NYC Jews Describe Rising Antisemitic Attacks as Subway Assault Spurs Outcry

A 23-year-old Jewish woman told N12 she was violently attacked on a New York City subway about a week and a half ago in what police are now investigating as an antisemitic hate crime. She said the assault began on a midday ride on the C train at about 2:20 p.m., when she overheard a woman talking about Jews “stealing wealth.” The attacker then turned on her, said she could see “the reflection of a Jew” in her, and added, “I can smell the babies you ate.”

The woman said she started filming as the situation escalated, but was choked, kicked, shoved to the floor and dragged by her hair for the rest of the ride until the next station. “I was on the floor for the entire ride until the next station while taking blows and with her hand not leaving my hair,” she said. She added that a chunk of hair was pulled out and that only one couple tried to help. Police said the suspect, 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 story comes amid what Jewish residents and activists describe as a broader surge in antisemitic incidents across New York. Nataly Sanandaji, a Nova massacre survivor who now works with the Combat Antisemitism Movement, said she has lived in the city for 31 years but no longer feels at home. “It’s crazy and sad. Today I am afraid,” she said, adding that graffiti saying “f*** Israel” appears “on every wall, in every bathroom in a restaurant or bar.” She also said many Jewish friends have changed their names on apps to avoid hostile messages from Uber drivers and others.

Sanandaji said her organization helps train U.S. mayors to recognize antisemitism and runs an app for real-time reporting of incidents. She said it tracks assaults, vandalism, threats and anti-Israel marches, including cases such as Jewish children beaten in a Brooklyn Starbucks. Separately, she noted that the Park Slope food co-op recently removed Israeli products, prompting UJA to buy about 20,000 bags of Bamba for community distribution and drawing protest from the group End Jew Hatred. NYU also faced backlash after a graduation incident involving a flag resembling Israel’s, overlaid with swastikas, with the university calling it “an abominable act” and promising harsh discipline. NYPD data show antisemitic hate crimes in May rose 46% above the average of the previous three months, after 30 incidents in April, 32 in March and 21 in February.