Antisemitism & Jewish History: A Timeline of Resilience

Exploring the escalating landscape of antisemitic violence in the U.S. through the lens of Jewish history.

Historical Context: A Journey Through Time (Present to Past)

Understanding the contemporary surge in antisemitism requires acknowledging the historical journey of the Jewish people, marked by ancient sovereignty, persecution, and resilience.

The October 7th Hamas Attack on Israel (2023)

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale, coordinated attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in significant casualties and an escalation of conflict.

October 7, 2023 (Ongoing): Israel's Defense

Deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.

October 7, 2023 (Early Morning): Hamas Attack Offense

Thousands of rockets fired; militants infiltrate Israel, killing over 1,200 and taking hundreds hostage. ("Drug-induced psychosis")

Hams (Islamic Resistance Movement) was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the U.S. Department of State on October 8, 1997. (state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/)

The Recreation of the Jewish State: Israel (1949 - 1947)

Following the atrocities of the Holocaust, the international community increasingly supported the establishment of a Jewish homeland.

1948-1949: War concludes with Armistice Agreements

Israel repels invasion; "Green Line" borders established.

May 15, 1948: Arab–Israeli War begins

Neighboring Arab armies invade newly declared State of Israel.

May 14, 1948: Establishment of State of Israel

David Ben-Gurion proclaims the new state; U.S. recognizes it immediately.

November 29, 1947: UN Resolution 181

Recommends partition of Palestine into independent Arab and Jewish states.

World War II and The Holocaust (1945 - 1933)

The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jewish people by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

May 8, 1945: Germany surrenders

End of WWII in Europe and cessation of the Holocaust.

January 27, 1945: Auschwitz-Birkenau liberated

Soviet troops reveal the horrors of the Holocaust to the world.

1942-1944: Acceleration of the "Final Solution"

Extermination camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau used for mass murder.

January 31, 1942: Wannsee Conference

Nazi officials formalize plans for the "Final Solution" – the genocide of the Jewish people.

September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland

Initiates WWII; immediate targeting of Jews in conquered territories.

November 9-10, 1938: Kristallnacht

Coordinated pogrom against Jews across Nazi Germany, leading to destruction and arrests.

September 15, 1935: Nuremberg Laws enacted

Revoked German Jewish citizenship and prohibited intermarriages.

April 1, 1933: Nationwide boycott of Jewish businesses

First organized economic discrimination against Jews in Germany.

January 30, 1933: Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor

Beginning of Nazi rule and institutionalization of antisemitic policies.

Ancient Jewish Sovereignty in the Land of Israel (70 CE - c. 1800 BCE)

Jewish history is deeply rooted in the land of Israel, encompassing millennia of continuous presence, self-governance, and cultural development.

135 CE: Bar Kokhba Revolt Suppressed / Jewish Exile Intensifies

The final major Jewish rebellion against Roman rule is crushed, leading to widespread death and further dispersion of Jewish people, and Jerusalem is renamed Aelia Capitolina.

70 CE: Destruction of the Second Temple by Romans

A pivotal event in Jewish history, leading to the end of the priestly sacrificial system and a shift towards rabbinic Judaism; marks the beginning of prolonged Roman rule and increasing exile.

167 BCE - 63 BCE: Hasmonean Kingdom

Period of independent Jewish rule following the Maccabean Revolt against Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, re-establishing Jewish sovereignty.

586 BCE: Destruction of First Temple / Babylonian Exile

The Kingdom of Judah falls to the Neo-Babylonian Empire, resulting in the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of many Jews to Babylon.

c. 970 - 931 BCE: Reign of King Solomon

King Solomon, son of David, builds the First Temple in Jerusalem, solidifying the spiritual and political center of Israel.

c. 1010 - 970 BCE: Reign of King David

King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, uniting the tribes of Israel under a single kingdom.

c. 1800 BCE: Abraham's Covenant

Considered the patriarchal founder of the Jewish people; God promises Abraham the land of Canaan (modern-day Israel) as an eternal inheritance.

The Alarming Scale: A Record-Breaking Year for Antisemitic Incidents (U.S.)

In 2024, the U.S. witnessed the highest number of antisemitic incidents ever recorded by the ADL, marking the fourth consecutive year of record highs and indicating an accelerating and persistent crisis.

9,354

Total Incidents in 2024

Over 25 incidents per day, or more than one every hour.

+344%

Increase Over 5 Years

An exponential rise demonstrating a long-term trend.

+21%

Increase in Physical Assaults

Totaling 196 incidents against at least 250 individuals in 2024.

Annual Incidents by Type (2024 vs. 2023)

The data shows a significant year-over-year rise in the most overt forms of antisemitism—physical assaults and vandalism—while harassment remains disturbingly high.

Bomb Threats Against Jewish Institutions (2024)

Jewish organizations faced a substantial threat from bomb threats, with a vast majority directed at synagogues, impacting safe spaces for worship and community gathering.

Catalysts and Targeted Locations (U.S.)

The spike in antisemitism is heavily linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with incidents spreading from traditional targets to public spaces and university campuses.

Conflict as a Primary Driver

For the first time, a majority of antisemitic acts in 2024 were explicitly related to Israel or Zionism, highlighting how international events are fueling domestic hate.

Incidents on College Campuses Skyrocket

University campuses saw an 84% explosion in antisemitic incidents, transforming educational environments into hostile spaces for many Jewish students.

Antisemitic Incidents by Location Type (2024)

Antisemitism is spreading beyond traditional Jewish institutions into everyday public spaces, impacting the sense of safety for Jewish individuals in their daily lives.

Timeline of Terror: Major Violent Attacks in the U.S. (Present to Past)

Beyond statistics, 2024-2025 was marked by a series of high-profile, violent attacks that underscore the lethal nature of modern antisemitism in the United States.

June 1, 2025: Firebomb Attack, Boulder, CO

Pearl Street Mall

Mohamed Sabry Soliman used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to attack a pro-Israel solidarity walk. He injured seven people, including a Holocaust survivor, while yelling "End Zionist."

May 21, 2025: Fatal Museum Shooting, Washington D.C.

Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum

Two Israeli Embassy staff members, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were fatally shot outside a reception. The assailant, Elias Rodriguez, chanted "Free Palestine" after the attack and was charged with murder and terrorism.

April 13, 2025: Governor's Residence Arson, Harrisburg, PA

Private Residence of Governor Josh Shapiro

Molotov cocktails were thrown at the home of Jewish Governor Josh Shapiro while his family was inside, in an incident described as an "attempted assassination" and widely condemned as antisemitic.

December 9, 2024: Physical Assault & Theft, New York City, NY

University Campus Vicinity

Tarek Bazrouk punched a Jewish student in the face and stole an Israeli flag near a university campus, part of his pattern of violent antisemitic attacks.

October 2024: Historic Synagogue Attacked, Philadelphia, PA

Congregation Mikveh Israel

A historic synagogue was targeted in a sustained campaign, including vandalism of a religious statue, arson of a dumpster, and an attempted break-in, all within a few days.

Aug/Sept 2024: ISIS Terror Plot Thwarted, Brooklyn, NY

Prominent Jewish Religious Center

Law enforcement disrupted a plot by ISIS supporter Muhammad Shahzeb Khan to "slaughter" as many Jewish civilians as possible in a mass shooting, planned for the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks.

July 2024: Neo-Nazi Marches, Nashville, TN

Jewish Neighborhoods

The "Goyim Defense League" conducted marches, engaged in physical assaults, and distributed antisemitic pamphlets, openly shouting "Hitler was right!"

July 6, 2024: Thwarted Mass Poisoning Plot, Brooklyn, NY

Jewish Schools

Michail Chkhikvishvili was arrested in Moldova for allegedly planning a mass casualty attack in Brooklyn, intending to hand out poison-laced candy to children at Jewish schools while dressed as Santa Claus.

April 15, 2024: Physical Assault, New York City, NY

New York Stock Exchange

Tarek Bazrouk, wearing a Hamas-style headband, lunged at pro-Israel demonstrators, kicking a Jewish college student. He was later charged with federal hate crimes for this and other violent acts.

Notable Attacks and Threats Against Political Figures in the U.S. (Recent History)

Political figures across the ideological spectrum have faced documented attacks and threats. This timeline highlights some prominent incidents involving politicians and institutions in recent years.

March 2025: New Mexico Republican Headquarters Arson

Albuquerque, NM

Fire damaged the entryway to the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters, investigated as arson. Incendiary materials were found, and spray paint with political messaging was present.

July & September 2024: Assassination Attempts on Former President Donald Trump

Pennsylvania & Florida

In July, during a Pennsylvania campaign rally, Trump was grazed by a bullet fired by a gunman, who fatally shot one Trump supporter and wounded two others before being killed by police. In September, a man with a rifle apparently plotted to kill Trump near his golf course in Florida and was arrested by Secret Service agents.

June 14, 2017: Congressional Baseball Shooting

Alexandria, VA

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), then House Majority Whip, and four others were wounded when James Hodgkinson opened fire during a Republican congressional baseball practice. Hodgkinson, fueled by rage against then-President Trump and GOP legislators, was killed by police.

The Human Cost: Impact on Jewish Communities

The constant threat of antisemitism has instilled a deep sense of fear, forcing a significant portion of American Jews to alter their daily behavior and ensure safety.

56%
of American Jews Changed Their Behavior in 2024 Out of Fear

This represents a sharp increase from 38% in 2022. These changes include avoiding wearing items like a kippah or Star of David in public, demonstrating a tangible erosion of security and freedom for Jewish Americans.

🎭 ✡️➡️❓ 🇮🇱➡️🤐

Responses and Broader Implications

The escalating threat has prompted governmental and civil society responses, highlighting the complex interplay of political rhetoric, social media, and a broader rise in hate across the nation.

Government & Law Enforcement Actions

  • DOJ established multi-agency Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.
  • FBI data shows 63% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes from 2022-2023.
  • President Trump's EO 14188 calls for vigorous combat against antisemitism, including removal of non-citizens endorsing Hamas.
  • Perpetrators charged with federal hate crimes and terrorism.
  • NYC Mayor Adams signed executive order adopting international definition of antisemitism.

These measures aim to counter the threat, but also raise questions about balancing security and civil liberties.

Broader Trends & Challenges

  • Disinformation and conspiracy theories normalized by some political leaders fuel hate.
  • Social media platforms (e.g., TikTok, Instagram) are pervasive vectors for hate speech.
  • Antisemitism often intertwined with other forms of hate (anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ+).
  • Civil rights organizations link rise in antisemitism to a "broader rise in hate."
  • Calls for increased funding for Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

Addressing antisemitism requires a comprehensive strategy against all forms of hate and extremism.

Welcome to the Central Intelligence Agency's Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00789R001300180002-7.pdf