Anti-Defamation League: 82% increase in antisemitic incidents in Western Pa. in 2021
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Western Pennsylvania has seen an increase of more than 80% in antisemitic incidents, the highest figures recorded in the state since tracking began in 1979, according to a report from the Anti-Defamation League.
ADL officials released the report this week highlighting 20 incidents in which antisemitism was considered a significant factor. The ADL audit included both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs, and classifies incidents into three categories: harassment (15), vandalism (3) and assault (2).
“We are disturbed by the elevated levels of antisemitism,” said James Pasch, regional director for the ADL’s office in Cleveland, whose territory includes Western Pennsylvania. “For years, we’ve called on elected officials, law enforcement, educators, civic leaders and community members to do more to combat antisemitism, and there is no more time to waste.”
Some of the incidents included:
• Two Squirrel Hill households receiving letters with Google Map images of their homes and the message, “You self-hating Jews and haters of Israel, we know where you live. You are so virtuous with your signs.”
• A synagogue receiving a voicemail using anti-Jewish slurs and referencing Nazi war criminal Dr. Josef Mengele.
• A gathering of roughly two dozen individuals from white supremacist groups at Boyce Park in Plum in November 2021.
• A Jewish man assaulted while walking home from religious services in June 2021.
The most common incident recorded in the region is the distribution of white supremacist literature, which has occurred in Pittsburgh, Oakmont, Monroeville, Irwin and Greensburg.
“The only thing we’ve seen as a congregation is every once in a while, very rarely, we may get a leaflet or an email,” said Rabbi Lenny Sarko of Congregation Emanu-El Israel in Greensburg. “I think the number of incidents is fairly small when you consider we’re looking at half the state, but it’s something we’re always aware of and have to be cognizant about.”
Nationwide, ADL officials said 2021 was an all-time high for antisemitic incidents, with more than 2,700 reported across the U.S., an average of seven per day.
See ADL.org/heat-map for a map detailing the incidents recorded in the ADL’s report.
“As we have seen right here at the Tree of Life Synagogue, the stakes are too high to allow anti-Jewish hate to go unchecked,” Pasch said.
Sarko said that outside of the ADL report, Emanu-El congregants have also seen a great many positive developments in the past few years.
“The Christian and Muslim communities have always reached out, been very kind and interactive with our synagogue,” Sarko said. “To me, that’s the biggest plus and the biggest item we need to concentrate on. There are always going to be people out there who are antisemitic, but if the community as a whole is peaceful and respectful, that can help prevent some of the worst things from happening.”