Hate crimes across New York City have spiked at an alarming rate over the past year, with violent incidents singling out Jews remaining at the epicenter of the crisis. According to newly published crime metrics from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the total number of documented hate crimes across the five boroughs jumped from 367 incidents in 2025 to 425 in 2026—a steep 15.8% increase.
1+The disturbing figures emerge just weeks before the High Holidays—Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—a period during which the city’s Jewish communities already maintain heightened security postures around synagogues, yeshivas, and communal centers. The NYPD data reveals that antisemitic hate crimes rose by approximately 8% over the past year, accounting for more than half of all confirmed hate crimes recorded throughout the first eight months of 2026. This disproportionate targeting is particularly staggering given that Jewish residents comprise only an estimated 10% of New York City’s total population.
Among the high-profile violent incidents underscoring the climate of fear was the stabbing of a Jewish man directly outside an Upper West Side synagogue in July. The brazen attack is part of an escalating wave of assaults, harassment, and open threats directed at visibly identifiable Jews, sparking profound apprehension and outrage across local communities.
1+The compounding figures present a glaring challenge for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office at the beginning of the year and faces fierce condemnation from Jewish community leaders over his radical record and the unchecked deterioration of communal safety. While City Hall cites liaison initiatives through its office for countering antisemitism, including outreach to rabbinic councils and neighborhood leaders, critics argue concrete deterrence on the streets remains sorely lacking.
The surge in antisemitic bigotry stands in sharp contrast to overall municipal crime trends touted by law enforcement: according to the NYPD, the past summer was statistically the safest on record regarding shootings, gunshot victims, and homicides. Between June 1 and August 31, the city recorded 195 shooting incidents, 249 shooting victims, and 66 homicides—historic lows for the summer period. Yet while gun violence has receded, targeted hatred against New York’s Jews continues to climb unhindered.