpoint in ongoing debates about the boundaries between criticism of Israel and antisemitism. While the organization states it is “careful to not conflate general criticism of Israel or anti-Israel activism with antisemitism,” it considers vilification of Zionism a form of antisemitism—a position contested by some critics, including certain Jewish groups.
Aryeh Tuchman, former leader of the ADL’s Center on Extremism and current director at the Nexus Center for Antisemitism, acknowledged these tensions: “The ADL’s approach emerges from their genuine concern that anti-Zionism is a genuine threat to the safety and security of American Jews. There are a lot of people who would disagree with that… It’s important that there be room for multiple approaches.”
In response to increased scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activism on campuses, the Council on American-Islamic Relations launched an “Unhostile Campus Campaign” to protect free speech for pro-Palestinian students and faculty. The organization identified Columbia University, the City University of New York, and the University of Michigan as the “most hostile” institutions in its latest assessment.
The decline in U.S. antisemitic incidents comes amid growing concerns about antisemitism globally. In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for tougher measures following stabbings of Jewish men in London and arson attacks on synagogues. Australia is conducting a wide-ranging inquiry after a December Hanukkah celebration massacre at Bondi Beach that killed fifteen people.
According to Tel Aviv University research, 2025 was the deadliest year for antisemitic attacks globally since the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Argentina, with a total of 20 deaths across Australia, Britain, and the United States.
The contrasting trends—fewer overall incidents but more severe violence—highlight the complex nature of contemporary antisemitism and the challenges facing communities and policymakers in addressing it effectively.
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10 Comments
This is an interesting development. While any decline in antisemitic incidents is positive, the report still highlights ongoing concerns with violence and hate crimes targeting Jewish communities. Continued vigilance and efforts to address the root causes are crucial.
You’re right, the decline is certainly encouraging but there’s still work to be done. Addressing the underlying drivers of antisemitism will be key to making lasting progress.
The figures on fatal antisemitic attacks are heartbreaking. Even as the numbers trend downward, these tragic incidents show that the threat of deadly violence remains all too real for Jewish communities. Ongoing vigilance and security measures will continue to be essential.
This report provides a nuanced picture – positive momentum in some areas, but persistent and severe challenges in others. Maintaining focus and sustained efforts to address the root causes of antisemitism from all angles will be crucial going forward.
The report paints a complex picture – progress in some areas, but ongoing and severe challenges. Addressing the root causes of antisemitism, from all angles, will be essential to building a more just and equitable society where Jewish communities can live without fear of violence or hate.
While the overall decline is welcome news, the report’s characterization of 2025 as “one of the most violent years for American Jews” is quite concerning. The increase in physical assaults is especially troubling and underscores the need for a multi-pronged approach to combating antisemitism.
The sharp drop in campus incidents is noteworthy. It suggests that the stronger measures taken by universities may have had an impact, though the details behind that would be interesting to understand further. Curious to see if this trend continues.
Yes, the campus numbers are quite striking. Effective policies to curb hate and intolerance on campuses could be an important part of the solution going forward.
The sharp decline in campus incidents is an encouraging sign, but the continued threat of violence highlighted in the report is deeply concerning. Clearly there is still much work to be done to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities across the United States.
While any reduction in antisemitic incidents is welcome, the report’s findings suggest the need for continued vigilance and a comprehensive approach to combating hate. The persistence of deadly attacks underscores the gravity of the situation and the imperative for sustained, multi-faceted efforts.