States are pushing for more scrutiny of antisemitism in schools

Schools Grapple with Antisemitism Surge Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict

When high school teacher Josh Hirsch expressed support for Israel on social media after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, he never expected the backlash that followed. A former student called for his firing, someone taped a note revealing his home address outside his classroom, and a sticker appeared on his chair claiming “Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.”

As the only Jewish teacher in his Adams County, Colorado school, Hirsch contemplated ending his 14-year career. “I’ve been a teacher and tried to keep my focus on being the best teacher I could,” he said. Instead of leaving, he joined an educators’ advocacy network created by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to promote inclusive school environments.

Hirsch’s experience reflects a nationwide pattern as tensions over the Israel-Hamas war have infiltrated American schools. The ADL recorded 860 antisemitic incidents in non-Jewish schools last year, down from over 1,100 in 2023 but significantly higher than pre-conflict levels. These incidents ranged from name-calling and vandalism to antisemitic teaching materials.

While the Trump administration has focused its antisemitism enforcement efforts primarily on colleges—suspending billions in federal funding to institutions like Harvard and Columbia—K-12 schools face increasing pressure from state legislation and civil rights investigations.

Several states have enacted measures to address antisemitism in schools. Republican-led Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee passed laws increasing accountability for antisemitism complaints, while Democratic-governed California approved legislation providing training to identify and prevent antisemitism in schools.

Many of these measures incorporate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which classifies certain criticisms of Israel as hate speech. This definition, recognized by the U.S. State Department, lists examples such as applying “double standards” to Israel or comparing Israeli policies to Nazism.

“These bills make it clear that Oklahoma stands with our Jewish communities and will not tolerate hatred disguised as political discourse,” said Oklahoma Republican State Senator Kristen Thompson, who authored her state’s legislation.

Civil liberties groups, however, warn that such broad definitions risk suppressing legitimate pro-Palestinian speech. This tension has manifested in various educational settings nationwide.

In California, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating Berkeley Unified School District after complaints described students asking Jewish classmates about “their number,” referencing Holocaust tattoos, and teachers allegedly making antisemitic comments while leading walkouts supporting Hamas.

Another California case involves a federal lawsuit filed by the family of a 14-year-old girl who left University Preparatory Academy in San Jose in 2023 following antisemitic bullying, including being called a “terrorist” after the Hamas attack.

In Massachusetts, a state commission formed to combat antisemitism identified it as a “pervasive and escalating problem” in schools. Commission co-chair Democratic State Representative Simon Cataldo accused the Massachusetts Teachers Association of sharing antisemitic resources with teachers, including materials describing Zionists as “bullies” and images of a Star of David made of dollar bills.

The union removed these materials but accused the commission of “offensive political theater,” stating: “Those who manipulate antisemitism to achieve political objectives—such as undermining labor unions and public educators—are following the lead of the Trump administration.”

Critics like Margaret Litvin, an associate professor at Boston University and co-founder of the Boston-area Concerned Jewish Faculty and Staff group, argue that the commission deliberately conflates criticism of Israel with prejudice against Jews to justify state interference in school district affairs.

The controversy extended to the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union, which this summer debated dropping ADL classroom materials about the Holocaust and bias. While delegates narrowly voted to approve this proposal, the union’s board overruled them.

In response, the ADL created BEACON (Building Educator Allies for Change, Openness, and Networks), attracting hundreds of interested educators, including Hirsch.

Reflecting on his experience, Hirsch explained that some backlash stemmed from his online commentary about local activist organizations. After supporting Black Lives Matter groups, he expressed feelings of betrayal when they voiced support for Palestinians rather than Israel.

Now focused on constructive dialogue, Hirsch believes schools must not give students “the opportunity to hate” or “make enemies of someone,” calling such approaches “counterproductive to what we’re trying to do as a society.”