ADL Records Historically Elevated Antisemitic Incidents in New Jersey in 2025, Despite Modest Decline

Overall incidents fell 4 percent — far less than the national decrease of 33 percent — assaults and vandalism both rose; incidents remain 86 percent higher than five years ago

NEW YORK, May 6, 2026, … Antisemitic incidents in New Jersey declined by 4 percent in 2025, totaling 687 incidents, according to ADL’s (the Anti-Defamation League) annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents released today. That modest decline stands in stark contrast to the national decrease of 33 percent, and New Jersey’s numbers tell a more troubling story: the state ranked third in the nation for overall antisemitic incidents, led the entire country in antisemitic incidents at K-12 schools, and saw increases in both physical assaults and vandalism. Incidents in New Jersey remain 86-percent higher than five years ago and 68-percent higher than pre-October 7, 2023 levels. This is a clear sign that antisemitism is deeply entrenched at historically elevated levels in the state.

“New Jersey saw only a small decrease in antisemitic incidents in 2025, maintaining its ranking as number three across the nation in antisemitic incidents while achieving the deeply concerning rank of number 1 for antisemitic incidents at K-12 schools,” said Scott Richman, ADL New York/New Jersey Regional Director. “We appreciate New Jersey’s model reporting and recording system and continue our commitment to work directly with government agencies and schools across New Jersey to build relationships, deliver programming, and hold institutions accountable – every young person deserves to know that antisemitism has no place in their school or their community."

Key Findings

• Overall: 687 antisemitic incidents in 2025, down 4 percent from 719 in 2024. New Jersey ranked #3 in the United States for overall incidents.
• Incident types: Assaults: up 20 from 17 in 2024; Vandalism: 245 (up 11 percent from 220 in 2024); Harassment: 422 (down 12 percent).
• National rankings: #1 in the US for incidents at non-Jewish K-12 schools (188). #3 nationally for incidents at businesses, Jewish institutions, and in public areas.
• Notable increases: Incidents rose year-over-year at non-Jewish schools, and in public areas. Online incidents rose 15 percent.
• Five-year trend: Incidents are up 86 percent since 2020.
• Israel/Zionism-related: In 2025, 157 incidents related to Israel and/or Zionism, down a striking 31 percent. Removing Israel/Zionism-related incidents from both years, there would actually be a 7.5-percent increase in antisemitic incidents in 2025, reflecting a return to more traditional forms of antisemitism.

Assaults and Vandalism Rise Even as Overall Incidents Fall

New Jersey recorded 20 antisemitic assaults in 2025, an increase from 17 in 2024; this is the highest number ever recorded in New Jersey. Seven of these assaults targeted Orthodox or visibly Jewish individuals. Swastika use increased 28 percent from 2024, with swastikas appearing in 32 percent of all antisemitic incidents statewide.

For example, in Brick in July, a suspect exiting a store stated to the victim, “free Palestine” multiple times. The victim asked the suspect to repeat himself and the suspect responded by saying “f—ing Jew,” “piece of s—,” “f—ing baby killer,” and other antisemitic remarks. When the victim began to record the situation, the suspect pushed and struck the victim.

And in December, a group of young Jewish community members were assaulted in Cherry Hill Township. They were approached by a vehicle whose occupants addressed the group with, “Hey Jews,” and asked where they went to school. The vehicle passed the group, turned around, and three or more occupants exited the vehicle. The group ran from the vehicle/occupants and had ice thrown at them.

New Jersey Leads the Nation in Antisemitic Incidents at K-12 Schools

Of particular concern were the 188 antisemitic incidents at non-Jewish K-12 schools in 2025 — a 13-percent increase over 2024 and the highest of any state in the country, in part due to mandatory and model reporting systems. Incidents were nearly evenly split between harassment (93) and vandalism (91), with four assaults also reported.  

A high school in Essex County, for example, experienced incidents of antisemitic vandalism, and ADL developed a relationship with the principal and head of DEI. In fall 2025, with student advocacy and ADL’s continued engagement, the high school became a No Place for Hate school shifting from administrative-only action to proactive student-led engagement.  

National Context

New Jersey’s data reflects broader national trends, though the state’s decline lagged significantly behind the nation. Nationally, 2025 marked one of the most violent periods for American Jews, with physical assaults reaching record high levels and antisemitic attacks resulting in fatalities on American soil for the first time since 2022 and in Jewish fatalities for the first time since 2019, according to ADL’s (the Anti-Defamation League) annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, released today.  

Across the country, there were 6,274 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment and vandalism in 2025, an average of 17 incidents per day. While this total represents a 33-percent decrease from 2024, it remains considerably higher than the total in years prior to the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel, and ranks as the third-highest year for antisemitic incidents (after 2023 and 2024), since ADL began tracking in 1979.

Even as overall incidents decreased nationally, physical assaults increased by 4 percent, and incidents of assault involving a deadly weapon increased by 39-percent. Moreover, three people were murdered in antisemitic attacks this past year: two victims in the May 21, 2025, shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., and one victim who died from injuries sustained in the June 1, 2025, firebombing attack at a "Run for Their Lives" event in Boulder, Colorado.

Methodology 

The ADL Audit includes both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment, vandalism and assault against individuals and groups as reported to ADL by victims, law enforcement, the media and partner organizations and evaluated by ADL's experts.

The complete dataset for antisemitic incidents for 2016-2025 is available on ADL's H.E.A.T. Map, an interactive online tool that allows users to geographically chart antisemitic incidents and extremist activity. The full dataset can also be downloaded by anyone who would like to take a closer look at individual incidents.

ADL is careful to not conflate general criticism of Israel or anti-Israel activism with antisemitism. Legitimate political protest, support for Palestinian rights or expressions of opposition to Israeli policies is not included in the Audit. As an example, slightly fewer than half of anti-Israel rallies assessed by ADL contained antisemitic content that qualified to be counted within this Audit. ADL's approach to Israel-related expressions comports with the IHRA definition of antisemitism. The complete Audit methodology is included in the report on our website.

The Audit offers a snapshot of one of the ways American Jews encounter antisemitism, but a full understanding of antisemitism in the U.S. requires other forms of analysis as well, including public opinion polling, assessments of online antisemitism and examinations of extremist activity, all of which ADL offers in other reports.

Individuals who experience an antisemitic incident can report it to ADL:  https://www.adl.org/report-incident.