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By: Fern Sidman

Despite a modest year-over-year decline in reported antisemitic incidents in New Jersey, newly released 2024 data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals a deeply troubling picture: the Garden State continues to rank among the top three states in the nation for antisemitic activity, contributing to an unprecedented nationwide surge that reached an all-time high.

According to the release on Tuesday of the ADL’s annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, New Jersey recorded 719 reported antisemitic incidents in 2024 — a 13% drop from the state’s record-setting 830 incidents in 2023. However, this decline is overshadowed by the fact that the 2024 figure remains the second highest in New Jersey’s history since the ADL began tracking such data in 1979. The state’s current level of antisemitism also marks a staggering 76% increase compared to 2022, itself a record-breaking year at the time.

Nationwide, the picture is even more dire. The United States saw a 5% increase in reported antisemitic incidents from 2023, rising from 8,873 to 9,354 incidents in 2024. That figure shatters previous records and illustrates what ADL officials are now calling a “new and dangerous normal.”

“We are entering an alarming new normal, in New Jersey and across the nation of reported antisemitic incidents at triple the rate of where they were just a few years ago. We cannot allow this level of antisemitic incidents to become normalized,” said Scott Richman, ADL New York/New Jersey Regional Director.

A Breakdown of New Jersey’s Data

Of the 719 antisemitic incidents reported in New Jersey in 2024, the ADL categorized the acts as follows:

482 incidents of harassment – down 16% from 2023, but still 98% higher than in 2022

220 incidents of vandalism – down 9% from 2023, yet 42% above 2022 levels

17 incidents of assault – unchanged from 2023, but representing an alarming 89% increase from 2022, including one case involving a weapon

The majority of these incidents occurred in public areas (221 incidents), underscoring how antisemitism has become increasingly visible and brazen. Schools were also a major locus of concern, particularly non-Jewish K-12 schools, which accounted for 166 incidents. The presence of antisemitic behavior in educational settings raises grave questions about the environment in which children are learning and growing.

Moreover, 24% of all incidents in New Jersey involved the display of a Nazi swastika, despite an overall 23% decline in swastika-related incidents from the previous year. Alarmingly, the use of this symbol — the most notorious emblem of white supremacy and Nazi ideology — remains 7% higher than in 2022.

Geographic Distribution: All Counties Affected

Antisemitism in New Jersey was not confined to isolated hotspots. The ADL reported incidents in all 21 counties, with the most affected areas being:

Bergen County – 162 incidents (2% decrease)

Middlesex County – 93 incidents (2% increase)

Essex County – 78 incidents (1% increase)

Monmouth County – 73 incidents (20% decrease)

Ocean County – 51 incidents (32% decrease)

Despite some statistical declines, the presence of antisemitism in every county highlights its pervasiveness across urban, suburban, and rural communities alike.

The October 7 Inflection Point and a “New Normal”

The decline in New Jersey’s incidents must also be considered within the broader temporal context. According to the ADL, the first three quarters of 2024 saw substantial increases in antisemitic activity compared to the same period in 2023. When compared to 2022, all four quarters of 2024 exhibited drastic increases. This pattern strongly suggests that the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks on Israel served as a pivotal trigger, exacerbating antisemitic sentiment both nationally and within the state.

“Antisemitic incidents in New Jersey fell by 13% in 2024; however, we are extremely concerned that they remain significantly elevated above pre-October 7 levels,” Richman reiterated. “We cannot become complacent and allow this ‘new normal’ to continue.”

Bergen County, New Jersey — home to some of the state’s most vibrant Orthodox Jewish communities — has once again emerged as the epicenter of reported antisemitic activity, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) newly released 2024 audit. While the state as a whole experienced a modest 13% decline in overall antisemitic incidents compared to 2023, the depth and character of the antisemitism documented — particularly in Bergen County and school settings — reveals a troubling and entrenched problem that cannot be dismissed by statistics alone.

Bergen County: Ground Zero for a Disturbing Trend

 

Middlesex County, which came in second statewide with 93 incidents, saw much of its antisemitic activity clustered around Rutgers University — New Jersey’s flagship public institution. The ADL reported that 45 of the county’s 93 incidents occurred at Rutgers, underscoring the pervasive challenges faced by Jewish students and faculty in the wake of rising campus activism targeting Israel and Zionism. While the county experienced only a 2% increase from 2023, the severity and context of many incidents — especially those involving intimidation and harassment tied to Jewish identity — are raising serious concerns about academic environments.

Assaults on the Rise: Orthodox and Zionist Targets

New Jersey saw 17 antisemitic assaults in 2024, matching the number recorded in 2023. However, beneath this numerical plateau lies disturbing detail: seven assaults targeted visibly Orthodox Jews, and another seven were motivated by hostility toward Israel or Zionism. Of the total:

Three assaults occurred in public K-12 schools

Eight in public areas

The remainder took place at synagogues, homes, and Jewish-owned businesses

Bergen County led the state in assaults, recording six incidents, including several particularly violent attacks:

A middle school student was physically assaulted after stating he was Israeli.

An individual illegally entered a Jewish school during Purim, assaulted a security guard, and shouted antisemitic slurs.

A man used a machete to jab a Jewish victim, shouting, “Hey Jew boy.”

Schools: Persistent Hotbeds of Hate

Antisemitism in non-Jewish K-12 schools remains a major area of concern, with 166 reported incidents in 2024. Although this reflects a 22% decrease from 2023, the total is still 37% higher than in 2022. These included:

87 incidents of harassment

76 incidents of vandalism

3 physical assaults

A staggering 56% of these incidents (93 total) involved the display of swastikas, including repeated offenses at some schools. While only 10% (16 incidents) were directly tied to Israel or Zionism, the high volume of swastika usage points to a revival of classic Nazi-era antisemitic symbols in youth settings.

Documented examples include:

A student yelling “kill all the Jews” during class.

A Jewish student being called “Jew boy” and told “we should have wiped out all of you guys.”

These incidents expose not only the raw hatred but also the failure of school environments to curb or prevent such expressions of violence and bigotry.

Public Spaces and Jewish Institutions: No Refuge from Hate

Of the 719 antisemitic incidents reported across New Jersey in 2024:

221 occurred in public areas (24% drop from 2023)

83 at Jewish institutions (33% decrease)

78 at colleges/universities (a 53% surge)

69 at private homes (a 21% rise)

41 at businesses (24% decrease)

46 occurred online

12 at Jewish-owned businesses

2 at non-Jewish places of worship

1 at a cemetery

While some categories show year-over-year declines, others — especially incidents at universities and private homes — reveal new fronts in the fight against antisemitism. The rise in antisemitic activity within private settings suggests that harassment and intimidation are following Jewish individuals beyond communal or institutional boundaries.

In public areas alone, 145 incidents involved harassment, 68 vandalism, and 8 assaults. Notably, 33% were Israel-related, while 21% included swastika imagery.

K-12 Schools: Enduring Crisis in Non-Jewish Institutions

“Students should feel safe and be able to attend school without experiencing hate,” said Richman. “Unfortunately, antisemitic incidents in New Jersey non-Jewish schools remain at extremely high levels.”

In 2024, 166 antisemitic incidents were reported in New Jersey’s non-Jewish K-12 schools. While this figure represents a 22% decrease from 2023, it is still 37% higher than in 2022. Incidents included 87 cases of harassment, 76 acts of vandalism — many involving swastikas — and three assaults. One particularly egregious example involved a student shouting “kill all the Jews” during class, while another Jewish student was called “Jew boy” and told, “we should have wiped out all of you guys.”

Richman emphasized the need for schools to take proactive steps: “Teachers and administrators must learn to identify hate without hesitance, engage parents, and provide students with appropriate educational resources. ADL is committed to being a partner in this critical work.”

University Campuses: Sharp Increase, Climate of Intimidation

New Jersey college campuses witnessed 78 reported antisemitic incidents in 2024, a 53% increase over the 51 incidents recorded in 2023. The Rutgers-New Brunswick campus alone accounted for 60% of these incidents (47 total).

Of the 78 campus-related incidents:

57 were acts of harassment

21 were acts of vandalism

At Rutgers, disturbing rhetoric surfaced during protests, including slogans such as, “Resistance is Justified When People Are Colonized” and “We Don’t Want Two States, We Want All of It.” According to the ADL, such language contributes to a hostile atmosphere for Jewish and Israeli students.

Elsewhere, Montclair State University cancelled an event hosted by New Jersey Students for Justice in Palestine, citing concerns over the group’s mission to “eliminate Zionism from our campuses and communities.”

In spring 2024, encampments at Princeton and Rutgers featured explicit expressions of support for terror groups like Hezbollah, which disrupted academic operations and led to the postponement and relocation of final exams. These developments mark a troubling shift from dialogue to direct intimidation.

Jewish Institutions: Fewer Incidents, but Threats Intensify

Jewish institutions in New Jersey reported 83 incidents in 2024, a 33% decline from 124 incidents in 2023, though still 80% higher than in 2022. These incidents included:

68 acts of harassment

13 acts of vandalism

2 assaults

6 bomb threats

One senior living facility received a chilling antisemitic letter that read: “You and anyone who supports this genocide… should be tried for crimes against humanity and hung by the neck until dead.” Another incident involved a Facebook post on a Jewish day school’s page stating: “Great place to bomb.”

Harassment and Threats in Public Spaces: Antisemitism Without Masks

Many of the year’s most alarming incidents occurred not in anonymous online forums or at politically charged rallies—but face-to-face, in daily life. The ADL recorded numerous incidents of harassment and verbal assault that demonstrate how public expressions of Jew-hatred have become emboldened and unapologetic.

A Jewish pedestrian was accosted by a passerby who screamed: “Your people are committing genocide… You and your people will be wiped off the map.”

Another person was shouted at from a passing car, hearing: “Dirty Jews!”

Congregants at a synagogue were screamed at by individuals yelling: “F*** you Jews, free Palestine.”

A group walking home from synagogue was called “Kikes.”

A Jewish individual received a violent Facebook message from a former friend that included: “F**ing Nazi cnt,” “Hope your entire family is exterminated,” and “Blood of Palestinians on your families’ hands.”

This normalization of hostile, genocidal rhetoric against Jews in everyday settings is part of what the ADL calls a new and dangerous normal.

Orthodox Jews as Primary Targets: 21% Spike in Directed Hate

Among the 719 statewide incidents, 35 were explicitly targeted at Orthodox Jews—a 21% increase from 2023. These cases were overwhelmingly acts of harassment (32 out of 35) and overwhelmingly focused on individuals identifiable by religious dress.

Examples include:

At a children’s play center, a visibly Jewish parent was told: “Jew, watch yourself.”

A passing driver screamed “Heil Hitler” and performed a Nazi salute at Orthodox pedestrians.

Two individuals wrote “Free Palestine” and “Dumb Israeli f***s” on notepads at an Orthodox organization’s event.

A group of teens chanted “Jew” and threw eggs at an Orthodox rabbi.

Bergen County, home to a dense Orthodox population in Teaneck and Bergenfield, accounted for 40% of all Orthodox-targeted incidents in the state.

A particularly chilling event in Howell, NJ exemplified the geographic spread of this hate: a homeowner told a Jewish realtor and her clients, “Go back to Lakewood” and “You Jews don’t belong here.” The ADL has flagged a growing pattern of antisemitic backlash in suburban areas witnessing expansion from Lakewood’s ultra-Orthodox community—a trend rooted in xenophobia and social intolerance.

Israel and Zionism: 226 Incidents of Political Hate Crossing into Antisemitism

In 2024, 226 of New Jersey’s antisemitic incidents—31% of the total—included explicit references to Israel or Zionism. The ADL emphasized that these are not general criticisms of Israeli policy but rather examples of antisemitic expressions, including:

Assigning collective guilt to American Jews for Israeli actions.

Equating Jewish religious institutions with genocide.

Using anti-Zionist slogans as pretexts for direct threats and harassment.

The ADL’s methodology aligns with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, ensuring that only hate-driven incidents, not protected political speech, are included.

Extremism in Decline—But Still Lurking

The ADL recorded 11 extremist-related antisemitic incidents in New Jersey in 2024—a 50% drop from 2023. While this reduction suggests a temporary retreat of organized extremist activity, the continued presence of groups like the Goyim Defense League (GDL), New Jersey European Heritage Association (NJEHA), Storm Division 14, and the Black Hebrew Israelites remains concerning.

Of special interest is a new white nationalist group now active in the region: the Atlantic Nationalist Club (ANC). The ANC has been linked to propaganda campaigns and is currently being monitored for recruitment and organizing activities.

There were eight incidents of antisemitic propaganda distribution tied to white supremacist groups in 2024, underscoring that while visible extremist acts are down, hate is still being seeded, often in subtle and insidious ways.

Methodology and Transparency

The ADL’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents tracks both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment, vandalism, and assault. Incidents are reported by victims, law enforcement, media, and ADL’s partner organizations, and are vetted by experts to ensure consistency with internationally accepted standards of antisemitism.

The full dataset for 2016–2024 is publicly available via the ADL’s H.E.A.T. Map, which allows for interactive analysis of incidents by location, year, and type. Additional reports—including the ADL Global 100, Campus Antisemitism One Year After the Hamas Terrorist Attacks, and White Supremacist Propaganda Assessment—provide deeper dives into the broader environment fueling these trends.

The Fight Against Antisemitism is Now Hyperlocal

The 2024 Audit paints a harrowing portrait of antisemitism that is no longer confined to the abstract or ideological. It has become visceral, local, and increasingly personal—taking place on suburban sidewalks, in children’s playrooms, and in the digital messages exchanged between once-close acquaintances.

Orthodox Jews and those identified with Zionist beliefs are bearing the brunt of a hate movement that is emboldened and expanding beyond traditional boundaries.

As Scott Richman notes, “We must remain vigilant and active in addressing every form of antisemitism—from graffiti and slurs to harassment and physical threats. Schools, towns, universities, and religious institutions must not face this challenge alone.”

With the rise of grassroots harassment and decentralized hate, the defense of Jewish life in America is no longer just a national cause—it’s a neighborhood responsibility.