Recently-released data from the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) Audit of Antisemitic Incidents showed that Missouri experienced 30 antisemitic incidents — a record number — in 2022.
That’s a 100% increase over 2021, and more than the total number of incidents from the previous three years.
“We are extremely concerned with the explosion of hate and antisemitism in our state,” ADL Heartland Regional Director Jordan Kadosh told the St. Louis Jewish Light. “We must work together as a community to address hate and bigotry in all forms...”
Kansas showed only nine reported antisemitic incidents for 2022 and 10 incidents total in the three years before that.
The states with the highest number of incidents were New York (580), California (518), New Jersey (408), Florida (269) and Texas (211). Combined, these five states accounted for 54% of the total incidents.
According to the ADL’s H.E.A.T. Map, an interactive online tool that allows users to geographically chart antisemitic incidents, local incidents took place in Kansas City, Missouri; Kansas City, Kansas; Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Leawood and other area suburbs.
The majority of all incidents nationwide were categorized as harassment, with 2,298 incidents, followed by vandalism (288 incidents) and assault (11 incidents). Of the incidents in Missouri, 23 were harassment and seven were vandalism. Kansas had five incidents of harassment and four of vandalism. Neither state showed incidents of assault.
Nationwide, the ADL tabulated 3,697 antisemitic incidents in 2022. This is a 36% increase from the 2,717 incidents in 2021 and the highest number on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979. This is the third time in the past five years that the year-end total has been the highest number ever recorded.
“We’re deeply disturbed by this dramatic and completely unacceptable surge in antisemitic incidents…,” Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director, said in a press release. “This data confirms what Jewish communities across the country have felt and seen firsthand — and corresponds with the rise in antisemitic attitudes. From white nationalists to religious fanatics to radical anti-Zionists, Jewish people see a range of very real threats. It’s time to stop the surge of hate once and for all.”
Nationwide, the majority of incidents that took place at Jewish institutions occurred at synagogues (296), followed by Jewish Community Centers (89) and Jewish Federations (52). Thirty-five incidents took place at Jewish day schools.
There were 589 incidents targeting Jewish institutions such as synagogues, Jewish community centers and Jewish schools, an increase of 12% from 2021.
Antisemitic activity reported on college and university campuses increased by 41% in 2022, with 219 incidents reported at more than 130 campuses across the country. In non-Jewish K-12 schools, 494 incidents were reported, an increase of 49%.
“It’s deeply troubling that there was such a sharp increase in school- and college-based antisemitic acts,” Greenblatt said. “This is a reminder of the need for more targeted education efforts aimed at rooting out hate and teaching acceptance.
Locally, JCRB|AJC Kansas City has also seen a rise in antisemitism in high schools. According to its 2022 Antisemitism in Schools Survey, almost 90% of students surveyed reported witnessing or experiencing at least one form of antisemitism either at school or on social media.
The JCRB|AJC survey showed that 35% of students said antisemitism in schools had increased over the past two years, and 41% of students said antisemitism had “stayed the same.” Ten percent of students said that they were “rarely comfortable” expressing their Jewish identity at school.
“We were saddened by [the results], but not surprised, mostly because of all the work we’ve done with Jewish students over the past two years,” JCRB|AJC Director of Education and Programs Sarah Markowitz told The Chronicle last year. “It confirmed what we already knew.”
The full results of the ADL’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents can be seen at adl.org/resources/report/audit-antisemitic-incidents-2022.
