Hate crimes against Jews rose 36% from 2021 to 2022, accounting for more than half of all reported religion-based hate crimes, the FBI said this week.

The FBI’s Crime Data Explorer database recorded 1,124 anti-Jewish crimes in 2022 and 824 in 2021 — a 36% increase. The database noted 158 anti-Islamic crimes last year, virtually the same as the 153 such incidents reported in 2021.

In a statement, President Biden condemned the rising numbers.

“The data is a reminder that hate never goes away, it only hides,” Mr. Biden said. “Any hate crime is a stain on the soul of America.”

While the figures were compiled before the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on southern Israel and the response by the Israel Defense Force, the president said these recent events have sparked concern about religious-based attacks on Jews and Muslims here.

“To those Americans worried about violence at home, as a result of the evil acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas in Israel, we see you,” Mr. Biden said. “My administration will continue to fight antisemitism and Islamophobia.”

The president said he has directed Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas “to prioritize the prevention and disruption of any emerging threats” that could strike Jews, Muslims, Arab Americans “or any other communities during this time.”

Even before the latest outbreak of violence in the Middle East, attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions in the U.S. were rising, the Anti-Defamation League said in March. The group reported an overall increase of 36% in 2022 versus the previous year, for 3,697 incidents.

The Washington Times has asked the FBI to detail which kinds of incidents it numbers as “hate crimes” in contrast to the ADL’s tally, which includes harassment, bomb threats and intimidation on school campuses, but has not yet received a response.

• Mark A. Kellner can be reached at mkellner@washingtontimes.com.