Anti-Semitism Surges: Jewish Students Harassed at NYC Kosher Restaurant & Verbally Assaulted on Subway

Anti-Semitism Surges: Jewish Students Harassed at NYC Kosher Restaurant & Verbally Assaulted on Subway

Edited by: Fern Sidman

New York City, a melting pot of cultures and ideologies, has recently become the backdrop for rising anti-Semitic incidents, igniting fear among Jewish students and communities. This troubling wave of hostility was on full display earlier this week, when a series of confrontations targeting Jewish students at City College of New York (CUNY) and aboard the city’s subway system shocked many and underscored the worsening climate.

On Tuesday, Jewish students from CUNY gathered at Mr. Broadway, a kosher deli in the heart of New York, to welcome new students to their Hillel chapter. What was intended as a peaceful dinner meant to foster community quickly descended into chaos. According to a report on the Vois Es Nais web site, members of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), alongside other anti-Israel activist groups, disrupted the gathering. Demonstrators burst into the event, hurling accusations and insults at the students, with chants echoing, “Back to Brooklyn – out of the Middle East.”

Hamas supporters harassing Jewish Students from CCNY on Tuesday evening at the Mr. Broadway kosher restaurant in Manhattan. They chanted, “Back to Brooklyn, Out of the Middle East”. @antisemitism #JewHatred @HillelIntl @CCNYCampus #HamasisISIS @Israel
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— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) September 5, 2024

The protesters framed their rhetoric as a critique of Israel’s actions in the Middle East, but the message quickly devolved into outright harassment of visibly Jewish attendees. For the Jewish students, the line between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism had been obliterated. The insistence on driving Jewish students “out of the Middle East” carried deeply troubling connotations, resonating with historical calls for Jewish displacement and statelessness. These disruptions signified more than just political opposition – they represented a direct assault on the Jewish identity of those present.

SJP’s presence at university events, while constitutionally protected under free speech rights, often blurs the boundary between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and outright anti-Semitic vitriol. This particular event highlights the difficult balance universities face in navigating free speech while ensuring that campus environments remain safe and inclusive for all students. Jewish students at CUNY have expressed growing concerns over such disruptions, as this event reflects a wider trend of escalating anti-Semitic activity on American college campuses.

On the same day, a separate, equally disturbing incident occurred on a New York City subway. A Jewish student, easily identifiable by his yarmulke, became the target of a vicious verbal assault while traveling on the 1 train near 96th Street. As per the information provided in the VIN report, a man, wearing a black cap and orange long-sleeved shirt, unleashed a barrage of anti-Semitic accusations at the student, accusing him of being a “rapist,” a “genocider,” and blaming him for the violence in Gaza. The video of the attack, captured and later shared by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), shows the man repeatedly yelling, “He enjoys killing Palestinian Semites. He probably enjoys raping Palestinian Semites too. This is a genocider who loves to kill babies.”

“Zio-Nazi! This is a genocider who loves to kill babies!” A Jewish student wearing a yarmulka on the NYC subway was subjected to an unprovoked, antisemitic tirade. Present on the train were filmers but no supporters. pic.twitter.com/dO4cnLBU76

— Canary Mission (@canarymission) September 3, 2024

The man’s tirade went unchecked as other passengers aboard the subway remained indifferent to the scene. Despite his attempts to incite the other commuters by claiming that the United States and Israel seek to perpetuate violence in Gaza, the crowd remained silent. Noted in the VIN report was that this indifference, while not unexpected in New York’s fast-paced urban environment, deeply disturbed Jewish advocacy groups, who worry that public apathy contributes to the normalization of anti-Semitic behavior.

According to CAM, the student had done nothing to provoke the attack. The verbal onslaught was instigated solely by the sight of his yarmulke, a potent symbol of his Jewish identity. The report also suggested that this highlights the alarming reality that Jewish individuals in public spaces are increasingly being targeted for abuse, not based on their actions or words, but simply for existing as Jews in visible and vulnerable ways.

The VIN report indicated that Liora Rez, founder of StopAntisemitism, voiced her alarm over the subway incident, stating, “This was a blatant attack on a Jewish person simply for wearing a yarmulke. It is horrifying to see that in 2024, people are still being harassed and attacked for their faith.” Rez’s group, along with others like CAM, has been documenting the growing prevalence of such incidents, both in public settings and on college campuses.

“October 7 ripped off the band-aid, exposing a deeply-rooted wave of anti-Semitism that has been simmering for decades,” Rez explained. Her statement calls attention to the reality that anti-Semitic sentiments, long lurking beneath the surface, are now being openly expressed with alarming frequency and intensity.

Rez criticized the apathy of those in the subway car, noting that their silence allowed the assailant to continue his hateful tirade unchecked. “These offenders, now emboldened by inaction, feel free to unleash their vitriol and even issue threats against innocent people,” she said.

Rez’s remarks were also directed at city officials, particularly Mayor Eric Adams, calling for immediate action to combat the rise in anti-Semitism. “Jewish students should be able to move freely on campus, public transportation, and elsewhere without fear of harassment or threats,” Rez urged while speaking to The New York Post.

Jewish activist Lizzy Savetsky, who herself recently faced anti-Israel protesters, added her voice to the growing chorus calling for action. “The student isn’t in Israel, he’s not in the IDF; he’s just trying to ride the train, but he’s being targeted simply because he’s Jewish,” Savetsky told The Post. Her words capture the absurdity and danger of the growing trend where Jewish people are held personally accountable for actions abroad, regardless of their connection or personal beliefs.

Savetsky’s encounter with anti-Israel protesters, combined with the subway incident, demonstrates how the line between criticism of Israeli policies and anti-Semitism is often blurred, leaving Jewish individuals in New York vulnerable to hostility. “The more we allow these incidents to occur, the worse the situation will become,” she warned, as she offered her comments to The Post.  Her call to action is a reminder that without strong, consistent measures, the situation for Jewish residents is likely to deteriorate further.

Around the same time as the subway attack, city authorities discovered anti-Semitic graffiti in Central Park. Messages such as  “Zionism weaponized Jewish Trauma” and “Israel would bomb your Hospitals too” were scrawled in public view, adding another layer to the growing problem, according to the information in the VIN report. The graffiti, filled with accusations against Zionism and Israel, further inflames tensions by distorting Jewish history and weaponizing Jewish trauma for political ends.

This type of messaging is particularly harmful because it seeks to erase the legitimacy of Jewish identity by reducing it to a political statement, rather than recognizing the deeply rooted cultural, religious, and historical aspects of Zionism. By associating Zionism with violence or oppression, it not only distorts the debate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but also invites hostility toward Jews who may identify with or support the existence of Israel as a Jewish state.

The events of October 7 have exposed the extent of anti-Semitism simmering beneath the surface in New York. Jewish students and residents are increasingly finding themselves targeted simply for their identity, whether on college campuses, public transportation, or even in parks. The growing frequency and brazenness of these attacks demand a concerted response from city officials, law enforcement, and the broader public.

Unity within the city’s diverse communities is essential. Anti-Semitism is not just a problem for the Jewish community; it is a societal issue that threatens the fabric of New York’s identity as a city of inclusivity. Addressing this crisis requires solidarity, where all residents, regardless of background, come together to reject hatred and promote a safer, more tolerant future for everyone.

In the face of a worrying rise in anti-Semitic violence and sentiment across the United States, StopAntisemitism has emerged as a powerful and vital grassroots watchdog organization. Founded in 2018, StopAntisemitism was created in response to the alarming surge of hate crimes and public hostility targeting Jewish communities. Its mission is clear: to expose and combat individuals and groups that engage in or promote anti-Semitism, while working to foster a safer and more inclusive environment for Jews across the country. In just a few short years, the organization has become a critical force in holding accountable those who espouse hatred, incitement, and violence toward the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

The founding of StopAntisemitism in 2018 was no coincidence. The late 2010s saw a sharp rise in anti-Semitic attacks and hate crimes in the United States, including some of the deadliest incidents targeting Jewish communities in modern American history. Most notably, the horrific 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, which claimed the lives of 11 worshippers, sent shockwaves through the nation and underscored the urgency of addressing the growing menace of anti-Semitism. This tragic event became a tipping point, revealing the extent of unchecked hate that was festering in society. In the wake of such violence, many Jewish individuals and organizations realized the need for a coordinated, grassroots response. StopAntisemitism was born out of this recognition, channeling the outrage and fear felt by Jewish communities into proactive advocacy and action.

At the core of StopAntisemitism’s mission is the desire to expose anti-Semitic behaviors, rhetoric, and individuals who incite hatred toward Jews. This watchdog organization tracks and documents incidents of anti-Semitism across the country, from hate-filled online posts to physical assaults on Jewish individuals. By monitoring antisemitic rhetoric in public discourse, StopAntisemitism ensures that these acts are not ignored, enabling the broader public to be aware of and responsive to such threats.

The organization takes a direct and unflinching approach, shining a spotlight on individuals and groups—whether they are political activists, influencers, or everyday citizens—who engage in incitement against Jews or promote anti-Jewish sentiments. Through investigative reports, social media campaigns, and public alerts, StopAntisemitism works to hold these offenders accountable, often by drawing attention to their harmful behavior and calling for appropriate consequences, such as job termination or social media deplatforming.

Additionally, StopAntisemitism focuses on education, seeking to foster a better understanding of what constitutes anti-Semitism and why it remains such a persistent threat. By offering resources to schools, universities, and communities, the organization hopes to combat ignorance and help people recognize when criticism of Israel or Jewish people crosses into anti-Semitic territory. Their efforts in education are critical, particularly as younger generations increasingly engage in online activism, where anti-Semitic sentiments are sometimes repackaged as political critiques.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) also plays a vital role in addressing and combating the global rise of anti-Semitism. CAM is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to tracking, exposing, and fighting anti-Semitism in all its forms, including traditional hatred toward Jews, contemporary anti-Zionism that crosses into anti-Semitism, and newer forms that may arise in digital and public spheres.

CAM actively monitors and documents anti-Semitic incidents globally. It tracks various forms of anti-Semitism, from hate speech and vandalism to physical attacks, ensuring that such acts do not go unnoticed. CAM frequently shares this information to raise awareness and alert the public to emerging patterns of hatred, such as the subway incident in New York mentioned in the article.

By sharing incidents and trends in anti-Semitism through its platform, CAM raises awareness about the growing threat posed to Jewish communities worldwide. CAM serves as a voice for the Jewish community and highlights the importance of distinguishing between legitimate criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism. It advocates for stronger laws and policies to combat hate speech, both in-person and online, and to protect vulnerable Jewish populations.

CAM works with a broad range of organizations, governments, and institutions to promote the fight against anti-Semitism. This coalition-building helps to create a united front, enhancing efforts to combat hate crimes and improve education about anti-Semitism. Its broad network allows CAM to foster collaboration and share best practices in addressing anti-Semitic incidents across different regions and sectors.

In essence, CAM acts as a watchdog, advocate, and educational resource in the fight against anti-Semitism, working to ensure that these forms of hatred are recognized, addressed, and ultimately eradicated from society.

In these difficult times, advocacy groups such as StopAntisemitism and CAM are more critical than ever. They continue to raise awareness, document incidents, and provide support for those targeted by hate. But lasting change will require a collective effort to address the root causes of anti-Semitism and to educate communities about the dangers of allowing such hatred to fester unchallenged.