Anti-Jewish incidents up 25 percent on campuses

NEW YORK — The number of anti-Jewish incidents in the United States increased slightly from 2001 to 2002 but similar incidents reported on campuses rose 25 percent in 2002, the Anti-Defamation League reported in its annual audit.

The total of anti-Jewish incidents reported against Jews and Jewish institutions rose from 1,432 in 2001 to 1,559 in 2002, reports the ADL’s Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, issued March 26.

The incidents cited in the report include physical and verbal assaults, property defacement and vandalism, hateful e-mail messages and harassment. Some of the most serious occurrences were three arsons, three attempted arsons, one attempted bombing, six bomb threats and seven cemetery desecrations.

The number of anti-Semitic incidents on campus increased for the third straight year. There were 106 incidents reported in 2002, compared to 85 in 2001.

States reporting the largest number of incidents were New York: 302 (down from 408 in 2001); California: 223 (up from 122); New Jersey: 171 (down from 192); Massachusetts: 129 (up from 126); Pennsylvania: 101 (up from 61); and Florida: 93 (down from 115).