Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Jewish UCLA students beaten with sticks, pepper sprayed and knocked out by anti-Israel campus mob: lawsuit
A lawsuit by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the University of California systemclaims abhorrent treatment of Jewish and Israeli students on campus, including exclusion zones and even physical assaults by anti-Israel demonstrators.
That lawsuit says that Jewish and Israeli students were victims of targeted violent crime, including being beaten with sticks and blunt objects, being pummeled into the ground causing a wound that led to hospitalization, being kicked and slapped and being pepper sprayed.
The suit, filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, claimed that the University of California, Los Angeles, turned a blind eye to the horrific alleged behavior in 2024.
“On April 25, 2024, following months of antisemitic and anti-Israeli demonstrations, masked and armed agitators, many of whom were openly hostile to Jews and Israelis, occupied the heart of the University of California, Los Angeles … campus,” the lawsuit begins.
“They built an illegal encampment, surrounded it with barriers, and formed ‘human phalanxes’ to block Jews and Israelis from entering academic buildings,” it continues. “They kicked and slapped Jews, beat Jews with sticks, and assaulted Jews with pepper spray. One Jewish student was knocked unconscious and was taken to the hospital with an open head wound.”
The suit says UCLA “inexplicably took no serious action whatsoever” until May 2025, and claims that the school’s alleged decision to ignore the “harassment of, and discrimination against, Jewish and Israeli students also violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race and national-origin discrimination in higher education.”
On April 25, 2024, UC Divest, a group of anti-Israel student groups including the infamous Students for Justice Palestine (SJP), built an encampment in Royce Quad, described as a heavily trafficked and very important area of the UCLA campus. Some UCLA faculty members are also accused of joining in the demonstration, and “aiding and abetting” illegal activities.
The DOJ describes how antisemitic and anti-Israel demonstrators “built a barrier around it, fashioned with sheets of plywood, some of which were affixed to metal bicycle racks,” and “barricaded the doors of Royce Hall and Powell Library with garbage cans, tents, ropes, and bicycle racks.”
They graffitied buildings and made signs vile messaging, including “F-— ISRAEL,” F-— ALL Jews” and ‘israelis Are Native 2 HELL,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims that the anti-Israel demonstrators created human chains to block Jewish and Israeli students — or those perceived to be Jewish or Israeli — from freely entering the quad which contains key campus buildings, including a library. The demonstrators even passed out wristbands to those who were allowed free passage through the zone, but excluded Jewish and Israeli students.
Worse, physical violence against “Zionists” and Jewish and Israeli students became commonplace, according to the lawsuit, and demonstrators began arming themselves with weapons like pepper spray and lumber and “established militia-style checkpoints on UCLA’s campus and refused to allow Jews to traverse public property unless those Jews denounced a core tenet of their religion.”
The lawsuit describes a Native American Jewish woman counter-demonstrating with a sign that read, “Hamas supporters are not welcome on Native land,” who was then “quickly surrounded by a mob” and “violently assaulted.”
Meanwhile, UCLA police were standing “directly behind [her] and [did] absolutely nothing,” according to the lawsuit.
Occupiers pepper sprayed a woman wearing a Star of David and holding an Israeli flag, knocked a pro-Israel woman to the ground, beating her unconscious and causing an open head wound that required hospitalization, and physically assaulted a Jewish man and told him, “Hitler missed one,” the suit says.
On April 30, 2024 UCLA administrators “declared the encampment illegal and directed all those involved to leave or face discipline” and UCLA Chancellor Gene Bock acknowledged that, “Jewish students [were] in a state of anxiety and fear” and that “students on their way to class have been physically blocked from accessing parts of the campus.”
That same day, counter-protesters clashed with the occupiers in what is described in the lawsuit as a hectic scene that included violent skirmishes, including “occupiers and counter-protestors attack[ing] each other with pepper spray, blunt objects, and even fireworks.”
The following day, a van marked with a Star of David inside a swastika parked on campus in support of the anti-Israel encampment. The van had messaging “antisemitic writing referring to Jews as ‘puppet masters,’ was parked on UCLA’s campus in support of the encampment,” and was welcomed by passersby, according to the suit.
Clashes between occupiers and police and Jewish students continued through May and June 2024, the lawsuit says.
Later, 428 Jewish and Israeli students, faculty members and staff from the college were surveyed about their experiences during the unrest. About 50% of them said they “witnessed physical threats or attacks directed at Jews and Israelis.”
“I was assaulted, threatened, and harassed during the encampment. I had an Israeli flag and a man ran towards me in order to push me,” one student said in the survey. “I was blocked for being Jewish. They were calling for an intifada collectively which is to kill the Jews.”
All told, physical damage to the taxpayer-funded school totaled $12.3 million.
In a Tuesday press release announcing the lawsuit, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the DOJ will hold UCLA “to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”
“Universities have an obligation to maintain safe and inclusive campuses for all students,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California said in the release. “Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”
University of California President James Milliken issued a statement Tuesday after the lawsuit was filed.
“The Board of Regents and administrative leadership have been unequivocal: antisemitism has no place at the University of California. We have instituted numerous systemwide reforms and programs to promote safety and combat antisemitism on our campuses,” he said. “
“UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, whose family was profoundly affected by Nazi antisemitism and the Holocaust, has made the protection of Jewish students, faculty, and staff on campus the highest priority since the day he took office. It is so disappointing that this most recent lawsuit shows no recognition of or respect for that essential work. This litigation — and other actions taken by the federal government targeting the University of California — does nothing to aid our ongoing efforts to address antisemitism and create safe and welcoming campus environments for all members of our community.”
That lawsuit says that Jewish and Israeli students were victims of targeted violent crime, including being beaten with sticks and blunt objects, being pummeled into the ground causing a wound that led to hospitalization, being kicked and slapped and being pepper sprayed.
The suit, filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, claimed that the University of California, Los Angeles, turned a blind eye to the horrific alleged behavior in 2024.
“On April 25, 2024, following months of antisemitic and anti-Israeli demonstrations, masked and armed agitators, many of whom were openly hostile to Jews and Israelis, occupied the heart of the University of California, Los Angeles … campus,” the lawsuit begins.
“They built an illegal encampment, surrounded it with barriers, and formed ‘human phalanxes’ to block Jews and Israelis from entering academic buildings,” it continues. “They kicked and slapped Jews, beat Jews with sticks, and assaulted Jews with pepper spray. One Jewish student was knocked unconscious and was taken to the hospital with an open head wound.”
The suit says UCLA “inexplicably took no serious action whatsoever” until May 2025, and claims that the school’s alleged decision to ignore the “harassment of, and discrimination against, Jewish and Israeli students also violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race and national-origin discrimination in higher education.”
On April 25, 2024, UC Divest, a group of anti-Israel student groups including the infamous Students for Justice Palestine (SJP), built an encampment in Royce Quad, described as a heavily trafficked and very important area of the UCLA campus. Some UCLA faculty members are also accused of joining in the demonstration, and “aiding and abetting” illegal activities.
The DOJ describes how antisemitic and anti-Israel demonstrators “built a barrier around it, fashioned with sheets of plywood, some of which were affixed to metal bicycle racks,” and “barricaded the doors of Royce Hall and Powell Library with garbage cans, tents, ropes, and bicycle racks.”
They graffitied buildings and made signs vile messaging, including “F-— ISRAEL,” F-— ALL Jews” and ‘israelis Are Native 2 HELL,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims that the anti-Israel demonstrators created human chains to block Jewish and Israeli students — or those perceived to be Jewish or Israeli — from freely entering the quad which contains key campus buildings, including a library. The demonstrators even passed out wristbands to those who were allowed free passage through the zone, but excluded Jewish and Israeli students.
Worse, physical violence against “Zionists” and Jewish and Israeli students became commonplace, according to the lawsuit, and demonstrators began arming themselves with weapons like pepper spray and lumber and “established militia-style checkpoints on UCLA’s campus and refused to allow Jews to traverse public property unless those Jews denounced a core tenet of their religion.”
The lawsuit describes a Native American Jewish woman counter-demonstrating with a sign that read, “Hamas supporters are not welcome on Native land,” who was then “quickly surrounded by a mob” and “violently assaulted.”
Meanwhile, UCLA police were standing “directly behind [her] and [did] absolutely nothing,” according to the lawsuit.
Occupiers pepper sprayed a woman wearing a Star of David and holding an Israeli flag, knocked a pro-Israel woman to the ground, beating her unconscious and causing an open head wound that required hospitalization, and physically assaulted a Jewish man and told him, “Hitler missed one,” the suit says.
On April 30, 2024 UCLA administrators “declared the encampment illegal and directed all those involved to leave or face discipline” and UCLA Chancellor Gene Bock acknowledged that, “Jewish students [were] in a state of anxiety and fear” and that “students on their way to class have been physically blocked from accessing parts of the campus.”
That same day, counter-protesters clashed with the occupiers in what is described in the lawsuit as a hectic scene that included violent skirmishes, including “occupiers and counter-protestors attack[ing] each other with pepper spray, blunt objects, and even fireworks.”
The following day, a van marked with a Star of David inside a swastika parked on campus in support of the anti-Israel encampment. The van had messaging “antisemitic writing referring to Jews as ‘puppet masters,’ was parked on UCLA’s campus in support of the encampment,” and was welcomed by passersby, according to the suit.
Clashes between occupiers and police and Jewish students continued through May and June 2024, the lawsuit says.
Later, 428 Jewish and Israeli students, faculty members and staff from the college were surveyed about their experiences during the unrest. About 50% of them said they “witnessed physical threats or attacks directed at Jews and Israelis.”
“I was assaulted, threatened, and harassed during the encampment. I had an Israeli flag and a man ran towards me in order to push me,” one student said in the survey. “I was blocked for being Jewish. They were calling for an intifada collectively which is to kill the Jews.”
All told, physical damage to the taxpayer-funded school totaled $12.3 million.
In a Tuesday press release announcing the lawsuit, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the DOJ will hold UCLA “to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”
“Universities have an obligation to maintain safe and inclusive campuses for all students,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California said in the release. “Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”
University of California President James Milliken issued a statement Tuesday after the lawsuit was filed.
“The Board of Regents and administrative leadership have been unequivocal: antisemitism has no place at the University of California. We have instituted numerous systemwide reforms and programs to promote safety and combat antisemitism on our campuses,” he said. “
“UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, whose family was profoundly affected by Nazi antisemitism and the Holocaust, has made the protection of Jewish students, faculty, and staff on campus the highest priority since the day he took office. It is so disappointing that this most recent lawsuit shows no recognition of or respect for that essential work. This litigation — and other actions taken by the federal government targeting the University of California — does nothing to aid our ongoing efforts to address antisemitism and create safe and welcoming campus environments for all members of our community.”
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Tuesday, May 26, 2026
With Torah scroll and combat vest, Ger Hasid goes viral on social media as unlikely symbol of IDF unity
The image of Weitzman, 34, a Ger Hasid, combat soldier and rabbi in the IDF’s Hasmonean Brigade, was posted on social media and quickly drew warm responses online. Now, in an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth and ynet, he is telling his story.
“I grew up in Jerusalem and studied in yeshivas and in a kollel,” says Weitzman, a father of three. “In 2018, I enlisted for full military service. I felt I needed to be part of what I call ‘the Temple of our time.’ The Temple once brought all parts of the Jewish people together, and today the army does that. I wanted to be part of it, to reach people’s hearts.
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Monday, May 25, 2026
New Jersey man indicted for threats against NYC Jewish organization
A New Jersey man was indicted last Monday for making threats against a New York City Jewish organization, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Public Affairs Office announced on Wednesday.
Newark resident Cameron Patterson faces a charge for transmitting an interstate threat, three emails he allegedly sent in October 2024, threatening physical harm to a Jewish non-profit.
The Jewish group reportedly feared for their safety upon receiving the emails attributed to the 34-year-old man, and notified law enforcement.
The DOJ claimed that Patterson's iCloud account contained multiple images depicting or referencing violence and mass shootings.
Patterson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Newark resident Cameron Patterson faces a charge for transmitting an interstate threat, three emails he allegedly sent in October 2024, threatening physical harm to a Jewish non-profit.
The Jewish group reportedly feared for their safety upon receiving the emails attributed to the 34-year-old man, and notified law enforcement.
The DOJ claimed that Patterson's iCloud account contained multiple images depicting or referencing violence and mass shootings.
Patterson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
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Sunday, May 24, 2026
Jewish leader calls on Hochul to send in National Guard for NYC Israel Day Parade
A prominent pro-Israel activist is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to dispatch the National Guard to the Big Apple to help protect marchers at the upcoming Israel Day Parade in the wake of a troubling increase in antisemitic incidents.
Americans Against Antisemitism founder Dov Hikind said he’s a supporter of the NYPD but thinks local cops could use a boost — not just along the parade route in Manhattan but in the general vicinity of the march, as people carrying Israel flags or wearing pro-Israel gear could become targets of violence.
“We need to make sure bad things don’t happen,” said Hikind, a former state Assembly member who represented heavily orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn. “We want to make sure there is safety for the Jewish community. I’m calling on Governor Hochul to bring in the National Guard to help the New York City Police Department.”
Americans Against Antisemitism founder Dov Hikind said he’s a supporter of the NYPD but thinks local cops could use a boost — not just along the parade route in Manhattan but in the general vicinity of the march, as people carrying Israel flags or wearing pro-Israel gear could become targets of violence.
“We need to make sure bad things don’t happen,” said Hikind, a former state Assembly member who represented heavily orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn. “We want to make sure there is safety for the Jewish community. I’m calling on Governor Hochul to bring in the National Guard to help the New York City Police Department.”
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Thursday, May 21, 2026
Toronto police concerned for missing Jewish girl's safety, give an update on search
Toronto police say they have elevated the search for a missing 14-year-old girl named Esther to Priority 1 status, dedicating all available resources as community volunteers join in the effort to find her.
A Priority 1 or Level 1 search is the highest level of response from the police, and mobilizes extensive resources like specialized K-9 units, drones, mounted officers and large-scale ground searches, in addition to community outreach.
A Priority 1 or Level 1 search is the highest level of response from the police, and mobilizes extensive resources like specialized K-9 units, drones, mounted officers and large-scale ground searches, in addition to community outreach.
The young Jewish girl, also known affectionately as Esti, was last seen on Friday, May 15, in the area of Earl Bales Park, a large green space located at Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West in northern Toronto.
She is described as 5-foot-2, medium build, with brown hair, and was last seen wearing grey sweatpants, a green shirt and no shoes.
“It was Friday night,” her mother, Shira, told Global News. “It was cold outside and she left, and it was dark and she didn’t have her shoes. Both of her pairs of shoes are by the door. And she doesn’t have her phone. Her phone is in the house.”
Shira added that Esther had left her home before but always returned.
Police have released an image of Esther, as well as several blurry security camera images, which have been widely shared on social media.
“It was Friday night,” her mother, Shira, told Global News. “It was cold outside and she left, and it was dark and she didn’t have her shoes. Both of her pairs of shoes are by the door. And she doesn’t have her phone. Her phone is in the house.”
Shira added that Esther had left her home before but always returned.
Police have released an image of Esther, as well as several blurry security camera images, which have been widely shared on social media.
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Wednesday, May 20, 2026
N.J. man charged with threatening Jewish nonprofit via email
A Newark man faces federal charges after allegedly sending threatening emails to a Jewish non-profit organization in New York, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Cameron Patterson, 34, was indicted May 18 on charges of transmitting interstate threats to injure another person, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey.
Cameron Patterson, 34, was indicted May 18 on charges of transmitting interstate threats to injure another person, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey.
Court records show Patterson sent three emails threatening physical harm to the New York-based organization on Oct. 6, 2024.
Recipients of the emails reported feeling unsafe and contacted law enforcement about the communications.
Federal investigators conducted a search of Patterson’s iCloud account, which revealed multiple images depicting or referencing violence, threats of violence and mass shootings, according to court records.
Patterson was previously charged by complaint and released. He will be arraigned on a date yet to be determined.
The charge carries a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Federal investigators conducted a search of Patterson’s iCloud account, which revealed multiple images depicting or referencing violence, threats of violence and mass shootings, according to court records.
Patterson was previously charged by complaint and released. He will be arraigned on a date yet to be determined.
The charge carries a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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Tuesday, May 19, 2026
California Fire Forces Evacuations Amid Shavuot Preparations
A brush fire that broke out Monday morning in Simi Valley, Calif., forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes as it tore through nearly 1,400 acres, darkening the skies and filling neighborhoods with smoke. By Tuesday, with winds beginning to settle, authorities reported that the fires hadn’t grown overnight and were beginning to be contained, and many residents were able to return home.
The Sandy Fire ignited around 10:45 a.m., destroyed one structure and kept firefighting aircraft busy throughout the day. For many in the area, the disruption stirred frightening memories of the Palisades fire and other blazes that have devastated Southern California in recent years.
Rabbi Nosson Gurary, who has directed Chabad-Lubavitch of Simi Valleyalongside his wife, Bassie, since 1998, said the community’s response this time was noticeably calmer.
The Sandy Fire ignited around 10:45 a.m., destroyed one structure and kept firefighting aircraft busy throughout the day. For many in the area, the disruption stirred frightening memories of the Palisades fire and other blazes that have devastated Southern California in recent years.
Rabbi Nosson Gurary, who has directed Chabad-Lubavitch of Simi Valleyalongside his wife, Bassie, since 1998, said the community’s response this time was noticeably calmer.
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Monday, May 18, 2026
Jewish man in hospital after being 'assaulted by a number of men' in Golders Green
A Jewish person was assaulted in the early hours of Monday, police said. The Metropolitan Police was called to a road in Golders Green, north London, shortly after 2am on May 18 to reports a Jewish male had been assaulted by a number of men.
The male in his 20s was taken to hospital, where he is being treated for injuries to his back and face, the force added. The alleged incident happened outside a property on The Grove.
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Friday, May 15, 2026
Neo-Nazi, known as ‘commander butcher,’ gets 15 years for plot to poison Jewish kids in Brooklyn with candy
A Georgian national known as “Commander Butcher,” who admitted to plotting a mass-casualty attack targeting Jews and minorities in New York City, was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Michail Chkhikvishvili, 22, a leader of the neo-Nazi extremist group Maniac Murder Cult, pleaded guilty in November to soliciting hate crimes and distributing bomb-making and ricin instructions. He was extradited from Moldova.
Michail Chkhikvishvili, 22, a leader of the neo-Nazi extremist group Maniac Murder Cult, pleaded guilty in November to soliciting hate crimes and distributing bomb-making and ricin instructions. He was extradited from Moldova.
Federal authorities said that the plot evolved into a plan to poison Jewish children in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve by distributing candy laced with toxins, and that Chkhikvishvili tried to recruit someone to dress as Santa Claus and pass out the poisoned candy.
Prosecutors said that he encouraged followers through Telegram and other online platforms to carry out attacks against Jews, racial minorities and others, distributing a manifesto called the “Hater’s Handbook.”
“The defendant is a hate-mongering menace who intended to hurt and kill children in the Jewish community and in other minority communities in New York City,” stated Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
“As a leader of the white supremacist group ‘Maniac Murder Cult,’ this defendant concocted hate-fueled, mass-casualty plans and inspired others to commit attacks based on his vile rhetoric,” stated Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Police Department.
“The defendant is a hate-mongering menace who intended to hurt and kill children in the Jewish community and in other minority communities in New York City,” stated Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
“As a leader of the white supremacist group ‘Maniac Murder Cult,’ this defendant concocted hate-fueled, mass-casualty plans and inspired others to commit attacks based on his vile rhetoric,” stated Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Police Department.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Arrest made after Menorah outside midtown Toronto Jewish centre knocked down and damaged
A man wanted for allegedly damaging a Menorah at a midtown Jewish community centre last month has been arrested, Toronto police say.
The arrest came a day after police released the suspect’s image.
The arrest came a day after police released the suspect’s image.
Police said the suspect was walking in the area of Avenue and Davenport Roads on April 10, and when he passed by the Menorah outside the community centre, he allegedly knocked it down.
The Menorah, as a result, was damaged, police said.
In a news release on Tuesday, police identified the suspect as 48-year-old Jeffrey Johnston of Toronto.
He was arrested earlier in the day and charged with mischief to property under $5,000.
“The accused was identified as a result of tips received from the public,” police said in the release, thanking those who contacted them.
Police said the incident was being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.
The Menorah, as a result, was damaged, police said.
In a news release on Tuesday, police identified the suspect as 48-year-old Jeffrey Johnston of Toronto.
He was arrested earlier in the day and charged with mischief to property under $5,000.
“The accused was identified as a result of tips received from the public,” police said in the release, thanking those who contacted them.
Police said the incident was being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.
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Monday, May 11, 2026
NYPD investigating new wave of antisemitic graffiti in Queens
One week after a spate of antisemitic vandalism across Queens, the New York City Police Department is investigating two more incidents involving swastika graffiti in Highland Park and Forest Park.
The NYPD told JNS that officers responded at about 8 a.m. on Sunday to reports of a possible bias incident near Highland Boulevard and Vermont Place, across from Highland Park, within the confines of the 104th Precinct. Officers found five swastikas spray-painted on signs, objects and pavement.
About four hours later, police responded to another possible bias incident near 72nd Road and Union Turnpike, at the Forest Park Playground in the 102nd Precinct. Officers were informed that six swastikas had been spray-painted beneath an underpass, according to the NYPD.
The NYPD told JNS that officers responded at about 8 a.m. on Sunday to reports of a possible bias incident near Highland Boulevard and Vermont Place, across from Highland Park, within the confines of the 104th Precinct. Officers found five swastikas spray-painted on signs, objects and pavement.
About four hours later, police responded to another possible bias incident near 72nd Road and Union Turnpike, at the Forest Park Playground in the 102nd Precinct. Officers were informed that six swastikas had been spray-painted beneath an underpass, according to the NYPD.
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Friday, May 08, 2026
Suspicious Explosive Package Targeting Jewish Leader Heightens Antisemitism Fears in Argentina
Argentina’s authorities are investigating yet another suspected antisemitic incident after a suspicious package addressed to a local branch president of the country’s main Jewish umbrella organization was intercepted, further heightening alarms among community leaders amid a recent surge in attacks.
On Wednesday, the Pilares del Rosario medical center received a package containing explosive material addressed to Gabriel Dobkin, who serves as both the institution’s director and president of the local branch of the Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations (DAIA) in Rosario, a major city in the central-eastern Santa Fe province.
According to local media, clinic staff received a package containing a pack of Philip Morris cigarettes wrapped in transparent tape, which the facility’s manager said felt unusually heavy and immediately aroused suspicion.
Because the package had arrived unrequested via a delivery service, the clinic’s manager quickly raised concerns and called in the police explosives unit.
Police bomb squad dogs later detected explosive material inside the cigarette pack. According to the ongoing investigation, the package also contained a strange substance, though authorities have not yet released further details.
After digging a pit in the facility’s backyard, police experts carried out a controlled detonation of the material.
Even though the package did not include an automatic triggering mechanism, it reportedly contained a number of coins intended to serve as shrapnel in the event of an explosion.
Local law enforcement is treating the incident as a targeted antisemitic attack, describing it as either an attempted act of violence or, at the very least, an act of intimidation.
As the investigation continues, detectives are still analyzing the substance found inside the package but have not yet determined its composition or origin. Surveillance footage from the area is being reviewed, and staff from the clinic are also expected to be interviewed.
DAIA Rosario strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a troubling escalation of threats against Jewish institutions, reflecting a wider atmosphere of hostility toward the community.
“This is an expression of hatred that not only targets the Jewish community, but also undermines the fundamental values of coexistence, respect, and democracy. Such acts must be condemned unequivocally and confronted with resolve. Simply denouncing them is not enough — decisive action is essential,” the organization said in a statement.
“Impunity cannot be an option. Every act of antisemitism that goes unpunished sends a message of tolerance toward hatred,” it continued. “Every firm response from the state is a clear signal that society will not back down. To prevent these acts from recurring, determination, action, and justice are essential.”
This latest incident comes amid heightened security concerns within Argentina’s Jewish community after unknown individuals threw a homemade firebomb at the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish Community Center in La Plata, a city in southeastern Buenos Aires Province, last Sunday.
The Buenos Aires Security Ministry and Police Counterterrorism Division have opened an investigation into the incident, examining possible links to another attack last week that appears to share a similar modus operandi.
The Israelite Literary Center and Max Nordau Library in La Plata were also targeted last Thursday when unidentified individuals threw a homemade Molotov-type device at the building’s entrance.
Although the device failed to ignite, it shattered the building’s windows and caused some material damage. Fortunately, no fires broke out and no injuries were reported.
In response to these latest attacks, Jewish institutions across the country have strengthened preventive protocols and reinforced internal security and surveillance measures.
On Wednesday, the Pilares del Rosario medical center received a package containing explosive material addressed to Gabriel Dobkin, who serves as both the institution’s director and president of the local branch of the Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations (DAIA) in Rosario, a major city in the central-eastern Santa Fe province.
According to local media, clinic staff received a package containing a pack of Philip Morris cigarettes wrapped in transparent tape, which the facility’s manager said felt unusually heavy and immediately aroused suspicion.
Because the package had arrived unrequested via a delivery service, the clinic’s manager quickly raised concerns and called in the police explosives unit.
Police bomb squad dogs later detected explosive material inside the cigarette pack. According to the ongoing investigation, the package also contained a strange substance, though authorities have not yet released further details.
After digging a pit in the facility’s backyard, police experts carried out a controlled detonation of the material.
Even though the package did not include an automatic triggering mechanism, it reportedly contained a number of coins intended to serve as shrapnel in the event of an explosion.
Local law enforcement is treating the incident as a targeted antisemitic attack, describing it as either an attempted act of violence or, at the very least, an act of intimidation.
As the investigation continues, detectives are still analyzing the substance found inside the package but have not yet determined its composition or origin. Surveillance footage from the area is being reviewed, and staff from the clinic are also expected to be interviewed.
DAIA Rosario strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a troubling escalation of threats against Jewish institutions, reflecting a wider atmosphere of hostility toward the community.
“This is an expression of hatred that not only targets the Jewish community, but also undermines the fundamental values of coexistence, respect, and democracy. Such acts must be condemned unequivocally and confronted with resolve. Simply denouncing them is not enough — decisive action is essential,” the organization said in a statement.
“Impunity cannot be an option. Every act of antisemitism that goes unpunished sends a message of tolerance toward hatred,” it continued. “Every firm response from the state is a clear signal that society will not back down. To prevent these acts from recurring, determination, action, and justice are essential.”
This latest incident comes amid heightened security concerns within Argentina’s Jewish community after unknown individuals threw a homemade firebomb at the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish Community Center in La Plata, a city in southeastern Buenos Aires Province, last Sunday.
The Buenos Aires Security Ministry and Police Counterterrorism Division have opened an investigation into the incident, examining possible links to another attack last week that appears to share a similar modus operandi.
The Israelite Literary Center and Max Nordau Library in La Plata were also targeted last Thursday when unidentified individuals threw a homemade Molotov-type device at the building’s entrance.
Although the device failed to ignite, it shattered the building’s windows and caused some material damage. Fortunately, no fires broke out and no injuries were reported.
In response to these latest attacks, Jewish institutions across the country have strengthened preventive protocols and reinforced internal security and surveillance measures.
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Thursday, May 07, 2026
Car driven towards Jewish schoolboys in 'religiously aggravated assault'
Police are investigating after a car was reportedly driven toward three Jewish schoolboys in north-west London, in what officers are treating as a "religiously aggravated assault".
The headteacher of Hasmonean High School for Boys sent a letter to parents on Wednesday asking any witnesses to contact the police about what he described as an "antisemitic traffic incident".
The letter said that a black saloon-type car drove towards students waiting to cross Holders Hill Road in Finchley on April 20 at around 3.40pm.
The vehicle is then reported to have mounted the kerb, causing the students to move quickly out of the way. No injuries were reported.
The letter said that a black saloon-type car drove towards students waiting to cross Holders Hill Road in Finchley on April 20 at around 3.40pm.
The vehicle is then reported to have mounted the kerb, causing the students to move quickly out of the way. No injuries were reported.
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Wednesday, May 06, 2026
Antisemitic assaults reach record levels, audit says
The Anti-Defamation League’s 2025 audit shows a record rise in physical assaults against Jewish Americans, with 203 attacks and three deaths, even as overall antisemitic incidents fell from the 2024 peak. Experts say the surge follows the 2023 Israel‑Hamas war and reflects broader hate‑crime trends, while the ADL’s expanded definition of antisemitism has drawn criticism.
Key points:
Physical assaults classified as antisemitic increased from 196 in 2024 to 203 in 2025, according to the ADL audit.
The audit recorded three deaths in antisemitic attacks in 2025, the first such murders since 2019.
Overall antisemitic incidents in 2025 numbered 6,274, the third‑highest year since the ADL began reporting in 1979, but down from over 9,300 in 2024.
Jews, who comprise about 2% of the U.S. population, accounted for 16% of all hate‑crime victims in 2024, and anti‑Jewish hate crimes made up nearly 70% of religious‑based hate crimes, according to FBI data.
Bomb threats against Jewish institutions dropped sharply from 627 in 2024 to 59 in 2025.
Key points:
Physical assaults classified as antisemitic increased from 196 in 2024 to 203 in 2025, according to the ADL audit.
The audit recorded three deaths in antisemitic attacks in 2025, the first such murders since 2019.
Overall antisemitic incidents in 2025 numbered 6,274, the third‑highest year since the ADL began reporting in 1979, but down from over 9,300 in 2024.
Jews, who comprise about 2% of the U.S. population, accounted for 16% of all hate‑crime victims in 2024, and anti‑Jewish hate crimes made up nearly 70% of religious‑based hate crimes, according to FBI data.
Bomb threats against Jewish institutions dropped sharply from 627 in 2024 to 59 in 2025.
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Tuesday, May 05, 2026
Trump proclaims Jewish American Heritage Month, calls for National Sabbath to mark America’s 250th
President Donald J. Trump proclaimed May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month on Monday, honoring the contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States and calling for a “national Sabbath” as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
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Sunday, May 03, 2026
Former marines are hired to protect synagogues and Jewish schools after wave of anti-Semitic attacks
Former soldiers have been hired to protect synagogues and Jewish schools after a wave of anti-Semitic attacks have left British Jews terrified.
Jewish institutions have always relied on volunteers or security guards but it has been revealed they have been using the services of private contractor supplied by Community Security Trust (CST), which safeguards British Jews and distributes Home Office funding.
The firm mainly employs its staff from the armed forces, including elite fighting units in the Royal Navy and British Army.
The firm mainly employs its staff from the armed forces, including elite fighting units in the Royal Navy and British Army.
It is believed the veterans were sent to temporarily protect Jewish synagogues and schools following the Heaton Park synagogue attack in Manchester in October which saw two worshippers killed.
With the war in Iran triggering more hostility towards British Jews, the former soldiers have been sent to patrol in north London and Manchester.
With the war in Iran triggering more hostility towards British Jews, the former soldiers have been sent to patrol in north London and Manchester.
Since the conflict erupted Tehran has claimed responsibility for a number of incidents targeting Jews in the UK, including an arson attack on a fleet of Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green and at least two synagogues in Finchley and Kenton which were targeted in failed petrol bombings.
The most recent incident, labelled as a terror attack by the Met Police, came on Wednesday when a man stabbed two Jews in broad daylight in Golders Green.
Essa Suleiman, 45, who had previously been referred to the government's anti-terror scheme Prevent, is accused of attacking Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76 in the north London neighbourhood.
Essa Suleiman, 45, who had previously been referred to the government's anti-terror scheme Prevent, is accused of attacking Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76 in the north London neighbourhood.
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Friday, May 01, 2026
UK professor faces backlash for justifying stabbing of Jews in Golders Green
David Andress, a professor of modern history at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom, is facing backlash and public calls for his firing after a post in which he justified the stabbing of two Jews in Golders Green on Wednesday.
“Blowback is bad, but it is also inevitable,” he wrote. “As is the fact, it will primarily hurt the innocent.”
“A world where Western powers and their allies can simultaneously do anything they feel like to others and face no consequences for their own populations does not exist,” he wrote.
Patrick McGhee, an honorary fellow at Durham University, said this reflects a pattern of antisemitism in universities. “This is the very sickness we witnessed after Oct. 7,” he said. “Academics who excuse or rationalize the barbarity of that awful day as an act of so-called ‘decolonization’ are guilty of utter moral and intellectual failure. The same is true here. We must rid academia of antisemitism.”
Andress has a history of anti-Israel rhetoric, including alleging in 2024 that the Israeli government allowed the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, to happen.
Calls for the university to fire him circulated on social media. JNS sought comment from the school.
In 2023, the university investigated and suspended a professor, Amira Abdelhamid, for justifying Oct. 7 as a “legitimate struggle” and referred her to prosecutors. U.K. prosecutors dropped the case against him in 2024.
“Blowback is bad, but it is also inevitable,” he wrote. “As is the fact, it will primarily hurt the innocent.”
“A world where Western powers and their allies can simultaneously do anything they feel like to others and face no consequences for their own populations does not exist,” he wrote.
Patrick McGhee, an honorary fellow at Durham University, said this reflects a pattern of antisemitism in universities. “This is the very sickness we witnessed after Oct. 7,” he said. “Academics who excuse or rationalize the barbarity of that awful day as an act of so-called ‘decolonization’ are guilty of utter moral and intellectual failure. The same is true here. We must rid academia of antisemitism.”
Andress has a history of anti-Israel rhetoric, including alleging in 2024 that the Israeli government allowed the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, to happen.
Calls for the university to fire him circulated on social media. JNS sought comment from the school.
In 2023, the university investigated and suspended a professor, Amira Abdelhamid, for justifying Oct. 7 as a “legitimate struggle” and referred her to prosecutors. U.K. prosecutors dropped the case against him in 2024.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Terror incident as two Jewish men stabbed in North London
The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has called it another horrendous attack targeting the Jewish community.
The stabbing of two men, aged 76 and 34, in Golders Green in North London is being treated by police as terrorism. The 45-year-old suspect also attempted to stab police officers.
He was tasered and has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
https://www.channel4.com/news/terror-incident-as-two-jewish-men-stabbed-in-north-london
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Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Man faces hate crime charges for allegedly punching 3 Jewish men in the face in Williamsburg
A Queens man is facing hate crime charges for allegedly punching three Jewish men in Williamsburg, prosecutors say.
Andrezj Wnuk, 41, is accused of carrying out the attacks in the span of just three minutes on Friday evening, targeting men wearing traditional Hasidic attire.
Wnuk allegedly uttered phrases like “Jew” and “You Jew” immediately before punching each man in the face, according to court documents.
Wnuk allegedly attacked the first man around 6:40 p.m. at Lorimer Street and Throop Avenue.
Prosecutors say the second assault happened two minutes later at Harrison Avenue and Lorimer Street.
Andrezj Wnuk, 41, is accused of carrying out the attacks in the span of just three minutes on Friday evening, targeting men wearing traditional Hasidic attire.
Wnuk allegedly uttered phrases like “Jew” and “You Jew” immediately before punching each man in the face, according to court documents.
Wnuk allegedly attacked the first man around 6:40 p.m. at Lorimer Street and Throop Avenue.
Prosecutors say the second assault happened two minutes later at Harrison Avenue and Lorimer Street.
One minute later, a third man was attacked near Walton Street and Throop Avenue.
The men, aged 48, 38, and 21, declined medical attention, according to authorities.
Police arrested Wnuk at the scene.
He faces a slew of hate crime charges, including assault, attempted assault and menacing.
Wnuk was arraigned Saturday and his bail was set at $5,000 cash/$20,000 bond.
He is due back in court Thursday.
The men, aged 48, 38, and 21, declined medical attention, according to authorities.
Police arrested Wnuk at the scene.
He faces a slew of hate crime charges, including assault, attempted assault and menacing.
Wnuk was arraigned Saturday and his bail was set at $5,000 cash/$20,000 bond.
He is due back in court Thursday.
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Monday, April 27, 2026
Belz Hasid from New York abducted, brutally murdered in Colombia
Nachum Yisrael Eber, a 51-year-old Belz Hasid from the Borough Park neighborhood of New York, was murdered during a trip to Colombia after being abducted by a local criminal gang.
According to initial reports from Colombian authorities, Eber was kidnapped in an attempted robbery and was later killed by his assailants, who fled the scene. His body was found in a remote area bearing signs of severe violence, days after contact with him was lost and he was reported missing.
Family members, concerned for his safety, appealed to community activists and authorities for assistance in locating him. Following intensive searches conducted in cooperation with local officials, his body was located.
Eber is survived by an extended family, including 16 siblings, who are part of the Belz Hasidic community in the United States, Canada and Israel.
At the same time, leaders of the Jewish community in Colombia, along with international aid organizations and community activists from the United States, are working to ensure proper respect for the deceased and to arrange for his burial as soon as possible.
At the same time, leaders of the Jewish community in Colombia, along with international aid organizations and community activists from the United States, are working to ensure proper respect for the deceased and to arrange for his burial as soon as possible.
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Sunday, April 26, 2026
Jewish Man Brutally Beaten and Robbed in Brussels Antisemitic Attack
A brutal antisemitic attack on the Brussels metro leaves a victim beaten and robbed of a 30-year-old family heirloom.
A 41-year-old Jewish resident of Brussels was violently assaulted on the city’s metro system on Friday evening in what he and Jewish organizations describe as a clear antisemitic attack.
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Friday, April 24, 2026
Ottawa Teen Found Guilty in Terror Plot Against Jewish Community
In a disturbing case that has shaken the Ottawa community, a 17-year-old has been found guilty of plotting a terrorist attack aimed at the Jewish population in the city.
The teen, whose identity is protected due to his age, was inspired by the Islamic State group and had planned to use homemade bombs in a suicide assault.
Arrested in December 2023, this plot involved the possession of explosive substances, including acetone and metal ball bearings, with the intent to cause mass harm.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Ian Carter delivered the guilty verdict, emphasizing the serious nature of the conspiracy to commit murder through involvement with a terrorist group.
The case has garnered significant attention, with Israel’s Consul General in Toronto, Idit Shamir, acknowledging the real threat perceived by the Jewish community even before the arrest.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Two cyclists under investigation for possible hate crime after knocking elderly Jewish man's hat
Two cyclists are under investigation for a possible hate crime after footage circulated Monday by Williamsburg News captured one of them knocking the hat from the head of an elderly Jewish man at the corner of Williamsburg Street and Lee Avenue.
The Williamsburg Shomrim Safety Patrol and the New York Police Department's goth Precinct responded; the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force has been notified, according to Algemeiner. No arrests had been announced as of Tuesday.
The incident surfaced as NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch disclosed that confirmed hate crimes rose nearly 12% citywide in the first quarter of 2026, with antisemitic offenses accounting for
55% of all confirmed hate crimes - despite the city's Jewish population representing approximately 10% of New York City residents, the Jerusalem Post reports.
The Williamsburg Shomrim Safety Patrol and the New York Police Department's goth Precinct responded; the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force has been notified, according to Algemeiner. No arrests had been announced as of Tuesday.
The incident surfaced as NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch disclosed that confirmed hate crimes rose nearly 12% citywide in the first quarter of 2026, with antisemitic offenses accounting for
55% of all confirmed hate crimes - despite the city's Jewish population representing approximately 10% of New York City residents, the Jerusalem Post reports.
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Monday, April 20, 2026
UK Police Examine Iran Links to Arson Attacks on Jewish Targets
British police said they are investigating possible Iran links to a series of arson attacks on Jewish targets in London, which the UK chief rabbi said showed a sustained campaign of violence against the Jewish community was gathering momentum.
After the latest attack, at Kenton United Synagogue in the Harrow area of the city shortly after midnight, the third such incident in a week, UK counter-terrorism police said they were heading up investigations into the incidents.
British police said on Monday they had arrested two people over the attempted arson.
A 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were taken into custody in connection with the incident, which occurred early on Sunday morning, according to police. The fire caused minor smoke damage to an internal room and no injuries were reported.
A pro-Iranian government group, which says it is also behind a spate of attacks across Europe on US, Israeli, and Jewish targets, has said it was responsible.
“As the conflict in the Middle East continues to evolve, counter-terrorism policing and our partners remain alive to the threat of Iranian hostile activity in the UK,” Vicki Evans, Britain’s senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, told reporters.
“We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran. As you would expect, we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves.”
‘SUSTAINED CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE’
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the Kenton fire, which did not cause any significant damage, was the third “cowardly” attack on Jewish sites in the British capital in less than a week.
“A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum,” Mirvis said on X. “Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society.”
On Friday night, there was an attempted arson attack on a business premises with links to the Jewish community, while a few days earlier police arrested two suspects over an attempted arson attack on another synagogue in the capital.
Meanwhile an area around the Israeli embassy in London was cordoned off following an online report that it had been targeted with drones carrying “dangerous substances.” Police later said items they found did not contain any harmful or hazardous substances.
Last month, several ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola, which were parked near a synagogue in Golders Green, were torched.
Police said they had boosted their presence in the area, and it was officers on a “deterrence” patrol shortly after midnight who spotted a window at the Kenton synagogue had been damaged. They found an accelerant had been thrown inside.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the attempted antisemitic arson attacks. “This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain,” he wrote on X.
PRO-IRANIAN GROUP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
The Pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI) or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, has said it is responsible, and posted a video purporting to show the attack on the Kenton synagogue on social media.
“This same group has claimed several incidents over recent months at places of worship, business and financial institutions across Europe,” Evans said. “These locations all appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests.”
British police and security services have warned for a number of years of Iran hiring proxies to carry out attacks on its behalf. Last month, two men were charged with being tasked by Tehran to carry out hostile surveillance on the Israeli Embassy and other Jewish targets.
“This is recruiting violence as a service, and the people who conduct that violence often have little or no allegiance to the cause and are taking quick cash for their crimes,” Evans said.
DRONE PATROLS
Matt Jukes, head of counter-terrorism at London police, said police had stepped up surveillance of Jewish areas.
“We’ve got drones, motorbikes, armed officers, taser-armed officers,” he told LBC Radio. “It was one of those patrols that came across the incident in Kenton United Synagogue.”
After the latest attack, at Kenton United Synagogue in the Harrow area of the city shortly after midnight, the third such incident in a week, UK counter-terrorism police said they were heading up investigations into the incidents.
British police said on Monday they had arrested two people over the attempted arson.
A 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were taken into custody in connection with the incident, which occurred early on Sunday morning, according to police. The fire caused minor smoke damage to an internal room and no injuries were reported.
A pro-Iranian government group, which says it is also behind a spate of attacks across Europe on US, Israeli, and Jewish targets, has said it was responsible.
“As the conflict in the Middle East continues to evolve, counter-terrorism policing and our partners remain alive to the threat of Iranian hostile activity in the UK,” Vicki Evans, Britain’s senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, told reporters.
“We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran. As you would expect, we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves.”
‘SUSTAINED CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE’
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the Kenton fire, which did not cause any significant damage, was the third “cowardly” attack on Jewish sites in the British capital in less than a week.
“A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum,” Mirvis said on X. “Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society.”
On Friday night, there was an attempted arson attack on a business premises with links to the Jewish community, while a few days earlier police arrested two suspects over an attempted arson attack on another synagogue in the capital.
Meanwhile an area around the Israeli embassy in London was cordoned off following an online report that it had been targeted with drones carrying “dangerous substances.” Police later said items they found did not contain any harmful or hazardous substances.
Last month, several ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola, which were parked near a synagogue in Golders Green, were torched.
Police said they had boosted their presence in the area, and it was officers on a “deterrence” patrol shortly after midnight who spotted a window at the Kenton synagogue had been damaged. They found an accelerant had been thrown inside.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the attempted antisemitic arson attacks. “This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain,” he wrote on X.
PRO-IRANIAN GROUP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
The Pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI) or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, has said it is responsible, and posted a video purporting to show the attack on the Kenton synagogue on social media.
“This same group has claimed several incidents over recent months at places of worship, business and financial institutions across Europe,” Evans said. “These locations all appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests.”
British police and security services have warned for a number of years of Iran hiring proxies to carry out attacks on its behalf. Last month, two men were charged with being tasked by Tehran to carry out hostile surveillance on the Israeli Embassy and other Jewish targets.
“This is recruiting violence as a service, and the people who conduct that violence often have little or no allegiance to the cause and are taking quick cash for their crimes,” Evans said.
DRONE PATROLS
Matt Jukes, head of counter-terrorism at London police, said police had stepped up surveillance of Jewish areas.
“We’ve got drones, motorbikes, armed officers, taser-armed officers,” he told LBC Radio. “It was one of those patrols that came across the incident in Kenton United Synagogue.”
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Sunday, April 19, 2026
North London synagogue hit in latest arson attack targeting Jewish community
Britain's chief rabbi said on Sunday that a sustained campaign of violence against the Jewish community was gathering momentum after a synagogue in north London became the latest target in a spate of arson attacks.
UK counter-terrorism police are heading up an investigation into the latest incident, which occurred at Kenton United Synagogue in the Harrow area of the city shortly after midnight.
The fire did not cause any significant damage, but it was the third "cowardly attack" on Jewish sites in the British capital in less than a week, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said.
"A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum," Mirvis said on X. "Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society."
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Thursday, April 16, 2026
Argentinian judge to be tried for antisemitism after calling Jews 'rats' and 'vipers'
For the first time in history, an Argentinian judge is set to be tried for antisemitism due to discriminatory remarks made about Jews on social media.
The proceedings follow complaints filed in March 2025 by the Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations (DAIA) and the Argentine Forum Against Antisemitism (FACA).
On Wednesday, the plenary of the National Council of the Judiciary unanimously voted to begin removal proceedings against Judge Alfredo Lopez of Federal Court No. 4 of Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires) for poor performance, citing antisemitic expressions on social media.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Israeli Tech Experts and Jewish Leaders Advance New Front Against Digital Antisemtism
Meta reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that its artificial intelligence systems are developed with sensitivity to Jewish community perspectives during a high-level gathering at the Yeshiva University Museum on Tuesday evening, as Jewish communities in Israel and around the world marked Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Speaking during Hack the Hate NYC 2026, a global initiative by the 8200 Alumni Association and Generative AI for Good, Ben Good, Meta’s Public Policy Director, addressed the company’s approach to the rise of antisemitism online, including Holocaust denial and distortion promoted by users across digital platforms, and emphasized the responsibility of the tech industry to ensure that new systems such as Meta’s own Llama are developed with a deeper awareness of how anti-Jewish hatred manifests in the digital sphere.
“Meta is firmly committed to combatting antisemitism on our platforms, and we are optimistic about the promises of new technologies that we can deploy in that fight,” stated Good during a fireside chat with WJC TecHRi Executive Director Yfat Barak-Cheney.
Prior to Good’s remarks, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University, welcomed an audience of more than 150 participants and underscored the importance of bringing Jewish communal leadership, academic institutions, and emerging innovators together to ensure that Jewish voices contribute meaningfully to some of the most consequential conversations shaping the future.
“Yeshiva University is proud to participate again this year in Hack the Hate 2026 NYC. At a moment when division and antisemitism persist, this initiative affirms our shared responsibility to confront hatred with courage, creativity, and moral clarity," said he said.
Organized by Generative AI for Good and the 8200 Alumni Association in partnership among the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Geshser Israel, Maccabee Ventures, President Isaac Herzog’s Voice of the People initiative, the World Jewish Congress’s TecHRI, and Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business, the presentations throughout the evening focused on how emerging technologies can be used not only to identify and counter online hate, Holocaust denial, and distortion of the October 7th attacks, but also to ensure that new AI systems are trained on more accurate and representative understandings of Jewish life, identity, and history.
Participants emphasized the need to move beyond reactive moderation and instead help shape the systems, platforms, and datasets that will influence public understanding of nuanced issues for years to come. Among them were members of President Herzog's Voice of the People initiative, who presented projects developed at the intersection of technology and Jewish identity.
Chen Shmilo, former CEO of the 8200 Alumni Association, and Shiran Mlamedovsky-Somech, founder and CEO of Generative AI for Good, announced the creation of the One Signal Collective, an innovation community aimed at connecting Israeli technological expertise with the lived experience and practical needs of Diaspora Jewish communities. The initiative is intended to establish an ongoing framework through which entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors can collaborate on deep-tech responses to online antisemitism, including Holocaust denial in large language models, cross-platform incitement, and other emerging forms of digitally amplified hate.
Mlamedovsky-Somech presented Hearing Their Voices (theirvoices.ai), a responsible AI platform enabling survivors of conflict-related sexual violence to testify publicly without revealing their identities. Winner of the inaugural SIMA AI Impact Award, the platform counters Holocaust Inversion by placing Israel's testimony alongside Syria, Iraq, and Iran, transforming isolated denial into a documented cross-regional pattern.
Among the highlights of the evening was the launch of One Five Seven (157), a new initiative presented by Dr. Maya Ackerman and Hannah Geller, as part of the Voice of the People initiative. Designed to embed accurate, diverse, and positive Jewish representation into AI systems, the initiative seeks to reduce antisemitic bias and equip institutions to engage responsibly with the opportunities and risks of the AI era. Taking its name from the world’s approximately 15.7 million Jews, the project is rooted in the conviction that as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how societies understand identity and history, Jewish communities must help ensure that those systems learn from truthful, representative, and dignified source material.
Ofer Familier, Co-Founder and CEO of dig, demonstrated how AI tools can identify the evolution of viral hate narratives, expose bot-driven amplification, and map the emotional triggers that allow antisemitic conspiracies to spread rapidly and at scale online. His presentation focused on the ways in which a false and inflammatory narrative accusing Jews of involvement in the murder of Charlie Kirk was able to gain traction online, illustrating how AI-powered analysis can help detect when fringe accusations begin to mutate into broader, more dangerous campaigns of incitement. By tracing how such narratives are emotionally engineered, artificially amplified, and adapted for virality, Familier highlighted the urgent need for tools capable of intervening before digital blood libels harden into mainstream discourse.
Across the evening’s discussions, speakers returned to their shared concern that the systems being built today will increasingly shape how future generations understand Jews, Jewish history, and the Holocaust, and that this demands earlier, more deliberate engagement from Jewish communities and their partners. Together, the discussions and announcements reflected a growing consensus among participants that confronting antisemitism in the digital age requires not only moral clarity, but also technological sophistication, stronger partnerships, and earlier intervention in the systems shaping online discourse.
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