Antisemitic crimes doubled in Houston from 2022 to 2023, Anti-Defamation League data shows

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Antisemitic incidents in the United States more than doubled last year, rising sharply since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, according to the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights advocacy group.

"From Oct. 7 to Dec. 31, 2023, there were more incidents during that period than the last two years combined," Mark Toubin, ADL Southwest's regional director, said. "We're no longer saying this could be an issue. This is an issue. This is a national crisis."

In Houston alone last year, the agency reported 67 antisemitic incidents, which include assault, vandalism, and harassment. That's more than twice as many as in 2022.

Across the region, which includes the southern part of Texas, from El Paso to Beaumont, attacks have gone up 150% since the attack on Israel last October, according to the ADL.

"We need to sound the alarm that the normalization of antisemitism has to be repelled, and it has to be repelled right away," Toubin said.

SEE MORE: Antisemitic incidents in US hit all-time high, Anti-Defamation League report shows

For the first time ever, the ADL has started tracking antisemitism on campuses.

Rice University received a "D" for hostile student groups in what the ADL calls a "deficient approach."

Parents and prospective students have called Jewish leaders at Rice, asking for advice.

"Students that used to be fine wearing their Star of David now sometimes feel like they should stick it in," Rabbi Shmuli Slonim of Chabad at Rice University said. "But at the same, Jewish students have been asking themselves, 'What does my Jewish identity mean to me?'"

Out of 85 universities, the ADL gave out 34 "Ds" and "Fs."

"The letter grade is reductionist and doesn't recognize the vibrancy of Jewish life on campus," Rabbi Kenny Weiss, executive director of Houston Hillel, said.

Roughly 5% of Rice's undergraduate students are Jewish.

Administrators are scheduled to meet with Toubin to see how the university can improve.

"I think we can do a better job, and we will do a better job together," Slonin said, adding that he's proud of his group's involvement with students.

"When the climate for antisemitism is improved, the climate for all students is also improved, and Rice has been very forthcoming with a desire to help build," Toubin said. "It's not to disrupt free speech. It's not to suggest that people of different opinions can't voice those opinions, even loudly. It is about making sure disagreements can be discussed (and) can be debated without attacking any student because of who they are."

ADL's website offers more information on Rice's letter grade.

In addition, Rice University released a statement about the low assessment:

We appreciate the work of the ADL and its work to combat antisemitism on college campuses. While we are disappointed with the grade and plan to provide supplemental materials outside of their methodology, we are encouraged by an upcoming opportunity to meet with the ADL Southwest regional director to share the totality of our work against antisemitism at Rice.

Our campus partners, parents, and extended community of advisors in the Jewish community have provided ongoing feedback. Our campus educational series, Conversations on the Middle East, provided additional opportunities for faculty-led sessions with our students. Our reporting structure for any incidents continues to yield timely investigative responses while protecting student privacy. The university reiterates its strong position (as first reported in the Houston Chronicle in Dec. 2023) that "Rice unequivocally considers calls for violence or genocide against Jewish students or any other group to be evil, wrong and immoral... Such behavior violates Rice's policies and could violate federal law. We strongly denounce antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hatred and intolerance that are antithetical to our values and our mission. We will not tolerate such behavior and will remain vigilant in monitoring these actions while providing the Rice community many avenues to report wrongful conduct."

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