2025 YIR: Anti-Jewish Sentiment Continues to Thrive

With every passing week, it seems the rising tide of antisemitism in America crests at new heights. Whether it’s a Georgian doctor spreading anti-Jewish messages on social media or Kanye West releasing an album laced with Nazi propaganda, American Jews face an uphill battle every day and can only expect continuing waves of Jewish hate until the narrative and rhetoric are forced to change.

In May, a bottle server at a Barstool Sports pub in Philadelphia toted a sign around the bar that read “F*** the Jews” while patrons cheered and laughed. The video was then shared online which caught the attention of Dave Portnoy, owner and president of Barstool Sports, who also happens to be Jewish. Portnoy initially offered to send the server and the person who uploaded the video to Auschwitz as a learning experience. However, once the person who posted the video online, a young man by the name of Mo Khan, denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he was merely serving as a “citizen journalist,” Portnoy rescinded his offer. Khan went on to appear on conservative talk shows proclaiming his innocence and portraying himself as a victim of Portnoy’s retaliation.

Anti-Israel demonstrations continued to occur on U.S. college campuses and last year reached unprecedented levels as documented by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in its annual report on antisemitism. The ADL reported 9,354 cases of harassment, vandalism, and assault – the highest total since the ADL started recording incidents in 1979.

“This horrifying level of antisemitism should never be accepted, and yet, as our data shows, it has become a persistent and grim reality for American Jewish communities, said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “Jewish Americans continue to be harassed, assaulted, and targeted for who they are on a daily basis and everywhere they go. But let’s be clear: we will remain proud of our Jewish culture, religion, and identities, and we will not be intimidated by bigots.”

Anti-Jewish sentiment continues to thrive as evidenced by the recent tragic mass shooting at a Chabad Chanukah event at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, where at least 15 people were killed.