While anti-Semitism never appears to really leave us, unfortunately, it has certainly been on the rise since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war that began in October.
According to the Anti-Defamation League this week, recorded antisemitic incidents were up 120% in 2023 as compared to 2022.
That would be 8,873 incidents in total.
The ADL says those incidents include 1,009 bomb threats against synagogues and other Jewish institutions in 2023 compared to just 91 in 2022.
And again, these newer hostilities toward Israel only began with the Hamas terrorist attack on the Jewish state on October 7.
Julian Edelman: ‘War is Terrible on So Many Levels. It’s a Sad Time’
According to Fox News, “Prominent Jewish members of the sports community have been outspoken since Oct. 7, when Hamas terrorists from Gaza crossed into Israel and killed some 1,200 people. Minnesota Vikings kicker Greg Joseph wore cleats that read, ‘I Stand With Israel,’ and Auburn’s men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl has consistently spoken about the conflict.
“New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, who is Jewish, also showed his support during his playing days,” the story noted. “On several occasions, he donned an Israeli flag, and shortly after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting of 2018, he wore specialized cleats that read the names of all the victims. Edelman also invited ex-NBA player Meyers Leonard to a Shabbat dinner after the latter used a Jewish slur during a live stream.”
Addressing this rising anti-Semitism, Edelman said it’s a “sad moment right now, what the world is going through.”
“The hate that is out there for Jews, for everyone. The antisemitism, it’s gnarly right now, and it’s pretty hurtful,” Edelman said in an interview with Fox News.
But Edelman says what he’s seen an experienced stateside is nothing compared to what Jews overseas are experiencing.
“There’s a lot of hate going on in other places,” he said. “War is terrible on so many levels. It’s a sad time, like I said. The one thankful thing you have is we’re not experiencing that here in our country.”
“War is brutal, war is disgusting,” Edelman added.
And unfortunately, there is no immediate end to this conflict in sight.