Reflections on Recent Anti-Semitic Attacks
On October 7th, 2023, an event unfolded that resonated far beyond its immediate location. The impact of the deadliest terrorist assaults in Israel’s history sent shockwaves across the globe, touching even our own communities. While the Jewish community has faced persecution for centuries, many Jewish Americans are now grappling with a level of violence that feels utterly unfamiliar.
Just a couple of weeks ago, two staff members from the Israeli embassy lost their lives in our capital. Now, the Jewish community has faced yet another attack, this time from anti-Semitic terrorists in Boulder, Colorado. This targeted act of violence underscores the ongoing presence of hatred towards our Jewish friends and the pressing need for accountability against those who propagate such anti-Semitic ideologies.
Moreover, these incidents are not just random occurrences; rather, they reflect a disturbing trend that jeopardizes the safety, dignity, and freedom of Jewish Americans. Anti-Semitism remains a significant and active threat to the American Jewish community, and its prevalence has been escalating over the years.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), there were 9,354 recorded instances of anti-Semitic assault, harassment, and vandalism last year. That’s more than once every hour, reflecting an almost 900% increase in reported cases over the last decade.
In fact, ADL has noted that 2023 and 2024 have seen the highest number of documented anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. since they began their tracking in 1979. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) reported that 63% of respondents surveyed in 2023 felt a significant increase in anti-Semitism, up from 41% in 2022.
These numbers are shocking for everyone, but for Jewish individuals, they paint a chilling picture of their everyday reality.
After witnessing a modern pogrom in Amsterdam, where Israeli football fans and Jews fled in fear, I felt compelled to reach out to university students across the country. I stressed, “This can’t happen in the U.S., not like in Amsterdam.”
“I want to be clear to all Jewish students on American campuses: my colleagues and I stand with you. Your administrators might not support you, but we do, always,” I reaffirmed in my letter. It’s crucial that Jewish students and the wider community hear this message loud and clear.
As part of various legislative initiatives, I am an ardent supporter of the Anti-Semitic Enlightenment Act, which mandates the Department of Education to utilize the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism when investigating related incidents on campus.
Earlier this year, I discussed how Congress can bolster Title VI during Senate hearings, advocating for the IHRA definition to help clarify the vital difference between political discourse about global issues and anti-Jewish sentiment.
I’m genuinely thankful to my colleagues from both parties for their support, and I especially appreciate President Trump for his steadfast actions in safeguarding American Jewish citizens. His unwavering commitment to holding institutions and leaders accountable for anti-Semitism reflects the kind of leadership America desperately needs.
The sheer malevolence of anti-Semitism has intensified, creeping into the fabric of our society. It’s imperative that we, as Alabamians and Americans, unite against this atrocious violence and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community globally.
