Jewish New Yorkers Describe Fear as Antisemitic Incidents Surge

A 23-year-old Jewish woman says she was violently attacked on a New York City subway about a week and a half ago in what police are investigating as an antisemitic assault. Speaking to N12, she said the attack began on a C train around 2:20 p.m. when she overheard a woman talking about Jews “stealing wealth.” The suspect then turned to her, saying she saw “the reflection of a Jew” in her and later claimed she could “smell the babies you ate.”

The victim said she began filming when she realized the comments were directed at her, which made her feel somewhat safer. She described the attacker choking her, kicking her, pushing her to the floor, and pulling her hair until some of it was ripped out. “I was on the floor for the entire ride until the next station while taking blows and her hand never left my hair,” she said. She added that only one couple tried to help, and that seeing the video later was heartbreaking. Police said the alleged attacker, 45-year-old Diana Smith, was arrested at the next stop and charged with assault, attempted strangulation as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment.

The report places the attack within a broader rise in antisemitism in New York, which many Jewish residents say has made daily life feel unsafe. Netali Snedji, a Nova massacre survivor who lives in the city and works for the Combat Antisemitism Movement, said, “I got my life as a gift,” and now speaks publicly and shares educational content about Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. She said the city no longer feels like home after 31 years there, and that she now worries someone may target her because of her identity and activism.

Snedji said many Jewish friends have changed their names in apps after receiving unpleasant messages from drivers, and that she has heard dozens of stories of Jews losing friends in the past two years. She also said antisemitic graffiti is now common in bathrooms, restaurants, and bars. The CAM says it teaches U.S. mayors how to recognize antisemitism and runs an app for real-time reporting of incidents.

NYC police data show antisemitic hate crimes in May were 46% above the average of the previous three months. There were 30 such incidents in April, 32 in March, and 21 in February, though police said reporting rules changed in February so only verified cases are now counted. The article also cites recent incidents including the Park Slope food co-op’s removal of Israeli products and a graduation episode at New York University involving a flag combining Israeli symbolism with swastikas, which the university called “a vile act.”