NEW YORK (VINnews) – Jewish communities across the United States, particularly in New York City, remain on edge following a tense protest outside a historic Manhattan synagogue and fresh acts of vandalism, as a new report highlights 2025 as one of the most violent years for American Jews since the Anti-Defamation League began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979.

The ADL released its annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents on Wednesday, documenting 6,274 cases of harassment, vandalism and assault nationwide last year — a 33% drop from the record high in 2024 but still the third-highest total on record. While overall incidents declined, physical assaults reached a historic peak of 203, a 4% increase, with attacks involving deadly weapons rising 39%. The report also noted antisemitic fatalities for the first time since 2019.

“2025 marked one of the most violent periods for American Jews,” the ADL stated, with incidents averaging 17 per day. New York led the nation with 1,160 incidents, followed by California and New Jersey. New York City alone accounted for 860 cases, concentrated in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The audit’s release coincided with two high-profile incidents in New York this week. On Tuesday evening, anti-Israel protesters clashed with police outside Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side during a demonstration against a real estate event promoting properties in Israel. Witnesses and video footage showed protesters shouting antisemitic insults, including slurs and violent threats, as they tried to disrupt access to the building.

The protest came one day after vandals defaced two Queens synagogues and nearby Jewish homes with swastikas and pro-Hitler graffiti. NYPD officers are investigating the incidents, which have drawn condemnation from local leaders.

Jewish residents and communal leaders expressed heightened anxiety amid the events. Many described a persistent climate of fear, with synagogues, schools and public spaces remaining potential targets even as some campus-related incidents have decreased.

The ADL noted a sharp 66% drop in antisemitic incidents on college campuses in 2025 compared to 2024, attributing part of the national decline to reduced protest activity. However, assaults in New York State rose 10% to 90 cases.

Community advocates called for stronger law enforcement responses and federal protections for houses of worship. The report underscores that antisemitic violence persists at elevated levels more than two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.

VINnews will continue to monitor developments as Jewish organizations urge vigilance and reporting of incidents to authorities and the ADL.