The rise in antisemitism: it’s a growing problem in this country and has been for years, according to various law enforcement agencies.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, more than 2,000 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. were reported in the first two months after the deadly Hamas attacks on October 7, an increase of more than 300% from the same time period the previous year.
It’s a problem Chandler-based Rabbi Mendy Deitsch has been aware of for quite some time but says even in the face of hate, hope will always prevail.
In so many ways, when you step into Chabad of the East Valley, you’re seeing Rabbi Deitsch’s dream come true. A decade ago, Chabad of the East Valley opened its doors off McClintock Drive in Chandler. It’s a huge blessing, says Rabbi Deitsch, but it has also come with hardships.
“When we built the synagogue, I had a vision of an open space for Judaism,” explains Rabbi Deitsch. “But unfortunately, we have to have locks and security and all these things we need because that is the world we live in.”