Philadelphia Holocaust Museum Vandalized with Swastika

The Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza in Philadelphia on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was vandalized with a swastika, a spokesperson for the memorial said on Sunday. 

"A disgusting incident of antisemitism that comes just after the Anti-Defamation League recorded a dramatic increase in antisemitism (both nationally and in Philly) from October to December of last year," the spokesperson said in a release. 

Built in 1964, the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza at 16th and Arch Streets along the Parkway is the only major public monument in Philly dedicated to the remembrance of the Holocaust. 

The bronze sculpture at the memorial was presented to the city of Philadelphia by Holocaust survivors and community leaders, and became the first public monument in North America to memorialize the victims of the Holocaust. 

In the two months since the deadly attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, reports of antisemitic incidents have soared across the United States, according to data by the Anti-Defamation League. 

The group called the rise "unprecedented," and reported incidents of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate have also spiked in the U.S. over the same period, according to data from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

In December in Philadelphia's Somerton section, two swastikas were spray-painted on a wall near a senior apartment complex home to several Jewish people. 

Since the Israel-Hamas war, the University of Pennsylvania has also been under national scrutiny for its handling of antisemtism incidents on campus. 

White Supremacists Hang Banner Alongside Nazi Flags Over Houston Interstate

A small group displaying Nazi symbols gathered Saturday on a bridge above Interstate 45 near downtown and City Hall in Houston.

The group also held a banner that read, "make America white again” alongside one red and one black Nazi flag, a photo of which was posted to social media Saturday. The Houston Police Department was made aware of the banner and flags through at least one call, and one or two officers responded to the scene after 2:30 p.m., spokesperson Jodi Silva said.

"It was very short, and it was very few people,” Silva said.

The flags and banner were displayed near the famed bridge that had graffiti on it reading "Be Someone."

Perry Shirzad, 31, said he was surprised when he saw the group around 2:45 p.m. while riding in an Uber toward downtown from the Heights, where he lives. Shirzad, who has lived in Houston for around six months, said he has never seen hateful messages like that in the city.

"It's just sad to see in Houston, this is my favorite city that I've lived in," Shirzad said. "I didn't think I'd see anything like that in person ever."

The group also was seen outside Houston's City Hall, according to video footage shown by a user on X, formerly known as Twitter. A man was seen confronting the group, in which one member had a megaphone and wore a Nazi symbol on his sleeve. 

Another man in the group could be seen holding a sign reading, "End Jewish supremacy today."

Some members of the group also used racial slurs against the man confronting them in the video.

HPD information officer Jodie Silva, when reached Sunday for comment, wasn't immediately aware of the group gathering to protest at City Hall. 

Silva explained the group would have been within its rights to demonstrate at city hall as it is public property. As long as a group is not causing physical harm, it would be acting within its right to freedom of speech, she said. 

But, as the video showed, one of the members of the group asked the man confronting them whether he was "willing to die here today for what you believe in?" which could be construed as a threat, but the man who was threatened would have to file a complaint for HPD to look into it further, Silva said. 

Canadian Man Arrested After Posting Antisemitic Vitriol on Social Media

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Quebec division in Westmount has arrested Montrealer Houssem Hammami, 37.

Hammami is charged with inciting hatred in connection to violent comments posted on social media. He will appear at the Montreal courthouse on January 30.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between Oct. 14, one week after the Hamas terrorist attack that killed 1,400 people in Israel, and Nov. 1. A court document says the alleged action could lead to a breach of the peace.

Community leaders in Montreal have been calling on legal action to be taken against Imam Adil Charkaoui, who is the subject of a criminal complaint filed in November. The complaint was filed after Charkaoui told a pro-Hamas downtown Montreal rally, “Allah, take care of these Zionist aggressors. Allah, take care of the enemies of the people of Gaza. Allah, identify them all, then exterminate them. And don’t spare any of them!”

Illinois Woman Charged with Felony After Vandalizing Building with Antisemitic Graffiti

Evanston Police say a 30-year-old Rogers Park woman is facing a felony hate crime charge for writing antisemitic graffiti on a building in the 600 block of Oakton Street.

Police Cmdr. Ryan Glew says Mariana Lynch, of 7349 N. Sheridan Road, admitted to detectives after her arrest to having written the graffiti and to its antisemitic intent.

Glew says the graffiti included the number 88, which is said to be a white supremacist numerical code for Heil Hitler, derived from “H” being the eighth letter of the alphabet.

He says there was also surveillance video that connected Lynch to the incident.

Lynch, who was taken into custody early Monday morning when officers spotted her at the Davis Street CTA station, has also been charged with several other criminal damage to property incidents at various locations in south Evanston.

Other arrests reported in Friday’s Crime Bulletin include ones for child endangerment, aggravated battery and possession of a controlled substance.

Pair of Virginian Teens Arrested for Painting Swastika on High School Football Field

Hanover County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two teens who they believe were behind antisemitic vandalism found at Mechanicsville High School.

The incident happened back in October, when school administration was notified about the disturbing graffiti. Investigators with the Hanover Sheriff’s Office found swastikas, among other words, phrases and symbols, spray painted on the football field.

Rabbi Dovid Asher, with the Keneseth Beth Israel in Richmond, said looking at those swastikas is like reliving the pain of his past.

“My mother’s parents were murdered by the Nazis,” Asher said. “The Nazi symbol for me represents the people in my family who were murdered.”

After the crude and hateful symbols rattled the close-knit community, deputies began interviewing people in an effort to find the suspects. They arrested and charged two teenage boys following an interview on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

The teens were each charged with three misdemeanors — trespassing on school property, vandalism and entering property with intent to damage. Their names haven’t been released because of their age.

Asher said these arrests bring us a few steps closer to dismantling antisemitism.

“Very often we like to complain about government not working like it should,” said Asher. “And when they do make an arrest, justice is served and it will help our community have less hate inside of our neighborhoods.”

Asher said education is the key to combatting that.

Dozens of Jewish Families Leave California School District Due to Antisemitism

The war between Israel and Hamas has sparked tensions in the Oakland Unified School District, enough that at least 30 Jewish families have transferred their kids out of the district as first reported by J Weekly and confirmed by CBS News Bay Area. 

Some told CBS News Bay Area they made the move in part due to concerns for their children's safety. 

CBS News Bay Area has confirmed the exodus of Jewish families comes following a string of actions by the Oakland teachers' union and the district itself that many say resulted in antisemitism and created a hostile environment for their students.

In the weeks following the October 7th attacks by Hamas on Israel, and Israel's subsequent ground invasion of Gaza, a group of unidentified OUSD teachers held a "teach-in" highlighting pro-Palestinian lessons.

The teach-in, which was not carried out by all OUSD teachers and was not sanctioned by the district, triggered responses from the district and the teacher's union that some Jewish parents said wasn't enough to protect their children from antisemitic tropes.

"I just felt like I didn't want to have my child around educators that might not be able to treat him the same way that they treat other students," former OUSD parent Rebecca told CBS News Bay Area.

Along with her husband Isaac, the family decided to transfer their 6-year-old student out of Oakland Unified and into the Piedmont school district.

"I just felt that there wasn't a path forward for Jewish families because I had reached out to OUSD and asked them to have a conversation about how they were going to keep Jewish families feeling safe and included," Rebecca explained. "When there were lesson plans that were being taught that said, 'Draw the Zionist bully,' or 'I for Intifada, J is for Jesus.' And to me, it felt like -- honestly -- we were being targeted and singled out and alienated."

They said it wasn't an easy decision to move their student mid-year, but they ultimately felt the preventative measure was necessary.

"[We were] so worried about, in the future, if our child stayed in OUSD, that he would face more and more hostility in the schools in the school district," said Isaac.

"I think that we are just one of the very lucky few that was able to get a spot in the neighboring district," Rebecca added.

CBS News Bay Area learned more Jewish parents filed transfer requests that were denied by other school districts due to capacity restrictions.

Like Shira Avoth, who has a son in middle school. She said he has experienced antisemitism in the classroom, but is waiting until March to file a transfer request for him to start at a new school at the beginning of the upcoming school year.

"The only reason why, the only reason why [we are waiting to transfer] is because my son has a really good group of friends," she explained.

"Everything that's happening in the community is weighing on him," Avoth added.

OUSD has approved many transfer requests, which some believe is a subtle acknowledgment the problem.

One Jewish parent and employee of the Oakland Unified School District who spoke to CBS News Bay Area on the condition of anonymity, fearing retribution for speaking out, said that while they don't want to leave the district, the district also isn't doing enough to keep Jewish students and families safe.

"The fact that it was so easy to apply and say that it feels unsafe for my family, and it was granted so quickly validates the fact that it is actually unsafe. The district knows this," the person explained.

When asked how they're feeling about being faced with a decision to stay or transfer, the parent said it was difficult.

"Honestly, just asking that makes me want to cry. I feel profoundly hurt. I feel profoundly ostracized," the person said. "I feel so misunderstood and somehow labeled as a person that is supporting the harm of others when that is so far from how I see myself … I see so many areas in which they're failing my family."

CBS News Bay Area reached out to OUSD on Friday to get their perspective. They declined to participate in an interview, but sent a statement that said, "OUSD is a sanctuary district, inside Oakland, a sanctuary city, inside California, a sanctuary state. Which means we support all students, families and staff, regardless of religion, heritage, ethnicity, where they came from, or how they got here."

"We protect all students, and harassment of anyone is never acceptable," the statement continued. "In this time of heightened tensions because of what's happening in the Middle East, we are regularly communicating to our community, reminding them of our core values of love and support, so it should be clear that everyone is welcome and valued in our schools."

But for Rebecca and Isaac, that's not enough for them to feel their child is safe at school.

"I just want to make sure that he continues to love who he is and where he comes from," Rebecca said.

Harvard Jewish Students Sue University Citing Anti-Jewish Hatred

Several Jewish students have filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing it of becoming “a bastion of rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment.”

The lawsuit filed Wednesday mirrors others filed since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, including against The Art Institute of Chicago, New York University and the University of Pennsylvania.

In the Harvard lawsuit, the plaintiffs include members of the Students Against Antisemitism, Inc. They accuse Harvard of violating Jewish students’ civil rights and allege that the university tolerated Jewish students being harassed, assaulted and intimidated — behavior that has intensified since the Oct. 7 attack.

“Mobs of pro-Hamas students and faculty have marched by the hundreds through Harvard’s campus, shouting vile antisemitic slogans and calling for death to Jews and Israel,” according to the lawsuit. “Those mobs have occupied buildings, classrooms, libraries, student lounges, plazas, and study halls, often for days or weeks at a time, promoting violence against Jews.”

It was unclear what the reference to mobs in the lawsuit refers to, but the university has been rattled by protests since the Oct. 7 attack. At one point, pro-Palestinian students occupied a campus building for 24 hours.

Marc Kasowitz, a partner at the law firm that brought the suit, Kasowitz Benson Torres, said in a statement that the litigation was necessary because Harvard would not “correct its deep-seated antisemitism problem voluntarily.”

“Harvard must be forced to protect its Jewish students and stop applying a double standard when it comes to anti-Jewish bigotry,” he added.

A spokesman for Harvard said the school doesn’t comment on pending litigation. About a dozen students are potentially facing disciplinary charges for violations of protest rules related to pro-Palestinian activities, but the spokesman said the school couldn’t comment on their cases.

Fallout from the Israel-Hamas war has roiled campuses across the U.S. and reignited a debate over free speech. College leaders have struggled to define the line where political speech crosses into harassment and discrimination, with Jewish and Arab students raising concerns that their schools are doing too little to protect them.

The issue took center stage in December when the presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT testified at a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism. Asked by Republican lawmakers whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate campus policies, the presidents offered lawyerly answers and declined to say unequivocally that it was prohibited speech.

Their answers prompted weeks of backlash from donors and alumni, leading to the resignation of Liz Magill at Penn and Claudine Gay at Harvard.

Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks killed 1,200 people in Israel, mainly civilians, and abducted around 250 others, nearly half of whom were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November.

Since the war began, Israel’s assault in Gaza has killed more than 23,200 Palestinians, roughly 1% of the territory’s population, and more than 58,000 people have been wounded, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. About two-thirds of the dead are women or children.

The U.S. Department of Education has repeatedly warned colleges that they are required to fight antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses or risk losing federal money. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the agency has opened more than 40 investigations at colleges and universities in response to complaints of antisemitism and Islamophobia since the Oct. 7 attacks, including at Harvard, Stanford and MIT.

“No student should feel unsafe on campus,” Cardona told The Associated Press on Wednesday, after he met with students. “The Office for Civil Rights takes these cases very seriously. They investigate harassment, or violations for antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Arab sentiment. We take that role very seriously. If any student on campus feels that any protest or messaging makes them feel unsafe, we ask for an investigation.”

In November, Gay issued a memo laying out plans to address antisemitism on campus.

The university said it was starting a process to examine “how antisemitism manifests within our community” and developing a plan to address it. It also is implementing a program to educate students and faculty about antisemitism and “redoubling our efforts to make students aware that appropriate avenues exist to report feelings of fear or incidents causing harm” including an anonymous hotline for bias incidents.

Muslim Clergy Member Suspended from Non For Profit Organization after Making Antisemitic Statements

For the second time in a few months, officials at Toronto’s SickKids Hospital have placed a staff member on leave while they investigate allegations of supporting Hamas and creepy antisemitic words that would be considered ugly in any setting, let alone a place that is supposed to be focused on treating children.

Last time it was a doctor. This time it’s an interfaith clergy member.

We thank and credit Rick Firth of Honest Reporting Canada for bringing this situation to light.

Speaking at Palestine House, Imam Ayman Al Taher was praising Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and his prediction “by 2027 Israel will not exist.” He went on to say, “We know how Allah has honoured him. Four rockets. I’m not sure how many millions each rocket cost to give him an honourable martyrdom.”

The imam knew what he was saying was out of line, but said it anyway.

“I know I am going to get myself in trouble now for speaking on social media,” he was quoted in the Honest Reporting Canada story as saying. “Who cares, because if we do not get ourselves into trouble, we will not be getting victory.”

Imagine the level of treachery one would have to conjure to celebrate Hamas – the architect of the barbaric slaughter of 1,200 Jews on Oct. 7, 2023.

SickKids is having none of it and has taken action.

In a statement, the hospital said, “Concerns about comments made by a member of the Spiritual and Religious Care Department at SickKids related to the war in Israel and Gaza and shared on social media have been brought to our attention.

“We of course take this extremely seriously and are investigating as per SickKids’ Code of Conduct. The individual is on a paid leave while we investigate.”

The Sun has reached out to the imam for any comments he would like to make and will add those to the coverage, should he decide to answer.

Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, called the decision to suspend Ayman Al Taher an “encouraging first step,” but added the imam should be discharged if the hospital’s investigation determines that he was indeed supporting Hamas and using antisemitic terms.

“How terrifying is it for Jewish patients at the hospital to learn that this so-called interfaith clergyman would possibly be in support of the Hamas savages who stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and murdered more than 1,200 innocent Jewish people?” Mostyn asked. “It is unfathomable that there would be anyone in support of these barbarians, let alone someone in this position, who is paid to help and counsel people of all faiths, including those of the Jewish faith. If the allegations about this person are true, SickKids must sever ties with him.”

Meanwhile, it is interesting how someone like Don Cherry is cancelled right away for his “you people” comment about not wearing poppies on Remembrance Day, without any hearing, but there is such kid gloves used on those who spout antisemitic hate.

There seems to be a different standard applied to those who spout anti-Jewish hate.

Back in November, SickKids also put on paid leave anesthesiologist Dr. Christian Zaarour, who also leads classes at the University of Toronto.

As the Sun reported at the time, Zaarour’s Instagram post said, “We consider Israel to be absolute evil. There is nothing worse than Israel. If Israel and the devil fight each other, we will stand with the devil.”

Of course this is a big problem for SickKids in that its focus is on the heath of children and not religion or politics.

“All who come to SickKids are entitled to be treated with respect, professionalism and feel safe,” the hospital said in a statement.

Comments from staffers saying they will support the devil over Israel or hold views that Israel will soon cease to exist do not make Jewish patients feel that way.

Sources say the hospital is taking both of these matters seriously and working on addressing them.

Virginia Fifth Grader "Scared to be Jewish" As Antisemitism Increases

Swastikas were reportedly found in Bridgewater-Raritan schools prompting Superintendent Robert Beers to send a community and for a fifth graders to speak up.

"Over the last two months, I have found six swastikas in the boys' bathroom. This makes me feel very sad and scared to be Jewish at this time and in this town," said the fifth grader to the Board of Education on Jan. 2. " I am glad an email was sent today to make a stand against hate but it is very late."

Beers sent out the letter on Jan. 2 on the district's mission for respect, kindness, and responsibility in the schools.

"Unfortunately, there have been recent instances of hate speech within our community, a direct contradiction to these stated values. I want to emphasize that hate speech has no place in our school, as it undermines the very fabric of a safe and nurturing learning environment. As a school community, any allegation of hate speech is investigated immediately, and police are notified if the incident rises to the level of a potential hate crime," said Beers.

Bridgewater Police Chief confirmed swastikas were found in the schools.

"I can confirm that there was a swastika(s) reported at the Bridgewater Raritan Middle School; however, this is an ongoing investigation and have no further information to report at this time," said Mitzak.

In Beers' letter he asked anyone who may encounter or become aware of any instances of hate speech to report them promptly to an administrator, teacher, or counselor.

"I encourage parents and guardians to speak to their children about this critical topic to reinforce these principles," said Beers in the letter. "I hope that we embrace our shared responsibility to create an inclusive environment that exemplifies the values of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District."

New York Jewish Man Beaten, Called Antisemitic Slurs in Random Hate Crime

A man was beaten on a Brooklyn street by a stranger hurling antisemitic vitriol, police said Thursday as they released footage of the suspect.

The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the Jan. 2 attack at Montgomery Street and Schenectady Avenue in Crown Heights.

The 30-year-old victim was approached by his attacker, who tried to talk to him about something, it's unclear what, police said.

When the victim didn't reciprocate, the man hurled antisemitic insults at him and beat him, according to cops.

The victim was repeatedly punched in the face and body by the man, who stole his bag and watch before fleeing the location, police said.

The victim suffered minor injuries and declined further medical attention at the scene.

The suspect, who's believed to be between 25 and 35 years old, was last seen headed southbound on Schenectady Avenue toward Empire Boulevard, police said.

Video from a bodega shows him in a distinctive t-shirt that reads, “Dad joke? More like… RAD JOKE.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

New York Public School Teacher Removes Israel from Class Map

A public New York City elementary school is being accused of “Jewish erasure” because a map in one of its classrooms showed all of the countries in the Middle East except for Israel — which it labeled as Palestine.

The map, labeled the “Arab World,” appears in a classroom at PS 261 in Brooklyn, where Rita Lahoud gives students lessons in the Arab Culture Arts program — which is funded by Qatar Foundation International, the American wing of the Qatar Foundation, a nonprofit owned by the country’s wealthy ruling family.

It was manufactured by Arab education company Ruman and features Islamic landmarks in each of the countries in northern Africa and the Middle East.

At the school, the map is posted under the heading “Arab World” with hand-drawn labels marking each country, except for Israel which Lahoud labeled “Palestine.”

“It’s not just that we’re experiencing Jewish hate in NYC public schools, we’re actually experiencing Jewish erasure,” Tova Plaut, a New York City public school instructional coordinator for preschool through fifth grade, told the Free Press.

QFI shared a photo of the map in a since-deleted post on X, writing: “We love seeing #Arabic classroom decorations!” according to the Free Press.

But Plaut said the map is “troubling.”

“The fact that there is a map out there that does not represent what the world actually looks like is troubling,” she said.

“We’re giving children misinformation,” she continued, calling the map an “example of how you embed implicit bias into children.

“What it does is it creates this inner instinctive knowledge that they internalize that this land belongs to the Arab world; that it does not belong to anyone else,” added Plaut, who is also the founder of the New York City Public Schools Alliance, a group of educators and parents fighting antisemitism and other forms of hate in city schools in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

“When you embed something when children are young, it becomes a belief. And belief is much harder to change than knowledge,” she said.

Inside the classroom where the map appears, Lahoud, a Palestinian-American who was born in the US but moved to the Middle East at the age of 7 and lived in Palestine and Saudi Arabia, teaches lessons “about the art and culture of the Arab world” in Arabic, according to the QFI blog.

She said in November she had a passion for teaching students about Arab culture, telling the blog: “Diversity in education and every area of life is now valued more than ever.

“Even if my students do not grow up to be Arabic language experts or even fluent in the Arabic language, they will have deep knowledge and respect for Arab culture and art,” Lahoud said.

“This is so important in today’s political and social climate,” she continued.

“Education programs like ours can go a long way in changing perceptions, and in giving children the necessary tools to refute stereotypes.”

City Hall said the map was removed “as soon as we were made aware of concerns” about its contents.

“We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment here at New York City Public Schools that supports all cultures and communities,” mayoral spokesperson Brad Weekes said in a statement.

The Post has reached out to the New York City Department of Education and QFI for comment.

When reached for comment, the principal of PS 261 directed the Post to the Department of Education.

But when the Free Press asked the department whether the map was still up following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, a spokesman wrote back, “Why would it not be?” the outlet reports.

Spokesman Nathaniel Styer also reportedly added that “this is a map of countries that speak Arabic.”

Meanwhile, it was revealed that QFI has donated over $1 million to the Department of Education between 2019 and 2022.

In 2019 and 2020, the organization gave more than $241,000 to fund dual-language Arabic programs at PS 261 and PS 30 in Brooklyn, according to public disclosure forms.

In 2021, the organization also gave more than $275,000 to the Department of Education, and in 2022, the number rose to more than $513,000, though it is unclear how the funds were distributed.

Virginia Juveniles Charged For Spray Painting Swastika onto Football Field

Two juveniles are facing charges for allegedly spray painting a hate symbol on the Mechanicsville High School football field.

In October, administrators at the high school found the football field vandalized with graffiti.

“To our disbelief, this vandalism included a swastika. This obscene symbol of pure hate and intolerance has no place in our society and stands in direct opposition to the principles of unity, respect, and inclusion that we hold dear at our school and across our school division,” Mechanicsville High School’s principal and the Hanover Schools’ superintendent said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office identified and interviewed two juvenile males in connection with the vandalism.

Both juveniles have been charged with trespassing on school property, vandalism, and entering property with the intent to damage.

The sheriff’s office says the names of the juveniles are not being revealed because of their ages.

It is unclear if the juveniles involved were students at the school.

Here’s a statement from Hanover Schools’ superintendent regarding the arrests:

As you may know, in late October, it was discovered and reported to school administration that the Mechanicsville High School (MHS) football field had been vandalized with graffiti, including a swastika, an obscene symbol of pure hate and intolerance that has no place in our society and stands in direct opposition to the principles of unity, respect, and inclusion that we hold dear at MHS and across our school division. Since that time, our valued partners at the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office have investigated this vandalism.

Earlier today, the Sheriff’s Office announced that two juveniles have been identified and arrested in relation to this reprehensible and thoughtless act. On behalf of Hanover County Public Schools, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Sheriff’s Office for their unrelenting dedication to holding those responsible for this disgraceful act accountable.

As Mr. Charles Stevens, Mechanicsville High School’s Principal, and I shared in October, we condemn this vile act of vandalism, antisemitism, and all forms of hatred in the strongest possible terms. It is an affront to the very principles and values that we stand for as a school and as a school division. Mechanicsville High School and all 26 schools in HCPS are places of learning, growth, and respect. We remain committed to being a school division where all students, faculty, staff, and community members feel welcome, valued, and safe.

Thank you for your continued support of our school division and for joining us in our commitment to inclusion and respect for all members of our school community and beyond.

New Jersey Public School Being Investigated by DOE for Antisemitism

The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into a New Jersey school district that has come under fire for what Jewish parents allege is an antisemitic climate since Oct. 7.

The case at Teaneck Public Schools, a diverse district in a heavily Jewish suburb of New York City, adds to a growing slate of federal Title VI civil rights investigations involving alleged discrimination of Jewish or Arab students in the months since Hamas attacked Israel. Other investigations have been opened at universities and K-12 school districts across the country.

The education department does not say why it has opened an investigation. In a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the school district declined comment on the investigation for privacy reasons but noted that “all such manners are addressed appropriately.”

“We do not tolerate any harassment, bullying, or intimidation, and thoroughly investigate any reports of this type of behavior,” district spokesperson Connie Le continued in the statement.

Teaneck, which has significant Jewish and Muslim populations living in unusually close proximity, has been divided since Oct. 7. “I have been here for 35 years, and I have never seen this type of tension,” Noam Sokolow, the proprietor of a local kosher deli, told the Washington Post in November, shortly after debate over a resolution condemning Hamas divided the town’s governance committee, spurred skirmishes and and led to the resignation of most members of a municipal inclusion committee.

The tensions rippled through the local school district starting with the superintendent’s response to Hamas’ attack on Israel, continuing with a contentious board meeting at which Jewish speakers say they were unfairly silenced, and culminating in a pro-Palestinian student walkout that administrators sent mixed communications about.

“I think that the superintendent’s actions, the first letter that he wrote, and the fact that he allowed this walkout where there was hate speech on school grounds, it shows a complete lack of understanding about what antisemitism is,” Hillary Kessler-Godin, a Jewish parent who filed a Title VI complaint against the district, told JTA.

Local Jewish leaders, including rabbis and officials at the Jewish federation, encouraged parents to file the complaints with the federal education department’s Office of Civil Rights.

Naomi Knopf, chief impact officer at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, told JTA that she didn’t know which complaint the department took up in its investigation. But she said the federation was heartened that an inquiry had been opened.

“Jewish Federation is very pleased that the Department of Education is taking these incidents seriously,” Knopf said. “The rights of Jewish students matter just as much as everyone else’s, and it‘s our job and the federal government’s job to make sure that all students have access to a safe educational environment.”

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on criteria including “shared ancestry.” The department, which does not comment on active investigations, focuses its inquiries on whether the school should have done more to protect students. It has said that opening an investigation does not mean the complaint has merit.

Days after the Oct. 7 attack, Teaneck Superintendent Andre Spencer emailed out a message of support that did not include mention of Israel, Hamas or terrorism, instead employing phrases such as “unfortunate situation” that Jewish parents felt did not match the severity of the moment.

At a subsequent school board meeting, Jewish parents and community members who attempted to describe the barbarity of the Hamas attacks were shut down, with the school board informing them that there were children present. The same board did not stop speakers who used in some cases identical language to describe Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, prompting a complaint by the free-speech group FIRE.

Tensions came to a head in November, when the superintendent appeared to at first endorse a planned student “walkout for Palestine.”

“It is essential to recognize that our scholars have the First Amendment right to express themselves,” Spencer wrote in an initial communication about the walkout.

Local Orthodox rabbis, responding to the walkout organizers’ allegation that Israel was committing “genocide” in Gaza, issued a statement opposing the demonstration, calling it “grotesque and overt antisemitism” and a “blood libel.” Hundreds of local Jews — including several Orthodox community leaders with no children in the district — organized a pro-Israel rally the night before the walkout. (Most local Jewish parents send their children to Jewish day schools.)

Following the criticism, Spencer issued a second statement condemning antisemitism and noting that any students who participated would be given zeros for the classes they missed. About 100 students ultimately walked out.

Another Title VI civil rights investigation was announced this week at Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District in Orange County, California. A district representative did not disclose details of the investigation to JTA, citing student privacy concerns, but said in a statement, “Unequivocally, our school district condemns all forms of discrimination and does not tolerate this kind of behavior on our school campuses.”

Toronto Man Charged With Incitement of Hate After Waving "Terrorist Flag"

A Toronto man has been charged with public incitement of hatred after police allege he held a "terrorist flag" during a demonstration last weekend.

Police say the 41-year-old man allegedly waved a flag of "an organization listed as a terrorist group by Public Safety Canada" while marching through the city's downtown on Sunday.

Police have not confirmed what the flag depicted or what group it was associated with.

Speaking at a Toronto Police Services Board meeting Thursday, police Chief Myron Demkiw said he would "not be complicit in providing a platform to both acknowledge or promote the hateful ideology." 

Demkiw called the charge "unprecedented," noting the "very high threshold" to charge anyone with a hate propaganda offence.

"We're not putting up with this kind of hateful conduct," he added at a news conference Thursday. "This type of allegation points to an extremist, hateful perspective that we do not welcome in the city."

The man is set to appear in court in Toronto on Feb. 23.

Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, vice president GTA of the Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), said she hopes the public incitement of charge is the "first of many laid" against people "promoting violence" against others in Canada.

"We hope that other police services will take note," she said.

Anas Sial, the lead of the grassroots organization Action for Palestine, said one person's alleged display of a terrorist organization's flag shouldn't be associated with Palestinian flags. Since police haven't disclosed what the flag was, he says the organization can't properly comment on it.

"If they're not disclosing what it is, I don't even know what they're talking about," said Sial. "There's no correlation until we have further understanding of what it is and who this individual was,"

According to the force's website, Toronto police consider a hate crime to be a criminal offence committed against a person or property motivated at least in part by the offender's bias, prejudice or hate against an identifiable group. If a person is charged and convicted of that offence, a judge will take into consideration hate as an aggravating factor when imposing a sentence.

The chief said Toronto has seen more protests since the start of the Israel-Hamas war than any other city in Canada — 308 so far — and that those demonstrations have escalated recently.s

Demkiw also announced Thursday that demonstrations on the Avenue Road bridge over Highway 401 will now be prohibited as they pose a threat to public safety and have made many in the surrounding Jewish community feel intimidated.

When asked, the chief did not rule out the possibility of also limiting protests outside Jewish-owned businesses such as restaurants.

Demkiw said people who ignore the ban can expect to be arrested "if necessary" and any activities that take place on the bridge will be investigated "with a criminal lens."

Kirzner-Roberts said CIJA is thankful to Toronto police and Demkiw for their decision to prohibit protests on Avenue Road bridge.

"These daily incidents from these protesters was, you know, making the Jewish feel community feel unsafe," said Kirzner-Roberts.

But one group that's been actively protesting on the highway overpass for weeks says their intention is to raise awareness — not target Jewish Canadians.

Sial, of Action for Palestine, called the prohibition "an infringement of our Charter rights, our freedom of speech, our freedom to protest [and] our free to demonstration," and says the group plans to take legal action against the police. 

The group protested there weeks ago after Sial says a billboard company took down billboards on the violence in Gaza and refunded them.

"We're trying to express our voice," said Sial, adding he hopes police reconsider the decision and instead monitor the highway protests when they happen.

Demkiw also provided the board with the latest details on the force's hate crime statistics, saying hate crime calls to Toronto police were down in December.

Demkiw said there were 10 reported hate crimes last month compared to 48 in November. The shift is the first to come after the force raised alarm about the sustained spike in calls starting Oct. 7.

He called the recent figures "good news" but warned antisemitic incidents are still a major concern, representing a majority of all hate crimes in 2023. There were 132 total incidents reported compared to 65 in 2022.

Police have previously noted that hate crimes often go underreported out of fear of retaliation.

This year, there have been two antisemitic hate crimes reported so far, one of which was a suspected arson attack against a Jewish-owned deli store in North York. To date, the force has also received 145 reports from people using the recently launched hate graffiti web form, police said.

Toronto police's hate crime unit is investigating a fire at a Jewish-owned grocery store on Wednesday that was also spray-painted with the words "Free Palestine." Police Chief Myron Demkiw told reporters Thursday "no stone would be left unturned" as they look for suspects.

"Let me be clear and unequivocal, our commitment to keeping our city's Jewish community safe is unwavering," Demkiw said. "I will say this once again and as many times as necessary: violence and hate will not be tolerated."

Demkiw and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met on Wednesday to discuss the recent and "alarming" increase in antisemitic incidents and what more can be done to keep Jewish Canadians safe. The meeting came after two Toronto councillors asked the federal government for help fighting antisemitism in Toronto.

"As partners, we'll continue to do what is necessary to tackle hatred in all its forms," Trudeau said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The number of reported hate crimes was up 42 per cent in 2023 from the previous year — 353 reports compared with 248, police said. From October to December, the force received an average of 190 hate-related calls, up from the average of 47 for all the months prior in 2023. 

Demkiw notes the second highest increase was in reported LGBTQ+ hate crimes, going up from 40 in 2022 to 66 in 2023. There were also 35 reported anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab hate crimes last year compared to 12 the year prior, making it the third highest category. 

From Oct. 7, 2023 to Jan. 10, 2024, the force said its arrested 54 people, resulting in 117 hate crime-related charges. The most common were mischief, assault and uttering threats.

ConYouTuber Posts Video Ripping Down Israeli Flag and Chanting "Free Palestine"

A controversial Muslim YouTuber who rocketed to internet stardom in street fight videos has been posting footage of himself harassing customers in an Israeli café and at a Starbucks in Manhattan, revolting some fans who ripped him as “antisemitic.”

Adam Saleh — who’s been seen in photos with Mike Tyson and Andrew Tate and was set to fight on a Jake Paul undercard last February before the match was canceled last minute — stormed Union Square cafe Blue Stripes and pulled down its Israeli flag in December.

“Free, free Palestine,” chanted Saleh, 30, as he and two friends paraded around the café in the Dec. 15 video, which collected over 50,000 “likes” before being deleted following The Post’s inquiry.

It is still up on the Jewish Breaking News Instagram.

In the video, Saleh — a Brooklyn native whose parents are from Yemen, and who has 4.7 million YouTube subscribers and 1.5 million Instagram followers — turns to a huge Israeli flag hanging in the window of the coffee shop.

“I should take that off,” he says as he unhooks one corner of the flag, letting it fall to the side.

“You don’t have a right to do that,” one shocked patron countered.

“I don’t give a f–k what you say,” Saleh responds.

“You know they’re killing kids, they’re promoting killing kids,” he continues, repeating claims by the Hamas terrorist group.

Café owner Alon Kazdan, 49, said he put up the Israeli flag after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on his country, and now protestors come in every day to disrupt his shop.

“I get these people who come in saying, ‘Free Palestine,’ and cursing and doing whatever they feel like doing, you know, but I’m okay with it,” Kazdan, who is from Tel Aviv, told The Post. “I’m just doing it because this is who I am. I’m proud of who I am.”

A day later, Saleh posted a video of himself in a Union Square Starbucks, yelling at customers that they were “funding a genocide” since the coffee giant distanced itself from a since-deleted “Solidarity with Palestine” post by its union.

Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan blamed recent acts of vandalism of the stores on “protesters influenced by misrepresentation on social media of what we stand for.”

Starbucks said in a statement that it condemns violence and the loss of innocent life and has “no political agenda.”

In the same video — viewed 45,000 times — Saleh mockingly asks customers outside the Starbucks for signatures for a petition supporting Israel, then tells them that the terms and conditions include killing thousands of Palestinians.

“They support the genocide,” he claims to customers, echoing Hamas talking points.

Some ripped Saleh as an antisemite.

“This is blatant antisemitism,” said one commenter. “Antisemitic, ignorant, uneducated,” added another.

“So Israel shouldn’t be able to defend itself,” another person commented on Instagram.

“This is beyond idiotic,” said another on YouTube. “There are MUCH better things you can be doing to help Palestine than this.”

Saleh has long been vocal on social media about his support of Palestine, reposting on X, “Everyone is yelling FREE PALESTINE for a reason NOT free Israel. Most of you are sellouts and slaves to the media’s agenda.”

Saleh — who is 1-1 as a lightweight professional fighter — has sparked controversy before. 

In 2016, he reportedly fabricated a story about being kicked off a Delta Airlines flight for speaking Arabic.

In 2014, for a “Racial Profiling Experiment” video, he staged a race-related dispute in front of a police officer.

Saleh did not respond to a request for comment.

Florida Woman Covered in Fake Blood Arrested After Vandalizing Synagogue

A 24-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday on after clogging the toilets of a South Florida synagogue while covered in fake blood.

According to the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) arrest report, the incident unfolded around 4:30 PM at the Temple Dor Dorim, a synagogue located at 2360 Glades Circle.

Authorities say the suspect, identified as Jessica Shiner, attempted to clog multiple toilets, activate a noise-making machine, and cover herself in fake blood while shouting what the report describes as "politically-based rhetoric regarding current events in Israel and border issues."

A BSO sergeant present at the synagogue witnessed Shiner's actions and initiated the arrest. 

The report explains that due to Shiner's lack of a state-issued ID and ties to Broward County, issuing a civil citation wasn't an option. 

The arresting deputy further noted in the report that "their conduct raised concerns about public safety if released on the scene."

Shiner was subsequently charged with "willfully and maliciously interrupting or disturbing any school or any assembly of people meeting for the worship of God." 

However, as of Monday afternoon, she no longer appeared in the jail database, suggesting potential release or further processing details pending.

Dozens of Schools and Synagogues Across Colorado Receive Bomb Threats

Dozens of schools across Colorado received bomb threats Tuesday morning, which prompted many of them to evacuate, the Kiowa County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.

Synagogues in the Denver and Boulder also received threats, according to reports from Denver Gazette news partner KUSA.

Spokesperson Vikki Migoya with the FBI Denver field office on Tuesday confirmed the FBI's involvement with the string of threats.

"The FBI takes hoax threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk. While we have no information to indicate a specific and credible threat, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to gather, share, and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention," Migoya said.

Emailed bomb threats were sent to schools in Kiowa and El Paso counties, with the Kiowa County Sheriff's Office saying the threats were identical to others sent to more than 40 schools across the state.

The Kiowa County Sheriff's Office said it received the bomb threat, targeting the three schools in the Eads RE-1 school district, at about 9:20 a.m. Tuesday. Eads is about 130 miles southeast of Colorado Springs.

"Emergency personnel arrived on scene quickly, the schools were evacuated and a perimeter was established," the Sheriff's Office reported on its social media. "Upon investigation, it was determined this same threat was given to 40+ schools throughout the state. The schools were cleared by law enforcement and the threat was deemed to be fictitious."

The Kiowa County Sheriff's Office post said there was no active threat to the students, and that the threats' source was under investigation.

At 10:24 a.m., Ellicott School District 22 in eastern El Paso County also received a bomb threat. The emails were sent to administrators and teachers in the building, according to a notification message on the district's website.

"The district began evacuating at 10:30 a.m. At this time, everyone is safe, and we are working on reuniting students with families. Please check your phone and / or emails for more information on the location for reuniting with your student," the district message said.

The Ellicott district office confirmed to The Gazette that all students were dismissed for the day and being reunited with families.

Gazette news partner KOAA confirmed that in addition to the Eads and Ellicott school districts, La Veta Public Schools in Huerfano County and the East Otero School District in La Junta received the same threat.

Also, Estes Park police and the Estes Park School District issued a joint statement saying that a threat was received by email that indicated the presence of explosive devices within the school campus, according to KUSA.

Police secured the schools and said they did not believe there was any ongoing threat in the area.

Temple Emanuel, a synagogue in Denver, said their Early Learning Center and entire building were evacuated after "an explosives threat" that was received over email, KUSA reported. The threat, according to Temple Emanuel, was received by synagogues all over the Denver and Boulder areas.

Har HaShem, in Boulder, said in a Facebook post that it received a threat Tuesday morning. Har HaShem staff called police and the campus was cleared with the assistance of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office K-9 unit.

The mass threat of violence against Colorado schools comes less than a year after a wave of threatening phone calls were made to more than a dozen schools across the state. On Feb. 22, 2023, someone threatening a school shooting would call local authorities and say they were entering a local school with a pipe bomb and a rifle.

DOE Opens Investigation Into Discrimination Against Jewish Students at UNC

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation for shared ancestry discrimination at UNC on Dec. 22, following a complaint that said the University discriminated against Jewish students.

The federal department will probe whether UNC responded to harassment of students based on shared Jewish ancestry in a manner consistent with the requirements of Title VI.

The inquiry is one of 89 ongoing Title VI investigations the OCR has opened across multiple institutions. 

The complaint that allegedly led to the investigation was filed by Jewish American attorney David Weisberg. The OCR investigation does not mean that the organization made a determination regarding the merit of the complaint. 

In the complaint against the University, Weisberg drew attention to two events that occurred in October and November 2023. The first involves statements made during a roundtable discussion and the other involves a professor's comments during class. Weisberg declined The Daily Tar Heel’s request for comment, deferring to the complaint itself. 

Weisberg argues that the two 2023 events breach a previously reached resolution agreement between UNC and the OCR following 2019 events. 

UNC Media Relations said the University is aware of the complaint and will comply with the federal investigation.

“We will cooperate fully and remain committed to promoting a safe and equitable environment to all members of the Carolina community that is free from harassment and discrimination,” Kevin Best, Media Relations senior director, said in an email.

Under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.

Theodore Shaw, a law professor at UNC and director of the UNC Center for Civil Rights, said in order for a Title VI violation to have occurred, students must have been discriminated against and be made to feel uncomfortable by the institution.

In the complaint, Weisberg pointed to University events he describes as offensive and antisemitic that took place in 2019, including the distribution of flyers in Davis Library and a rap performance at a conference titled “Conflict over Gaza: People, Politics and Possibilities.” 

Following the events in 2019, Kevin Guskiewicz, the interim chancellor at the time, released statements condemning both the flyers and the performance.

The OCR opened an investigation into the University after these events and concluded that no violation of Title VI occurred. Following the events, the University entered a resolution agreement with the OCR to “promptly investigate” any further incidents of antisemitism on campus and take "all steps reasonably designed" to make sure that student are not subjected to a "hostile environment."

“Title VI and the Resolution Agreement again are both plainly violated,” Weisberg said in the complaint. “The fact that the Resolution Agreement was signed more than four years ago indicates that antisemitism at UNC is a persistent problem that in fact has not been resolved.” 

Weisberg quotes several comments about Israel made by assistant professor E. Chebrolu in his Communications 170: Rhetoric and Public Issues class in the complaint.

He specifically points to a remark made by Chebrolu during an Oct. 17 class, when he said, "Israel and the United States do not give a shit about international law or war crimes."

The DTH independently verified the statement after obtaining a recording of the class from a student.

“It is a controversial class in nature, because it can be sensitive topics being talked about,” a student in Chebrolu’s class, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “We were basically analyzing rhetoric being used, whether it was ‘good’ or ‘bad’ rhetoric.”

Weisberg also claims that Chebrolu called Israel “a clearly fascist state committing a genocide under the guise of it supposedly being the only democracy in the Middle East,” during an Oct. 31 lecture. The DTH was unable to independently verify these statements.

“If you're taking a class that is particularly for public issues, it's going to be sensitive,” the student said. “It's going to be tough, but it has to be talked about and taking that away from us as students —  I feel like that is going to jeopardize how we receive education as well as other students who might take that class.”

Chebrolu declined The DTH's request for comment. He said he was advised by University administration to not speak to the media given the ongoing federal investigation.

The second event Weisberg cites occurred during a roundtable discussion on Nov. 28 titled “No Peace Without Justice: A Round-Table Talk on Social Justice in Palestine." The event was co-sponsored by the UNC Department of Geography and Environment and the UNC Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies. 

At the event, activist and guest speaker Rania Masri discussed the events of Oct. 7, the day militant group Hamas attacked Israel, leading to retaliatory attacks on Gaza by Israel that remain ongoing.

“Oct. 7, for many of us from the region, was a beautiful day,” Masri said according to a YouTube video posted by Voice4Israel of North Carolina. "A day in which we saw our brothers, we saw our fathers, we saw men break out of a concentration camp."

The DTH was unable to reach Masri.

In response to the event, UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz released a statement on Dec. 1 which said he was “appalled” by Masri’s comments, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Jim White was reviewing University policy regarding panels and free speech. 

In a letter from the OCR to Weisberg obtained by The News & Observer, attorney Dan Greenspahn said the OCR is a "neutral fact-finder" and will look at information from the complaint, UNC and other sources. The complaint could be resolved before the conclusion of the investigation. If an agreement is not reached in this way, the OCR will propose a formal resolution agreement. 

Shaw said that in general, issues of free speech and hate speech can be difficult to distinguish between.   

“Where you draw a line between showing that protection and allowing people to exercise their right to freedom of speech — that's a hard task and I’m going to look with much interest to see what the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights does, trying to figure out how to draw that line,” Shaw said.