Report: anti-Semitism on the rise; Local Rabbi refuses to give into fear

The Anti-Defamation League is reporting an 86 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents so far in 2017 nationwide.

"The reaction is sadness I think that’s the first reaction,” said Rabbi Dolinger.

Thirty minutes after Rabbi Barry Dolinger of Temple Beth Shalom in Providence finished up a prayer service for Holocaust Remembrance Day he sat down with ABC 6 News to talk about alarming new numbers.

"Even in 2017, even with all of the historic lessons of how bad that can get and what that can be. Holocaust Remembrance Day is sort of the apex of how bad that gets and still here we are,” said Rabbi Dolinger.

In Rhode Island this year as one example we’ve seen a swastika burned into a sign on the bike path in Barrington. That’s one of seven reported incidents so-far. Only four months into the year that number already is the same as the total for all of 2016.

Rabbi Dolinger says his temple has had to up its security in recent months, adding more panic buttons and video cameras. He points to a suspicious package left at the temple as well as a threatening note. He also tells of the stories he’s heard from congregants.

"In the last two weeks on 3 occasions congregants have come to me and said someone yelled something at me out a car window,” said Rabbi Dolinger.

Despite the increased negativity Rabbi Dolinger is not giving in to fear.

"My message is lets not have our lives governed by paranoia. Let’s spend most of our energy doing what our core mission is and reinforcing the values that we hold dear,” said Rabbi Dolinger.

The Anti-Defamation League credits part of the increase to the political climate since President Trump took office.

As for Massachusetts, it has also seen a dramatic rise in incidents. From 2015 to 2016 it jumped from 50 to 125. Already this year, there have been 38.

(C) WLNE 2017