MADRID — Jewish students residing in a suburb of Madrid received anonymous hate mail this week containing the words “Jewish rats. Palestine will triumph!” The incident, currently under investigation by Spanish authorities, has heightened fears within Spain’s Jewish community amid a sharp rise in antisemitic threats and violence since the start of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023.
Local press reports, amplified by Jewish advocacy groups and social media witnesses, describe the letters as part of a recent surge in public hate directed against Jewish individuals and institutions in and around the Spanish capital. Jewish leaders said the threatening mailings included Nazi imagery and anti-Israel slogans, highlighting the intersection of traditional antisemitism with contemporary anti-Israel agitation.
Rabbi Moisés Bendahan, Madrid’s Chief Rabbi, publicly denounced the letters: “This is not criticism of Israel or the conflict. This is naked, old-fashioned bigotry, designed to terrorize an entire community.” Jewish student recipients echoed these concerns, stating they now feel unsafe in their neighborhoods and fear being marked simply because of their identity.
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) expressed alarm, calling the incident “a chilling warning to all Western democracies that antisemitism remains a potent threat to safety, order, and communal belonging.” The FCJE urged authorities to investigate thoroughly and called for swift, visible prosecutions to deter further hateful acts.
Recent data from Spain’s Jewish communities report a significant escalation in antisemitic rhetoric, incidents, and attacks, with numbers rising as high as 321 percent in the past year alone. Experts point to the influence of anti-Israel activism, online incitement, and polarizing political rhetoric as drivers of the current climate. “These assertions, without credible evidence, feed into age-old antisemitic tropes about Jewish power, control, and conspiratorial influence,” notes sociologist David Pérez, citing historical precedents and monitoring by both Spanish and European Jewish organizations.
The incident follows several high-profile cases of antisemitic violence and harassment in Spain in recent months. Spanish politicians have also faced criticism for employing anti-Jewish language and failing to explicitly condemn hate speech tied to Middle East tensions.
International groups, including the World Jewish Congress and the European Jewish Association, called on Spanish authorities to redouble protection for Jewish communities and reaffirm Spain’s commitment to religious freedom and minority rights. “We join Spanish Jews in demanding clear public opposition to all manifestations of antisemitism, whatever mask it wears,” a spokesperson for the World Jewish Congress said.
The FCJE stated it would continue monitoring the situation closely and offer support and security advice to affected Jewish families and institutions.
This article is based on verified information from eyewitness social media, local advocacy groups, the FCJE, Instagram reports, and international Jewish organizations.