The number of antisemitic incidents in the United States recorded by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) fell sharply in 2025, marking the first decline in five years. This drop was largely attributed to a significant decrease in incidents on college campuses, as reported in the ADL's latest annual audit released on Wednesday.
Campus Incidents Plummet
In 2024, the ADL tallied 1,694 antisemitic incidents on U.S. college campuses, fueled by pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist student protests linked to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. By 2025, that figure had plunged by 66% to 583, as many universities, under pressure from President Donald Trump's administration, took steps to curb such demonstrations.
Overall, the ADL counted 6,274 incidents of antisemitic assaults, harassment, and vandalism in 2025, down 33% from the record high of 9,354 in 2024. States with the highest numbers included New York (1,160), California (817), and New Jersey (687).
Debate Over Methodology
The ADL's methodology has fueled debate among American Jews and others about whether strong criticism of Israeli policies or Zionism should be considered antisemitic. Critics argue the ADL's criteria are too broad. In 2025, 45% of all incidents were related to Israel or Zionism, down from 58% in 2024. The ADL noted that anti-Israel rallies featuring extreme rhetoric declined by 67% overall and 83% on campuses.
Violence Remains High
Despite the overall drop, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called 2025 "one of the most violent years for American Jews," with a record 203 physical assaults. Three killings were recorded: two Jewish people shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 21, and an 82-year-old woman who died from injuries sustained in a firebombing at a Boulder, Colorado, event on June 1.
Campus Scrutiny and Responses
The ADL launched a Campus Antisemitism Report Card in 2024, grading colleges on their handling of antisemitism. It also filed lawsuits and reached a settlement with Pomona College. Greenblatt cautioned that campus incidents in 2025 were still nearly four times higher than in 2021. Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations launched an "Unhostile Campus Campaign" to protect pro-Palestinian voices, naming Columbia University, CUNY, and the University of Michigan as most hostile.
Global Concerns
Antisemitism concerns have risen globally. In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for tougher action after stabbings of two Jewish men in London, with police warning of the greatest ever threat to British Jews. In Australia, an inquiry into antisemitism followed a Hanukkah massacre that killed 15 people. A Tel Aviv University study found 2025 was the deadliest year for antisemitic attacks since 1994, with 20 deaths across the U.S., Britain, and Australia.
