Antisemitic Attacks Surge: House Committee Seeks Solutions to Ensure Jewish Safety

Washington, D.C. – July 29, 2025 – A sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across the United States has prompted urgent action from the House of Representatives, with multiple committees holding hearings to address the growing threat and explore solutions to protect Jewish communities. The surge, which intensified following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, has seen antisemitic hate crimes more than double, with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reporting 8,873 incidents in 2023 alone, a 140% increase from 2022. The House Committee on Homeland Security, alongside other panels, is focusing on actionable measures to curb this violence and ensure safety for Jewish Americans.

The Surge in Antisemitic Violence
The ADL’s 2023 report highlighted a 45% rise in assaults, 69% increase in vandalism, and 184% spike in harassment compared to the previous year, with 68% of religion-based hate crimes targeting Jews, according to FBI statistics. A 2024 American Jewish Committee (AJC) survey found that 69% of Jewish adults experienced antisemitism, with 83% of young Jews (ages 18-29) reporting incidents, particularly online. Notable attacks include the June 1, 2025, firebombing of a Jewish vigil in Boulder, Colorado, where Mohamed Sabry Soliman injured eight people with Molotov cocktails, and the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., in May 2025, both linked to anti-Israel motives.

The House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, led by Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX), held a hearing on June 11, 2025, to assess the threat of antisemitic terrorism, citing incidents like the Boulder attack and harassment of Jewish students on campuses. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight followed with a June 24 hearing, “Rising Threat: America’s Battle Against Antisemitic Terror,” emphasizing the Trump-Vance administration’s efforts to combat the crisis.

Congressional Response and Proposed Solutions

1. Legislative Measures: The Antisemitism Awareness Act, reintroduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Tim Scott (R-SC) in February 2025, directs the Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism for campus investigations. The bill, which passed the House in 2024, aims to clarify antisemitic acts, including anti-Zionism, though critics argue it risks chilling free speech.
2. Increased Funding and Oversight: The House Appropriations Committee approved additional funding for the antisemitism envoy, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, to strengthen federal efforts. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Tim Walberg (R-MI), has held multiple hearings, including a July 15, 2025, session with leaders from Georgetown, CUNY, and UC Berkeley, pressing universities to address antisemitic incidents like vandalism and student harassment.
3. Social Media Regulation: A bipartisan group of 41 lawmakers urged Meta, TikTok, and X to curb antisemitic content, citing a surge in conspiracy theories and incitement following attacks in Washington and Boulder. The ADL and AJC supported the call, emphasizing that unchecked hate speech fuels violence.
4. Campus Reforms: Universities are implementing mandatory antisemitism training, stricter protest guidelines, and enhanced security. Northwestern University, for example, introduced new rules on demonstrations and hired additional police after investigations by the House committee.

Challenges and Criticisms
The Republican-led hearings have faced accusations of political theater. Jewish faculty at Haverford College, among others, criticized the committee for weaponizing antisemitism to suppress pro-Palestinian speech, noting that some lawmakers, including Walberg, have ties to groups promoting Christian conversion of Jews or have failed to condemn antisemitic incidents in their districts. Democrats, like Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), argue the focus on campuses ignores broader societal biases, such as Islamophobia or racism. Jewish Voice for Peace and some Jewish students claim the hearings prioritize Zionist perspectives, marginalizing anti-Zionist Jewish voices.

Community and Policy Outlook
The AJC’s 2025 report underscores a shift in antisemitic threats, with 57% of Jews citing the far-left as a serious concern, alongside 55% for the far-right, reflecting tensions over Israel’s Gaza conflict. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) advocates for coalition-building to counter antisemitism while preserving democratic norms, warning that voter suppression and eroded civil liberties exacerbate hate.

President Trump’s January 2025 executive order reaffirmed measures to combat antisemitism, citing failures under the Biden-Harris administration to protect Jewish students. As incidents persist, including 11 serious attacks reported globally in the past month, mostly in Europe, the National Security Council advises heightened caution for Jewish communities.

With antisemitism at historic levels, the House committees’ efforts signal a commitment to action, but balancing free speech, campus safety, and robust enforcement remains contentious. Swift passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act and increased collaboration with community organizations like the ADL and JCPA could pave the way for progress, though critics urge a broader approach to address all forms of hate.

This article draws on congressional records, ADL and AJC reports, and posts on X. For updates, visit congress.gov or ajc.org.