US (Washington Insider Magazine) —Since the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, antisemitic incidents across the United States have sharply increased. Reports of demonstrators chanting Hamas slogans, defaced synagogues, and antisemitic online content have become alarmingly frequent, sparking deep concern within Jewish communities nationwide.
Maria Haberfeld, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, recalls her traumatic childhood experiences with antisemitism in Poland. At just 10 years old, she endured physical assault and verbal abuse fueled by government-stoked antisemitism. Now, seeing similar hatred resurface in the U.S., Haberfeld finds herself grappling with fear and disgust. The pro-Palestinian demonstrations she witnesses near her workplace, including calls for Israel’s destruction, have reignited memories she hoped to leave behind when her family sought refuge in America.
The surge in antisemitic incidents is part of a broader increase in hate-related acts, with both antisemitism and Islamophobia on the rise in response to the conflict. As Jewish and Muslim communities face this unsettling wave of intolerance, the White House has responded by urging peace and condemning hate-fueled violence and harassment. However, many, like Haberfeld, continue to feel unsafe amid these heightened tensions.
