“The Proud Boys marched through this neighborhood,” Richman says quietly. “And so having the menorah does feel riskier, absolutely. And this year, with what’s happening on the global stage with Twitter deregulating, it’s frightening. It’s a frightening time.”
Richman is a clinical social worker in private practice and says that in professional circles her colleagues are noting the stress and anxiety Jewish clients are carrying this year.
Jacob Ari Labendz directs the Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Ramapo College. He says this fear is widespread.
“It seems that right now —I think quite understandably —much of the American Jewish community is concerned about what seems to be rising currents of antisemitism,” he said.
What counts as antisemitism can be debated — from direct attacks to hate speech to criticism of Israel. But overall, the Anti Defamation League counted the highest number of antisemitic incidents ever last year. And says this year looks on track to be the same.