Hate crimes targeting New York City’s Jewish population have ballooned since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.

According to the NYPD’s latest figures. of the 52 total hate crimes reported last month, Jews were targeted in more incidents than all other groups combined. July saw 30 antisemitic incidents reported across the city, a startling increase from the 10 anti-Jewish hate crimes logged in July 2023.. This lopsided trend has persisted almost every month since October 7, raising alarm bells among Jewish community leaders and law enforcement alike.

As the city grapples with this wave of antisemitism, questions loom about the effectiveness of current strategies to combat hate crimes. The legal hurdles in prosecuting these crimes remain high, with the burden of proving intent in America’s legal system often complicating efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

However, several high-profile cases stemming from post-Oct. 7 incidents have made their way to court. One suspect faces charges for punching an Israeli near Times Square while shouting antisemitic slurs. In another case, a man stands accused of multiple hate crimes after ramming his car into Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn.

New York City is home to one of the largest Jewish populations of any city in the world outside of Israel. Recent demographic studies estimate that approximately 1.6 to 1.8 million Jews live in NYC, representing about 18-20% of the city’s total population.