J7 Task Force Reports 2025 as Deadliest Year for Diaspora Jews Amid Rising Antisemitic Violence

The year 2025 marked the deadliest period for Jews in the diaspora in over three decades, according to a report released by the J7 Task Force on Wednesday. The report documents 20 antisemitic murders and a 136% surge in overall antisemitic incidents across the J7 countries compared to the period before October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel. These countries include Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, home to over 90% of the global Jewish diaspora.

The 20 fatalities occurred in several high-profile attacks: 15 during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, two at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, two at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., and one in Boulder, Colorado. The report highlights that antisemitic incidents remain significantly elevated compared to pre-October 2023 levels, despite some declines in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and France. Conversely, the UK, Argentina, and Germany saw slight increases.

Australia experienced the steepest rise in antisemitic incidents since 2021, with a 270% increase, followed by Germany (215%), the U.S. (131%), and France (124%). Germany leads in incident rates relative to its Jewish population, with nearly 70 incidents per 1,000 Jewish residents, far exceeding other J7 countries. The report also notes that anti-Zionism was a major motive behind many attacks, accounting for 48% in the UK, 45% in the U.S., and 23% in Germany.

The report includes a special focus on Ireland, where the Jewish community of approximately 2,200 people reported 143 antisemitic incidents in six months, a rate of 65 per 1,000 Jews, despite the absence of a national antisemitism strategy or dedicated security funding. The J7 Task Force calls on governments to move from reactive to proactive measures, including increased security funding, stricter legislation, and stronger enforcement of social media regulations to combat hate speech.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, emphasized the global nature of the crisis, stating, "Antisemitism crosses borders, and so must our response." William C. Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, urged urgent government and tech sector action to ensure Jewish communities can live safely and openly. The J7 Task Force, formed in 2023, unites major Jewish organizations from the seven countries to develop coordinated strategies against antisemitism, focusing on policy, security, extremism, and education.