Antisemitic Attacks on Synagogues Surge Worldwide, New Report Reveals

An event titled "Not on Our Watch" will be held Thursday at the historic synagogue on Oranienburger Street in central Berlin, Germany, which was set on fire 88 years ago during Kristallnacht. Organized by the International March of the Living, the event aims to draw a connection between the atrocities of the past and the alarming rise in antisemitism and attacks against Jewish institutions today.

Representatives of police departments and law enforcement agencies from Germany, other European countries, and the United States are expected to attend, alongside Holocaust survivors and victims of contemporary antisemitism, who will share their personal testimonies.

244 Antisemitic Incidents Recorded Across 34 Countries

A special report prepared for the event by Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism reveals that 244 incidents targeting synagogues, Chabad centers, and worshippers in their vicinity were documented across 34 countries between October 7, 2023, and October 21, 2026. According to the findings, the number of incidents increased each year during the period examined, with a 56% rise recorded in 2026 compared with the previous year. The incidents included shootings, arson attacks, physical assaults, vandalism, threats, and foiled attack plots.

The United States recorded the highest number of incidents, with 86, followed by Canada with 34, including at least ten attacks against the Shaarei Torah synagogue in Toronto. The United Kingdom recorded 24 incidents, including the killing of two Jewish people outside a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur. France recorded 17 incidents, Australia 12, and Germany 11.

According to the report, suspects involved in attacks or plots included neo-Nazis, Iranian operatives, and individuals affiliated with terrorist organizations, including Hamas and ISIS. Some suspects were reportedly young people who had been radicalized through social media.

Avi Cohen Scali, director-general of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, warned that the findings reflect a deeply troubling reality. "88 years after Kristallnacht, the data we are publishing point to an unacceptable reality: Synagogues around the world are once again becoming targets of shootings, arson, and antisemitic violence," he stated. "244 incidents in 34 countries are not merely statistics, but a serious warning sign for every sovereign nation. We call on governments and law enforcement authorities worldwide to strengthen the protection of Jewish institutions."

Jewish-Owned Businesses Targeted by Boycott Campaign in Philadelphia

Meanwhile, according to a report in Maariv, anti-Israel activists in Philadelphia are calling for Jewish-owned businesses to leave the city ahead of a protest planned for Sunday, on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht. The activist group Philly Bike On Your Left, together with two other anti-Israel organizations, is organizing a demonstration targeting Jewish-owned businesses in the city's upscale Rittenhouse Square neighborhood.

Marty Lieberman, 37, co-owner of the Mac Mart restaurant chain, told the New York Post that she was shocked to discover her business was among those being targeted for a boycott. Other businesses named in the campaign reportedly include K'Far Café, Huda Burger, Goldie, Dizengoff, and Schlesinger's.

"It's scary," Lieberman said, referring to the antisemitic messages. "There's never a dull moment, and now I have to be afraid because I was born Jewish." She emphasized that her business has no connection to Israel or Jewish religious activity and suspects the protesters assumed she was pro-Israel simply because she openly wears a Star of David necklace. "These people think I'm Benjamin Netanyahu. I'm just a Jewish girl from the suburbs who started a business," she added.

The boycott organizers described their campaign on Instagram as an effort to confront business owners they identified as Zionists, using derogatory language to condemn them. Promotional materials for the protest declared, "No business for Zionists! These Zionist establishments must go! Not in our city!"

The developments highlight mounting concerns over antisemitic intimidation and violence, as Jewish communities around the world face increasing threats to their safety and freedom of religious expression. Against the backdrop of Kristallnacht's anniversary, the Berlin event serves as a reminder of the importance of confronting antisemitism and protecting Jewish communities before threats escalate into violence.