An anti-Israel demonstration in Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 8, 2023.

Ten Most Shocking Antisemitic Incidents of November 2023

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The CAM Antisemitism Research Center collects comprehensive antisemitism data from around the world on a constant basis, and publishes a regular feature on the top ten antisemitic incidents that shook Jewish communities globally during the preceding month.

The ten most shocking antisemitic incidents of November 2023 are as follows:

1. Jewish Man Dies After Being Struck in Head by Anti-Israel Demonstrator Near Los Angeles

A 69-year-old Jewish man, Paul Kessler, died of a cerebral hemorrhage on Nov. 6, a day after being struck in the head with a megaphone by an anti-Israel demonstrator in Thousand Oaks, California, a suburban community northwest of Los Angeles.

2. French Police Hunt Suspect in Stabbing of Jewish Woman

A Jewish woman was stabbed and wounded in the French city of Lyon on Nov. 4, while a swastika was found graffitied at her home, police and the city’s mayor said.

3. Calls for Violence Against Jews Rock DC Amid Massive Pro-Hamas Demonstration

A building in Washington, D.C., was vandalized with graffiti messages reading, “Death to Israel” and “Glory 2 the Martyrs,” as thousands of protesters descended on the nation’s capital on Nov. 4 to protest the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

4. Montreal Jewish Synagogue and Community Center Targeted With Firebombs

Canadian police were investigating attempted firebombings of a synagogue and Jewish community center in the Montreal suburb of Dollard-Des Ormeaux, local media reported on Nov. 7.

“There is minor damage. The investigation is ongoing,” Sabrina Gauthier, a spokesperson for the Montreal City Police Service, was quoted as saying. Police investigators set up a security perimeter to analyze the scenes at Congregation Beth Tikvah and a nearby community center.

5. Demonstrators Brawl Outside LA’s Museum of Tolerance After Screening of Hamas Attack Video

Pro-Hamas demonstrators assaulted people outside the Museum of Tolerance where footage of the Oct. 7 Hamas atrocities was being screened on Nov. 8.

6. Police Probe Launched After Wild Scenes Erupt Outside Melbourne’s Caulfield Synagogue Over Gaza Conflict

Pro-Hamas demonstrators confronted Jews outside a Caulfield synagogue on Nov. 10.

7. Protesters Set Off Smoke Bombs Outside AIPAC Head’s Home, Call Him ‘Baby Killer’

Demonstrators held a loud protest outside a vacation home of AIPAC President Michael Tuchin in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 23, setting off smoke bombs and branding him a “baby killer.”

Marking Thanksgiving, they also placed red-paint-covered bunches of cloth, symbolizing dead babies, spilled red paint outside the home, signifying blood, and chanted “F**k your holiday.” The People’s City Council-Los Angeles, which describes itself as an anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist group, organized the rally, calling it “a holiday wake-up call” in a post on X.

8. Jordanian National Arrested in Houston Allegedly Planned Attack on Jews

A Jordanian national living in Texas was allegedly plotting an attack on Houston’s Jewish community before he was arrested on gun charges.

Sohaib Abuayyash, 20, had been studying how to build bombs and posted about his support for killing Jews, federal officials said.

9. Police in at Least 3 European Countries Arrest Suspects for Allegedly Planning Terror Attacks Tied to Israel-Hamas War

Police in at least three European countries — Germany, Belgium, and England — have arrested people they said were threatening or planning terror attacks related to the Israel-Hamas war.

The arrests come amid a global spike in antisemitic incidents following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel that has spurred an ongoing Israeli military response in Gaza. While police have offered widely ranging levels of detail about the threats they said they interrupted, they believe Israelis were possibly the intended targets of multiple plots.

10. Pro-Palestinian Group Shares ‘Reprehensible’ Antisemitic Map of NYC Targets on Social Media

A pro-Palestinian activist group shared a frightening map of New York City newsrooms, businesses and landmark buildings — and called for “direct action” to “globalize intifada.” In addition to news buildings, Within Our Lifetime, which describes itself as a Palestinian-led community organization, called for followers to target the offices of technology companies.

For more information on CAM’s antisemitism incidents data, please visit: combatantisemitism.org/research

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