The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released its 2018 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents last week. Each year, the ADL’s Center on Extremism tracks incidents of anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism and assault in the United States. These findings are published in an annual audit. The 2018 report documents that 1,879 anti-Semitic occurred in the U.S. over the course of the last year. This total is 5% lower than the number of incidents recorded in 2017, but ranks as the third-highest number since the ADL began its annual reporting in 1979. Of the 1,879 incidents in 2018, 1,066 were cases of harassment—an increase of 5% from 2017. Furthermore, 774 were cases of vandalism, marking a decrease of 19% from 952 incidents reported from the previous year. Most alarming is that assaults against Jews more than doubled in 2018; there were 59 victims of anti-Semitic assault in a total of 39 incidents. The number of assaults in 2018 increased by 105% from 2017. These relative data points show that while some forms of antisemitic activity are greater in different years, they collectively contribute to the “near-historic levels” of anti-Semitism in the United States. The audit notes that 13% of the total number of incidents are attributed to known extremist groups, or individuals inspired by extremist ideology. The ADL underscores that this is the highest level of anti-Semitic incidents with known connections to extremist individuals or groups since 2004. Much of their activity involved flyering campaigns and robocalls that evoked neo-Nazi tropes. Purveyors of anti-Semitism also referenced Israel or Zionism; 140 incidents in the last year invoked rhetoric that combined classic anti-Semitic stereotypes with illegitimate criticisms of the State of Israel. States with the highest numbers of these incidents–along with cases of harassment, assault, and vandalism—were California, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Combined, these states account for more than half of the total number of incidents, showing the geographical the extent to which anti-Jewish activity spans the nation and is not an isolated phenomenon. Akin to previous years, the 2018 audit shows that public primary and secondary schools along with private Jewish institutions were primary targets of anti-Semitic activity. Incidents at colleges and universities decreased by 1%; whereas in 2017 there were 204 reported cases in 2018 there were 201. There were 265 reported cases at Jewish synagogues, community centers, and private schools—a 23% decrease from the previous year but still significantly higher than the 170 incidents reported in 2016. The report highlights that 2018 included the deadliest attack on Jewish in the history of the United States. Last October, a white supremacist massacred 11 Jewish worshipers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. This event was one of the 39 reported physical assaults on Jewish individuals in 2018, which constitutes a 105% increase over 2017. The audit not only provides data on the scope and veracity of anti-Semitism in the U.S., but also includes “a comprehensive set of policy recommendations for civil society, governmental, and technology sector leaders” to help in their fight against the growing menace of the issue. They advocate for the widespread implementation of anti-bias programs for law enforcement officers, anti-hate education curriculum for students of all ages, and leveraging technology to stymie the scourge of anti-Semitism online. CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt notes that while the 2018 Audit reveals worrying trends, the “ADL will remain vigilant in the years ahead” to ensure that anti-Semitism does not go unchecked or becomes normalized.