If it feels as though hate and division are only growing worse in this country, you’re not wrong. A report published Monday by the Anti-Defamation League states final statistics for 2023 show there were 8,873 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment and vandalism across the country.

According to a report by WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, that’s a 140% increase from 2022, which was also a record-setting year. Things are grimmer in Ohio. Kelly Fishman, regional director of the ADL in Cleveland, told WCPO there was a 367% increase in reported incidents in the Buckeye State last year.

“One of the things we see tied to this is white supremacist propaganda, and that should really be alarming to all people, because what we’re seeing blamed on Jewish people, things that are antisemitic, are also pulling in tropes about people based on their race, gender identity and sexual orientation as well,” Fishman told the news outlet. “So, when we see this rise in antisemitism we really see a rise in hate across the board.”

To be clear, disagreeing with a particular country’s politics or military action is not, in and of itself, antisemitism. In fact, it’s that kind of all-or-nothing thinking that gets us into trouble in the first place. (On the other hand, of course, it is possible the disagreement is because of antisemitism; and Oct. 7, 2023, the date in which Hamas attacked Israel, did spark an uptick in antisemitic incidents. It is important for each person to examine their own thinking on the matter.)

One reason for the jump in reported incidents, according to WCPO, was a dramatic increase in the number of bomb threats, most of which targeted synagogues.

“To see that bomb threats have increased on Jewish institutions … you know, to think about Jewish Day Schools or the JCC where many people, even those who are not Jewish, send their kids for preschool or daycare or summer camp — this impacts everyone,” Fishman told WCPO.

Most Ohioans want to believe we’re better than this, that such ignorant hatred is a thing of the past. It seems the opposite is the case. Those of us who want better for ourselves, our families and our friends and neighbors have an obligation, then, to stand against it. Antisemitism won’t be tolerated. It won’t be given shelter to grow in Ohio.

It’s up to all of us to make sure of that.