WASHINGTON — Just nine states across America are fully meeting the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) standards for combating antisemitism, according to a landmark report set to be released Friday. The findings stem from the ADL’s new Jewish Policy Index (JPI), the first comprehensive, interactive tool tracking state-by-state efforts to protect Jewish communities through legislation, education, and public policy.
Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia were named Leading States for showing high alignment with ADL’s recommended best practices. These states have enacted significant laws, launched targeted educational initiatives, and created frameworks for robust public safety measures benefiting vulnerable Jewish populations.
The JPI rates every US state on 22 criteria, grouping them as Leading, Progressing, or Limited Action. While twenty-nine states were classified as Progressing, demonstrating partial alignment and a path forward, twelve states displayed “little systematic effort,” according to the ADL. California and Virginia earned the highest ratings, while Montana and Wyoming received the lowest marks for state-level protection and Holocaust education.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt highlighted the unprecedented surge in hate crimes: “With antisemitic incidents at record highs nationwide, we need more than rhetoric, we need real, measurable policy action. We urge state lawmakers to take swift and decisive action to enact strong policies and laws that protect their Jewish communities,” Greenblatt said.
The report arrives alongside sobering statistics: antisemitic incidents in the US have soared 344% over the last five years, and Jewish Americans remain the target of nearly 70% of all religiously motivated hate crimes. The ADL’s tool empowers community leaders and policymakers to identify gaps, advocate for change, and hold their states accountable for providing meaningful protection.
Danny Barefoot, Senior Director of ADL’s Ratings and Assessments Institute, commented, “Too many states are still falling short when it comes to protecting their Jewish communities. This isn’t just a ranking, it’s a tool for change.”
Jewish advocacy organizations call for the immediate adoption of ADL’s recommendations, emphasizing that protecting Jews is not only a community imperative but an obligation to uphold pluralism and fight hate wherever it surfaces.
This article is based on verified information from the Anti-Defamation League, Newsmax, Israel National News, and Axios.