By: Fern Sidman

The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) is once again sounding the alarm over a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents across the globe — from college campuses to European capitals — warning that the post–October 7th wave of Jew-hatred is intensifying even as global leaders call for calm.

According to newly released data from the Antisemitism Research Center (ARC) operated by CAM, 53 antisemitic incidents occurred on college campuses worldwide in September alone, nearly triple the number reported in August. The figure represents one of the sharpest month-to-month increases since the start of 2024, reflecting what CAM has repeatedly described as a “crisis of moral and civic failure” on the world’s university campuses.

As of September 30th, the ARC has documented 5,116 antisemitic incidents globally in 2025, marking a 7.4% increase compared to the same period last year. These include physical assaults, vandalism, online harassment, and institutional discrimination. CAM’s analysis concludes that this escalation, now well into its second year following the Hamas atrocities of October 7th, 2023, demonstrates that antisemitism has metastasized into what the organization calls a “global social contagion” — one that governments and civil institutions have been slow to contain.

The ARC’s September report paints a particularly bleak picture of the academic environment. Universities, once seen as bastions of free inquiry and tolerance, have become flashpoints of hostility toward Jewish students and faculty.

In one of the most alarming developments cited by CAM, masked demonstrators stormed a classroom at City University of London, threatening an Israeli-born professor in front of his students. The incident follows a series of on-campus disruptions across the United Kingdom in which Jewish or Israeli academics have been singled out and harassed for their identity. CAM condemned the episode as emblematic of “a systemic failure by university administrators to enforce even the most basic standards of safety and civility.”

Across the Atlantic, U.S. campuses continue to grapple with similar tensions. CAM’s researchers identified a disturbing normalization of antisemitic rhetoric in student protests, often couched in anti-Zionist slogans that blur the line between political critique and hate speech. The organization has called on university leadership to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, arguing that its implementation provides “a clear and consistent framework for distinguishing legitimate discourse from discrimination.”

The Combat Antisemitism Movement has also taken direct aim at recent developments in the United Kingdom, describing them as “a chilling reminder that antisemitism in Western democracies is not confined to the fringes.”

CAM’s outrage was especially pronounced following the decision by local authorities in Birmingham, England, to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a November 6th Europa Conference League match against Aston Villa. British officials cited “security concerns,” but Jewish organizations have condemned the move as discriminatory. CAM has called for an immediate investigation, questioning whether the ban might violate U.S. anti-boycott laws, which prohibit cooperation with efforts to isolate Israel or its nationals.

“This is not a security measure — it is a moral failure,” CAM said in a statement. “To deny Jewish fans entry to a sporting event solely because of their Israeli affiliation is to legitimize the very boycotts that perpetuate division and hate.”

The incident coincided with another disturbing report: a Jewish attorney detained by London police for nearly ten hours after officers claimed his Star of David necklace might “antagonize” anti-Israel demonstrators at a protest in August. CAM denounced the episode as “a new low, even for the UK,” accusing law enforcement of “blaming Jews for their own victimization.”

Meanwhile, France — home to Europe’s largest Jewish population — continues to experience violent antisemitic acts at the community level. The ARC documented the case of a 13-year-old Jewish boy beaten inside his Paris-area apartment building after being called a “dirty Jew” by a group of peers. French authorities have opened a hate-crime investigation, but CAM warned that such attacks are becoming “a terrifying new normal” in parts of Western Europe.

The crisis is not limited to Europe. The Combat Antisemitism Movement reported that in Argentina, a player at a local soccer match in Vicente López — a suburb of Buenos Aires — shouted, “Jews must be killed” at an opponent from the Jewish sports club Hebraica. The organization said the incident underscores the “global reach of antisemitic incitement,” adding that “even sports arenas, which should unite communities, are being poisoned by hate.”

In the United States, CAM expressed shock over a vigil in the Bronx, New York, where activists honored the memory of Yahya Sinwar — the Hamas leader responsible for orchestrating the October 7th massacre in southern Israel. “It is an obscenity that in the heart of New York City, the birthplace of modern democracy, individuals are venerating a terrorist who murdered innocents,” a CAM spokesperson said. “Such displays dishonor the freedoms this country stands for.”

The Combat Antisemitism Movement, which partners with more than 700 organizations worldwide, is ramping up both its advocacy and its outreach. The organization’s Antisemitism Research Center (ARC) serves as one of the most comprehensive databases of antisemitic activity globally, offering data-driven insights that shape government policy and educational initiatives.

Beyond documentation, CAM is taking concrete action to rebuild ties between American and Israeli leadership. This week, a delegation of chiefs of staff and senior advisors from twelve U.S. governors’ offices embarked on a six-day solidarity mission to Israel organized by CAM. The trip, which follows a series of similar missions for attorneys general, state legislators, and law enforcement officials, is designed to strengthen U.S.-Israel partnerships and expose American policymakers to the realities of Israel’s security and resilience.

“Engagement and education are vital tools in the fight against antisemitism,” said a CAM spokesperson. “When leaders witness firsthand the challenges Israel faces, it transforms their understanding from abstract sympathy to informed solidarity.”

In the United States, CAM is also pursuing legislative efforts to codify stronger protections against antisemitic hate crimes. The Wisconsin Assembly Committee on State Affairs held a public hearing this week on a CAM-backed bill that would formally adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as a benchmark for evaluating discriminatory intent and applying enhanced criminal penalties.

If passed, the bill would make Wisconsin one of a growing number of U.S. states to recognize the IHRA definition — a framework endorsed by more than 40 countries worldwide, as well as by the U.S. State Department. CAM hailed the move as “a model for how local governments can act decisively where national institutions have faltered.”

“Antisemitism thrives in ambiguity,” CAM wrote in its statement supporting the bill. “The IHRA definition brings clarity where confusion once reigned. It is an essential tool for educators, policymakers, and law enforcement.”

For CAM and its partners, the implications of the latest data are stark. The organization’s September report concludes that the fight against antisemitism is entering a more volatile and dangerous phase — one defined not only by physical violence but by the erosion of institutional courage in confronting hatred.

“Whether it’s the harassment of Jewish students, the criminalization of Jewish symbols, or the appeasement of anti-Israel radicals, the trend lines point to a crisis of accountability,” the organization warned. “Governments and universities alike must recognize that neutrality in the face of antisemitism is complicity.”

CAM officials emphasized that the only sustainable path forward is through vigilance, education, and enforcement. “Data tells the story,” they said. “And the story right now is one of rising danger. It is up to the free world to decide whether that story ends in complacency — or in courage.”

As the Combat Antisemitism Movement continues its global campaign, its message remains clear: the battle against antisemitism is no longer a regional or religious issue — it is a universal test of moral resolve. In the words of the ARC’s closing statement, “Antisemitism is not only a Jewish problem; it is a societal illness. And like any epidemic, it spreads when ignored.”