Congregation Beth El in Norwalk hosted an Anti-Defamation League seminar on Sunday highlighting the rise in antisemitism in the U.S. and overseas.

The ADL says antisemitic incidents in the U.S. rose 34% from last year, reaching the highest number since they began tracking in 1979.

The interfaith discussion focused on what enabled such hate, and how to combat it.

Rabbi Ron Fish, of the ADL, says it's evident that the Jewish community has faced these challenges long before the attacks on Israel.

"It's grim because there are people on college campuses and other places saying this is Israel's fault,” says Fish. “They can only do it because there has been, built-up over time, a really strong interlocking permission structure that made it all make sense."

Rabbi Fish was previously the Rabbi at Congregation Beth El for 14 years.