On Oct. 31, an email from Winnetka Campus Principal and Assistant Superintendent Denise Dubravec and Superintendent Dr. Paul Sally was sent to all New Trier High School families informing them of an incident where a swastika was etched on a dispenser inside a boys bathroom stall on the Winnetka Campus. 

The incident at New Trier follows a recent increase in antisemitism in the U.S., highlighting how the New Trier community is not exempt from this nationwide crisis. In 2023, anti-Jewish hate crimes and violence reached a record high of 1,951 incidents, according to the FBI. This represents a 55% increase from 2022, which recorded 1,257 bias incidents. While hate crimes in general are on the rise, anti-Jewish violence has skyrocketed, specifically due to an attack on Israel by Hamas, a Palestinian Militant group, on Oct. 7, 2023. This spike in crime can be traced back to the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, per the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, who cite the conflict as a “motivating factor for violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators.”

“I wasn’t necessarily shocked or surprised because of everything that’s going on and the increase in antisemitism, but it was still really hurtful,” junior Ella Novack said.

Jewish students were alerted of the incident in Jewish Affinity Group on Oct. 30. One student in attendance, junior Jack Hirschtritt, said that club sponsor Brandon Stiller informed the students that he had learned about the hate event the previous Sunday. While the email was sent on Oct. 31 to parents and discussions were held in all adviseries, Hirschtritt feels that delaying outreach to the community minimized the seriousness of the vandalism.

“For me, a symbol like that means, ‘I want to kill the Jews’ or ‘I hate the Jews,’ Hirschtritt said. “It doesn’t make me feel safe at school.”

To address what the school describes as “bias incidents,” administrators rely on students to report what they see through TrevTip or a trusted adult, Equity Liaison Alex Zilka said. From there, the incident will be cataloged and different individuals, such as teachers and administration, will work together to address what happened and reduce harm. Since each incident must be addressed differently, students may not be informed as quickly for one incident compared to another. Additionally incidents such as anonymous graffiti require a larger conversation in adviseries and classrooms, compared to incidents in which a specific student can be addressed. The school and administration work to “maintain a sense of belonging,” Zilka said, but often the damage is already done. 

“I don’t think the school has done anything to protect me from antisemitism,” Hirschtritt said. “By taking their time, it felt like the administration thought of the threat as nothing and that the school didn’t care. If the school doesn’t care about that, why would they care about what happens to me individually?”

While hate incidents such as the one in the bathroom are both threatening and harmful, safe spaces like Jewish Affinity Group, which meets during school on Anchor Days, provide Jewish students an outlet to express their feelings about what is going on in school and the world. Spaces like Jewish Affinity Group influence how some students feel about their safety at school in regards to the hate that occurs.

“I feel safe because of the community I’ve created and joined,” Novack said. “It’s nice to talk to people who are going through the same things as me.”

With bias incidents being reported more frequently nationwide, addressing them within the New Trier community remains a challenge, even with efforts from students and staff. To prevent further violence, the school plans to continue addressing antisemitism through discussions in advisery and also in May for the Monthly Observance of Jewish American Heritage Month, a part of the school’s commitment to equity. 

By continuing to support safe spaces like Jewish Affinity Group, Zilka said “students can express their feelings and concerns and connect with each other,” ultimately creating a sense of belonging for students and a support system if violent acts occur. 

“I’m really proud to be Jewish,” Hirschtritt said. “There is so much antisemitism going around and my Jewish community at New Trier has my back. It’s wonderful to have this space.”