US sees 21% increase in anti-Semitic incidents for 2014

Despite the year-to-year rise in anti-Semitism, last year's number of attacks is still one of the lowest in 36 years.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Anti-Semitic grafitti at Emory University (photo credit: EMORY WHEEL)
Anti-Semitic grafitti at Emory University
(photo credit: EMORY WHEEL)
Anti-Semitism was on the rise in the United States in 2014, the Anti-Defamation League reported in it's annual audit.
It was one of the largest increases in anti-Semitism in almost a decade, the ADL said, adding that new anti-Semitic trends included the hacking of Jewish community and synagogue websites, committed by hackers overseas.
According to the report released Monday, there were 912 anti-Semitic incidents for 2014, while 751 incidents were reported in 2013. Despite the increase, the ADL pointed out that the number of incidents in 2014 was still one of the lowest since the group began keeping records in 1979.
“While the overall number of anti-Semitic incidents remains lower than we have seen historically, the fact remains that 2014 was a particularly violent year for Jews both overseas and in the United States,” said ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman.
“The fatal shootings in Overland Park, Kansas at a Jewish community center building and senior residence by a white supremacist whose goal was to 'kill Jews' and other violent episodes were tragic reminders that lethal anti-Semitism continues to pose a threat to American Jews and larger society as well,” said Foxman.