4 minute read
Upfront
FBI reports drop in number of antisemitic crimes in 2020 amid rise in total hate crimes
Ben Sales
(JTA)—The FBI recorded the largest number of hate crimes last year since 2008, including spikes in the number of anti-Black and anti-Asian hate crimes.
Anti-Jewish hate crimes dropped from 953 in 2019 to 676 last year, a decrease of 29%. Anti-Jewish crimes again made up the majority of hate crimes based on religion in the annual report, which scholars and officials have cautioned not to view as a comprehensive reflection of the state of hate crimes in America.
In total, the FBI announced Monday, August 30 that it recorded 7,759 hate crimes nationwide in 2020, a slight rise from the 7,314 it recorded in 2019. There were 2,755 anti-Black hate crimes in 2020, up from 1,972 the previous year, and 274 anti-Asian hate crimes, up from 161 in 2019. Asian-Americans drew attention last year to a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the increase in anti-Black racism came against the backdrop of last year’s racial justice protests.
Meanwhile, the number of Jewish incidents decreased last year relative to 2019, a year that was punctuated with three lethal antisemitic attacks and a wave of antisemitic street harassment in New York City. Those incidents became far less common in 2020 once street life, and in-person gatherings at synagogues, largely ceased during the pandemic. The report looked only at 2020, before the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in May 2021 drove a spike in reports of antisemitic incidents. The FBI relies on reports of hate crimes from more than 15,000 police precincts nationwide, and a report from the Department of Justice last year found that 87% of precincts reported zero hate crimes in 2017. A book on the subject from this year by two criminal justice professors said the annual number stands at 89%. In an audit released earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League reported more than 2,000 incidents of antisemitism in 2020, a slight decrease from 2019. The discrepancy between the ADL’s and FBI’s numbers is due to differences in methodology. The ADL gleans its tally from individuals, organizations, and media reports, as well as police. In addition, for the FBI to count an incident, it has to rise to the level of a crime, while the ADL includes a broader range of The report looked allegations. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said only at 2020, the lack of reporting by police precincts is “simply not credible.” before the conflict “Data drives policy and without having a complete picture of the problem, we between Israel and cannot even begin to resolve the issues driving this surge in hate and violence,”
Hamas in Gaza he said. The FBI recently embarked on a in May 2021 national campaign to encourage people drove a spike and police to report hate crimes to its 56 field offices around the country. in reports of “We know that hate crimes are underreported,” the FBI told the JTA in a statement antisemitic earlier this month. “It is our goal to increase this reporting, from law enforceincidents. ment agencies and the public alike, so we can gather more information to identify trends and take action to stop these crimes from occurring.”
CONTENTS
Upfront ..................................3 Briefs ....................................4 Beth Sholom Village’s Micro Farm .............5 Hurricane Ida relief efforts need your help .......5 Super Sunday, September 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 PJ Library in Tidewater receives grant ..........7 Jewish groups help Afghan refugees ............8 Son of Holocaust survivor flew Afghan refugees to US ................8 Biden and Bennett hold first meeting .......... 10 Tidewater Jewish community talks about mental health .................12 Special Section: High Holidays ...............13 TJF’s Simon Family Passport to Israel changes lives .................... 21 PJ Library in Tidewater hosts end of summer Shabbat ..................22 Camp JCC 2021: Much more than fun! ........23 What’s Happening ......................... 24 Calendar ................................26 Who Knew? .............................. 27 Obituaries ...............................28 Sababa Social Club’s kickoff is “cool” ..........30
QUOTABLE
—page 12
JEWISH NEWS
jewishnewsva.org
Published 20 times a year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
QR code generated on http://qrcode.littleidiot.be
Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462-4370 voice 757-965-6100 • fax 757-965-6102 email news@ujft.org
Terri Denison, Editor Germaine Clair, Art Director Lisa Richmon, Staff Writer Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Ronnie Jacobs Cohen, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Laura G. Gross, President Alvin Wall, Treasurer Mona Flax, Secretary Betty Ann Levin, Executive Vice-President jewishVA.org
The appearance of advertising in the Jewish News does not constitute a kashrut, political, product or service endorsement. The articles and letters appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper. ©2021 Jewish News. All rights reserved.
JewishNewsVA Subscription: $18 per year
For subscription or change of address, call 757-965-6128 or email mcerase@ujft.org.
Upcoming Deadlines for Editorial and Advertising Sept. 27 Legal Sept. 10 Oct. 11 Mazel Tov Sept. 24 Oct. 25 Veterans Oct. 8 Nov. 8 Hanukkah Oct. 22 Nov. 29 Yom Kippur Nov. 12 Dec.13 Education Nov. 26
CANDLE LIGHTING
Friday, Sept. 10/4 Tishrei
Light candles at 7:02 pm
Friday, Sept. 17/11 Tishrei
Light candles at 6:51 pm Friday, Sept. 24/18 Tishrei
Light candles at 6:40 pm
Friday, Oct. 1/25 Tishrei
Light candles at 6:30 pm
Friday, Oct. 8/2 Cheshvan
Light candles at 6:20 pm Friday, Oct. 15/9 Cheshvan
Light candles at 6:10 pm
