On the 85th Anniversary of Kristallnacht  – Jew Hatred Rears Its Ugly Head Once Again

On the 85^th Anniversary of Kristallnacht  – Jew Hatred Rears Its Ugly Head Once Again

The significant surge in anti-Semitic incidents in New York City following the events of October 7 highlights the questionable focus of the Biden administration on Islamophobia while addressing the dangers faced by both sides, as was stated in a New York Post editorial.  On the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 Nazi pogrom preceding the Holocaust, it is inappropriate to downplay the recent Hamas pogrom that claimed the lives of 1,400 Israelis, including infants and children, involving mass rapes and hostage-taking.

Even before Israel’s justified response, the brutal Hamas massacre triggered a fresh wave of anti-Semitic attacks against Jews throughout the city and state, as was noted in the Post editorial.  According to the NYPD, hate crimes spiked by 124% last month compared to October 2022, primarily driven by a 214% increase in anti-Jewish incidents. The city witnessed a total of 101 hate crimes in the past month, compared to 45 in the same period last October, the Post editorial added. Notably, 69 of these crimes were anti-Jewish, whereas only eight were anti-Muslim.

FBI chief Christopher Wray informed Congress that, even in ordinary times, Jews, constituting 2.4% of the U.S. population, are targeted in 60% of religion-based hate crimes nationally. The Post editorial indicated that while acknowledging instances of harassment against Muslims and isolated incidents targeting Sikhs, it is evident that anti-Semitic violence poses a more substantial and pressing issue. The White House should refrain from downplaying this stark reality and misinforming the nation about the severity of anti-Semitic violence.

Case in Point. On Thursday, the Post reported that the New York Police Department (NYPD) is actively seeking the identities of four youths believed to be responsible for vandalizing four buildings on the Upper East Side with anti-Semitic graffiti, including multiple swastikas. The incident occurred around 5:20 p.m. on October 9 near East 85th Street and 3rd Avenue, just two days after the Hamas deadly attack on Israel.

The individuals, described as having youthful appearances, defaced the buildings with such offensive writings as the word “Hamas” in addition to the swastikas, the Post reported. Following the act, the group fled in the eastbound direction on East 85th Street, and fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is currently conducting an investigation into the incident. In efforts to identify the suspects, the police have released surveillance photos depicting the four individuals walking on the sidewalk with backpacks, as was reported by the Post.  Authorities are urging anyone with information related to this case to come forward and assist in their ongoing efforts to apprehend the vandals.