The incident occurred in November 2024, when two students from DePaul University, Michael Kaminsky and Max Long, were attacked by two masked individuals. Kaminsky suffered a wrist injury requiring surgery, and Long suffered a concussion. According to local police, the second attacker who participated in the incident has not yet been apprehended.

Following the incident, Kaminsky and Long filed a lawsuit in April against the university, claiming that "security officers stood by and watched the assault take place." As reported by ABC7 Chicago, Erkan pleaded guilty to charges of assault and battery and was sentenced to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

Just over a year after two men attacked IDF Reserve Staff Sgt. Max Long and his friend, Michael Kaminsky, in broad daylight on the DePaul University campus, one of the men charged pleaded guilty to a charge in the case. https://t.co/NhhMnwJqUA

— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) November 25, 2025

"Not taken seriously"

Daniel Schwartz, president and co-founder of the Chicago Jewish Alliance, told JNS that "When a convicted attacker walks away with probation and community service after admitting to a targeted assault, it signals that violence against Jews does not carry serious consequences in this city."

He added that "What happened inside the courtroom is a profound failure. That message is dangerous, far beyond one campus. The guilty plea acknowledges what happened, but the sentence fails to match the gravity of the crime. Chicago cannot claim to care about equity or safety while treating violence against Jews as a low-priority offense. Targeted violence must carry meaningful consequences if Jewish people in this city are to believe they are protected."

Jay Tcath, vice president of the Jewish United Fund, said it was "unfortunate that the prosecution accepted a plea deal that included a penalty lower than the maximum possible," although it's important to note that Erkan admitted to the sequence of events and served more than 200 days in custody.

"Step in the right direction"

CHICAGO– Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - The Lawfare Project's (LP) Founder and Executive Director @GoldsteinBrooke issued the following statement in response to the recent guilty plea made by Adam Erkan for his role in the assault of DePaul University students and Lawfare Project… pic.twitter.com/EGRpVW0PRe

— The Lawfare Project (@LawfareProject) December 3, 2025

 Gerard Filitti, senior counsel at the Lawfare Project representing the students, said, "We appreciate the efforts of Chicago law enforcement and prosecution authorities to bring the attackers to justice. The system is not perfect, but it demonstrates the need to remain vigilant and ensure that everyone involved in hate crimes against Jews is held accountable."

Regarding criticism about the lightness of the sentence, Filitti added, "Even before October 7, hate crimes were not sufficiently enforced throughout the United States, and local law enforcement or prosecution authorities do not always handle assaults motivated by antisemitic intent."

"This process represents a step in the right direction, and we hope to reach a situation where society views attacks against Jews as unacceptable exactly as it views attacks against any other minority group."

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David Larmour, 56, married and father of two daughters, has served for 19 years as a community pastor in Oshawa, Toronto, and is also a practicing psychologist. Since October 7 he has emerged as one of the strongest Christian voices in Canada confronting antisemitism.

Unlike many others, he chose to take responsibility, refusing to parrot empty slogans. He insisted on learning the facts on the ground first, and only then forming a position on the massacre and, more broadly, on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He recently traveled to Israel as part of a United Israel Appeal Canada (UIA) delegation. During his visit he toured communities near the Gaza border, met residents and professionals, and says he returned with a rare toolkit: "reliable information at a time when disinformation about Israel and antisemitism are dominating public discourse in North America."

Every week he gives a talk to roughly 600 members of his church, sharing what he witnessed in Israel, explaining the complexity of Israeli reality, offering insights, and leading a firm conversation against antisemitism and against denial of the atrocities.

'The failure called me'

What was the moment you decided it was no longer possible to stay silent?

"I grew up in a family with deep respect for Judaism. The Hebrew Scriptures are the foundation of Christian faith. Jesus and the apostles were themselves Jews. We owe the Jewish people an enormous historical debt for sharing the Bible with us.

"At the same time, my familiarity with the church's history left me with personal disappointment and pain. We cannot ignore the complex role the church played during World War II and the Holocaust, nor its passivity in the 1930s. That failure called me, personally, to say 'never again.'"

"Over the course of my life I visited Israel twice, and our church had planned to bring a group of 40 people in February 2024. The October 7 attack changed everything and delayed our plans. This past month I managed to return with a Jewish Federations of Canada - UIA delegation to study the events of the massacre, understand the situation in the communities around Gaza, and bring that knowledge back to Canada.

"Historically, our church has always stood by Israel and supported the Jewish community. The world after October 8, 2023, drew a clear line between good and evil, and we decided to stand on the side of good and push back against the false narrative portraying Israel as an oppressive villain committing genocide.

"When I first landed in Israel years ago, I felt something very powerful, as if I was coming home. It was an extraordinary feeling, and today Israel truly feels like my second home."

The day after – just as troubling

Around the events of October 7, did something change for you as a leader and as a person? Something that stays with you?

"I watched the live broadcasts from Israel that Saturday in absolute horror. It was a sickening event. But what disturbed me just as much was what unfolded on October 8.

"While the full scale of the casualties was still unclear, parts of the world – including my own country – began holding rallies supporting Palestinians and the terrorist organization Hamas, and those voices dominated public discourse. Suddenly Israel was cast as the villain and Palestinians as victims."

"It was a distorted and inverted narrative, amplified by mainstream media. That created a huge internal rift for me, one that pushed me to act and use my platform for truth and justice.

"The rise in antisemitism after October 7 was immediately felt, and sadly it continues to this day. As a Canadian church leader, I could not stand by and do nothing. We led prayer gatherings where each week we focused our prayers on ten different hostages."

Romi Gonen's impact

During this period, the church hosted Maureen Leshem, cousin of Romi Gonen, who was abducted from the Nova music festival and held at that time in Gaza.

Larmour says the encounter was "formative," marking a turning point that led him to expand his community efforts: weekly prayers for Israel, strengthening ties with rabbis and synagogues, and mobilizing 50 church leaders to sign a joint declaration against antisemitism.

Looking ahead, he says, "My vision is to bring the church and the synagogue closer, to respect our differences while celebrating the values we share."

'A false narrative, pure evil'

What leads your community to see Israeli reality differently from other Christian communities around the world?

"As Christians, to stay true to our faith we must consistently choose the good and actively oppose evil when we encounter it. The October 7 attack, in my eyes, was pure evil. Our faith places love of humanity at the center, which means we must stand with the victims.

"In recent years, Canadian media have drifted away from factual reporting and toward quick, sometimes shallow commentary. In this environment the false narrative labeling Israel as an apartheid state spread widely – a narrative not grounded in facts."

The pastor decided to mobilize his people into action: "Instead of relying on headlines, we urged our community to check the facts themselves. We learned that many anti-Israel campaigns are driven by hostile actors deliberately spreading false information.

"As a community, we undertook deep learning and gained tools to understand Israeli reality more accurately. That understanding enabled us to engage in responsible advocacy, grounded in facts, and push back against the wave of disinformation."

What was most meaningful to you during your visit with the CIJA in Kfar Aza?

"Visiting Kibbutz Kfar Aza was one of the most devastating moments of the trip. We heard the story of Avihai Brodutch, whose wife and children were abducted by Hamas. Then we walked through a kibbutz completely destroyed by terrorism. The sight of children's shoes and toys left exactly where they had been dropped made the human cost almost unbearable.

"The walk through the Nova site was also emotionally overwhelming. This is where hundreds of young people were murdered brutally and women were sexually assaulted. For me and for everyone in the delegation, it was a heavy, chilling experience and a stark reminder of the scale of the atrocities.

"And yet, alongside the pain, we also saw Israeli resilience. We witnessed the diversity within Israeli society and the exceptional innovation at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. Seeing the technological achievements of Israeli companies up close was inspiring.

"In this reality, the efforts of the BDS movement to isolate Israel are detached from facts and ultimately harm humanity, because they undermine developments that improve lives around the world."

A daily fight against antisemitism

What does the church's daily fight against antisemitism look like in practice?

"Our biggest challenge is awakening the Christian community in the West, which is like a sleeping giant. If people have no personal connections with Jews, it is easy for them to stay indifferent to antisemitism.

"I see that our success comes through personal connections. We invite rabbis to church for 'Sundays of Solidarity,' participate in Shabbat events at synagogues, and join marches for Israel. When personal relationships form, the reality changes. That is how we operate."

Among the initiatives Larmour described: prayers for the hostages still held in Gaza, hosting a Passover Seder led by a local rabbi, Steven Wernick, and distributing a video series on the history of antisemitism urging Christians to confront "our historical failure and not repeat it."

A message to the world

In an era where extreme voices command attention, what would you want to say to the world?

"I want the world to recognize the enormous contribution of the Jewish people to humanity. You are just 0.2 percent of the global population, yet you have won roughly a quarter of the Nobel Prizes since 1901 – one hundred times your share of the world's population.

"I call on people to visit Israel with an open mind, see your lives firsthand, and learn what drives the Jewish people to contribute so much.

"It is vital that the world understands the facts and recognizes that behind the propaganda are foreign actors spreading countless lies. I urge everyone to learn history and acknowledge that the Jewish people are the people whose roots are here and nowhere else."

'A true ally'

Olga Davidovich, Director of Emergency Operations at Jewish Federations of Canada - UIA, says: "David brings integrity and exceptional commitment. His deep connection with Jewish communities and his determined fight against disinformation have made him a significant voice against the rising wave of antisemitism.

"At a time when public discourse is misleading, David consistently chooses to stand with the Jewish community and promote unity and justice. He is a true ally."

Larmour concludes, "My Jewish friends have made my life better. The solidarity among religious leaders in Canada is growing stronger. The story of Israel is one of resilience in the face of pain, constant innovation, and an unwavering will to survive. The Christian community stands with you, both in the diaspora and in the State of Israel."

Pastor David Larmour's mission to Israel was sponsored by the JFC-UIA. 

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Former Mayor Eric Adams and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced the project, emphasizing that "never again" must be a lived commitment, not just words. The memorial aims to preserve the stories of victims and survivors while fighting the rise in antisemitism, which now makes up over 50% of hate crimes in New York City.

It's not enough to say "never again" — we must live it.

That's why we're building a new Holocaust Memorial in Queens — a place to remember the 6 million Jews murdered, honor the survivors who rebuilt their lives in NYC, and ensure future generations never forget. pic.twitter.com/qK3o94fR1D

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 25, 2025

Richards called it an emotional day for the Jewish community as the memorial will serve not only as a tribute but as a motivation in combating antisemitism. Rabbi Meir Waxman stressed that education is crucial to prevent forgetting and combat Holocaust denial.

Adams vowed that the city would not stay silent amid rising hate. He promised to expose hatred wherever it exists, foster compassion, and create harmony among all New Yorkers. New York hosts the largest population of Holocaust survivors globally, making this memorial a vital commitment in their honor and the fight against antisemitism.

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As reported, Elon Musk's social network began displaying users' locations and additional basic information, such as account creation dates and username changes. The goal is to enable the identification of fake behavior and bots impersonating real users, thereby improving credibility and transparency on the network. "We will provide people with enough context to determine if an account is authentic," the company said.

כולם שמים לחתונה האדומה ב-X ב-24 שעות האחרונות?

לאחר שהכריזו מוקדם יותר החודש על חשיפת המיקום של כל היוזרים ב-X, הפיצ׳ר נפתח לחלק מהחשבונות ואז נסגר לאחר מספר שעות (לי למשל הוא לא נפתח בכלל).

מה נחשף בינתיים?
בעיקר קמפיין ההשפעה של חשבונות אסלאם רדיקלי שמתחזים לחשבונות… pic.twitter.com/oe7guwSNGE

— Ella Kenan (@EllaTravelsLove) November 22, 2025

For example, user @noor_jomaa01 presented herself as a Gazan and raised tens of thousands of dollars, but it turns out her origin is actually from Nigeria. "Thanks to your support, we raised 42,000 dollars for our family in Gaza," she wrote alongside photos of her supposedly destroyed home. "Every donation and share is a lifeline. We still urgently need help with safe passage, medical treatment, and daily needs."

The prominent anti-Israeli X account "Khalisi," which was supposedly operated by a European user, was also exposed as an entity tweeting from Pakistan. Alongside this, numerous accounts of "journalists from Gaza" were exposed, who actually operate from the United States.

BREAKING: Thousands of "Palestinian" accounts posting daily about "starvation in Gaza" and "Israeli crimes" aren't based in Gaza.

You have manipulated for over two years. pic.twitter.com/hHjRtG98tM

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) November 23, 2025

Hasbara activist Ella Kenan, who lit a torch on Israel's 76th Independence Day, wrote Sunday morning, "Huge accounts in the West whose main content is Israel, spreading blood libels and more are actually in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and various other 'world gems,' and more accounts of 'journalists' from Gaza are actually located in Turkey or other places, just not in Gaza. This is what an activist warfare arena looks like. Does the State of Israel have a response to this issue? (No)."

She published a series of radical tweets from Iran, Poland, and even an account that presented itself as American but actually operates from Turkey. "How unsurprising, will there be additional surprises?" Kenan wondered. "This is bizarre if true, but also not shocking."

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Matan Angrest reached the rabbi's tomb "to give thanks and praise for the miracles and wonders and to say the Nishmat Kol Chai prayer with a prayer quorum." His mother vowed in her heart that when he was freed, she would come with him to pray at the rabbi's tomb.

During his captivity, his parents consulted with Rabbi David Abuhatzeira and decided to give him an additional name. "Rabbis recommended we add a name to our Matan. We received the blessing of the Admor Rabbi David Abuhatzeira, and we added the name Shahar," his father Hagai explained on Kol Barama Radio.

According to Matan's testimony, he explained that he prayed throughout the entire period of captivity. At some point, he dared to ask a Hamas senior to bring him a prayer book, and the request was granted. "It gave me hope," Matan said when he returned. "I used it to pray three times a day."

Matan Angrest (22) was an IDF soldier when he was abducted and severely wounded from his tank at Nahal Oz. Fighting beside him in that tank were Staff Sergeant Itay Chen and Captain Daniel Peretz, who were killed in battle, abducted to Gaza, and also returned in the deal. With them on the crew was Tomer Leibovitz, who fell in the heroic battle on October 7, during which the soldiers saved many residents.

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The incident unfolded on Collins Avenue, near 36th Street, while the women sat in a social gathering in the area. According to local media reports, witnesses spotted the woman approaching the group when she suddenly grabbed the baby from the mother's arms and started running.

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While standing outside a pizzeria filming a review video for his successful show "One Bite Pizza Reviews," the American Jewish billionaire became the victim of an antisemitic act when a passerby shouted at him,  "F*ck the Jews," threw coins at him, and then directed the same wish at Portnoy himself.

The suspect in the incident, Patrick McClintock (20), was arrested by Starkville police after he allegedly was the one who attacked Portnoy. Subsequently, charges were filed against him for "disturbing public order." The fundraising campaign launched on GiveSendGo, a site primarily serving Christian causes. According to the site, over 900 donors participated in the support campaign.

Posts in the campaign included antisemitic language and conspiracy theories, including references to alleged "Zionist" control and criticism of what was characterized as "Jewish privilege." The campaign portrayed the student's arrest as a "violation of free speech rights" and claimed he was a "victim of tribal privilege exploiting the law."

According to police, the student moved "from the boundary of free speech to disturbance," leading to his arrest. A video posted on social media shows Portnoy reacting to the incident, which he characterized as an "unjustified antisemitic outburst." Witnesses said those present at the incident swiftly rejected the attacker's words and expressed support for Portnoy.

Portnoy himself said following the incident that antisemitic incidents and hate events have become a "daily occurrence" and that the case represents part of a broader cultural shift. He also expressed concern that the student would face academic punishment from the university, noting, "What he did will follow him for life." According to reports, McClintock voluntarily withdrew from MSU following the widely publicized incident.

This is not the first time Portnoy, the owner of the successful site Barstool Sports, has found himself "starring" online due to incidents tainted with antisemitism. Last June, while he was filming a pizza review video for his show in Toronto, Canada, he encountered an attack similar to what he's experiencing now when a passerby shouted at him the same antisemitic curse.

Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) is doing a pizza review when a man approaches and shouts "Fuck the Jews!" Dave handled it so much better than I would have, but my God I'm getting tired of these freaks. Antisemitism is a disease — enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/Hz8lYrCWwV

— Casey Babb (@DrCaseyBabb) November 8, 2025

A month before that, in May, Portnoy chose to punish originally two employees at his sports bar after learning they had waved a sign with the antisemitic inscription "F*** the Jews" during a baseball game. "I was seething with anger when I heard about the incident," he addressed the incident at a press conference he held.

"I was shaking and thought my next mission would be to destroy these two's lives. I'll grab them by the throat and finish the job with them," he shared how anger initially caused him to think, but ultimately, after calming down, he decided on a different punishment, one that would teach them a lesson. "Did someone think I would tolerate such crap at my workplace? They need to face the consequences, believe me, I'm planning something big for them."

However, Portnoy eventually calmed down and chose for the two a difficult, extreme punishment to teach them a lesson. "I won't destroy their lives, but I will educate them – they will fly to Auschwitz for a history lesson. There have been too many cases of antisemitism in the United States since October 7, and this needs to end."

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The survey findings, conducted by the M² Institute for Experiential Jewish Education, are surprising primarily because the main factor behind the lack of hope is not antisemitism or the war in Israel. "Internal division in the community" ranked first – almost twice as much as any other reason. Following it were ranked "leadership failures," "external hostility and antisemitism," and "difficulty conducting discussion about Israel."

"Discussions about Israel – a polarizing factor"

Claire Goldwater, Vice President of Strategy at the M² Institute, explained that "it appears discussions about Israel have become a very polarizing factor in community spaces. People don't feel safe to say what they think in workplaces. The existing culture doesn't allow for processing and constructive discussion of complex issues."

The responses to the survey even forced a fundamental change in the questionnaire itself. Initially, the question asked was: "Where do you find hope?" but according to Shuki Taylor, founder and CEO of the institute, the answers were almost uniform. People responded: "Why do you assume people have any hope at all now?" Following this, the question was changed to "Do you feel hope?"

The survey was conducted between July and August, after the 12-day round of fighting between Israel and Iran, "Rising Lion" – but before the global media's focus on reports of "hunger in Gaza." Now, the survey is published against the backdrop of internal tensions that have also erupted into the public sphere. For example, in early August, two British rabbis were removed from a stage at a rally supporting the hostages after they called for a ceasefire – and encountered boos from the crowd.

Values clash

The phenomenon, as noted by the report's authors, reflects a broader trend. It's also expressed in public opposition by employees at Jewish organizations to displaying Israeli and US flags (as happened at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York), as well as in ongoing tensions at Jewish schools, synagogues, and discussion groups on social networks.

Taylor himself filled out the survey and identified with the feelings of many respondents. According to him, the difficulty stems from the conflict between his clear view regarding Israel and the values and perceptions held by some colleagues in the community, which makes open discourse difficult.

"As an enthusiastic Zionist and strong supporter of Israel, there are times when this clashes with certain progressive values," he said. This tension, he explains, creates daily challenges in expressing opinions and conduct in the workplace. "It's really challenging," he added.

The data shows that two-thirds of respondents feel the situation in Israel affects their personal wellbeing, and 59% are very concerned about antisemitism. However, only a quarter of them reported that antisemitism materially affects their work and daily routine.

The report included four recommendations for Jewish organizations: develop principled leadership, provide training in dialogue management, highlight the organization's contribution, and strengthen identity and community feeling. "A culture must be created where people can process their feelings, feel safe to speak their minds and hold constructive discussion," Goldwater said.

However, she pointed to a paradox. "On one hand, it's clear people want moral clarity from their leaders. They want them to say something clear and meaningful. On the other hand, when leaders express a position that doesn't align with their views – this could only deepen the rift."

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In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the organizations stressed that accepting the grants does not necessitate compromising religious values. "We are aware that questions have emerged from certain religious institutions concerning the criteria," they stated, "We strongly encourage all eligible institutions to apply for this essential resource."

The organizations additionally indicated that they "maintain ongoing communication with administration officials who have affirmed their commitment to safeguarding the security of all religious and Jewish institutions, along with the values they embody."

As noted, some synagogues and other Jewish organizations have declared they will not file applications this year, due to the administration's stipulation – a move that generated fierce resistance within the US Jewish community.

The statement was issued by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and three Jewish security organizations: Secure Community Network, Community Security Initiative NY, and Community Security Service.

The grant program operates under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security, and represents the primary funding source for safeguarding houses of worship, nonprofits, and other institutions against terrorism and hate-motivated violence.

The program commenced in 2004 and grew following the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. The program's funding has risen, and this year $274 million is accessible, given the dramatic increase in antisemitism cases.

Concurrently, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs contacted the Trump administration last week, requesting clarification of the program's requirements. However, it also advised that synagogues and Jewish institutions file applications regardless, while stressing that submitting an application does not necessitate actually accepting the funding.

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The researchers examined 86 books approved by the government. Among the key findings are consistent hostility toward Jews, use of antisemitic stereotypes in Islamic studies content, and portrayal of Jews as treacherous and lacking loyalty.

The study also found that Judaism is completely absent from sections dedicated to comparisons between religions, while Christianity, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Taoism are included. Israel is presented as a stubborn enemy of the Muslim world and blamed alone for the war in Gaza. The Holocaust is not mentioned at all, even in sections referring to Hitler's rule, which instead include praise and acclaim for the Nazi leader.

The report examined books in three educational provinces – Punjab, Sindh, and the Federal Council – in more than 80 subjects, including English, Urdu, Islamic studies, social sciences, history, geography, mathematics, science, home economics, and ethics. Additionally, isolated sections were found that encourage tolerance and recognition of diversity, but it appears the curriculum falls far short of UNESCO educational standards.

Marcus Sheff, CEO of the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education, noted that "the curriculum promotes consistent hostility toward Jews. Pakistan has a central regional role, with the status of a nuclear state and a large young population. Therefore, the implications are wide-ranging."

According to him, "the textbooks present Pakistan as leading the Muslim world and Israel as an enemy, and even place sole responsibility on it for the war in Gaza. What is learned in classrooms today will shape Pakistan's future relations with Israel and with the Jewish people. There is an urgent need for educational reform that includes inclusion, mutual respect, and education for peace."

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