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ADL Report: 70% of Jewish Teachers Fear Backlash in US Unions

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • A new Anti-Defamation League report documents significant antisemitism experienced by Jewish K-12 employees within US teachers' unions.
  • Over 70% of surveyed Jewish union members fear professional backlash for speaking out against anti-Jewish or anti-Israel conduct.
  • The report attributes the issue to structural and cultural failures within unions, exacerbated since the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Jewish educators in US K-12 schools face alarming levels of antisemitism within their teachers' unions, according to a new report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The study, titled 'Antisemitism in US Teachers Unions,' surveyed 307 Jewish members across 24 states and included qualitative focus groups. It reveals that nearly all respondents (98.7%) work in public schools and have experienced hostile rhetoric, anti-Jewish conduct, and institutional failures within their labor organizations.

teachers' unions were built on the promise of solidarity, fairness and dignity for every worker, but that this promise is being broken for Jewish educators across the country.

— Jonathan GreenblattADL CEO and National Director on the report's findings

More than 70% of surveyed Jewish union members reported fearing professional backlash for speaking out. The report highlights that over 70% believe union statements on the Israel-Hamas war are problematic if they fail to condemn Hamas or the October 7 atrocities. Additionally, significant majorities find resolutions accusing Israel of apartheid or genocide, and calls to cut ties with mainstream Jewish organizations, to be problematic.

what we found is not the work of a few bad actors, but rather a structural and cultural failure where Jewish educators are self-censoring and fearing backlash for raising concerns.

— Jonathan GreenblattADL CEO and National Director describing the nature of the problem

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt stated that teachers' unions, founded on principles of solidarity and fairness, are failing Jewish educators. He described the issue not as the work of a few individuals, but as a "structural and cultural failure" leading Jewish teachers to self-censor. The report indicates that while antisemitism predated October 7, the conflict significantly intensified these dynamics, emboldening open expression of previously hidden anti-Jewish attitudes.

More than 70% of surveyed Jewish union members somewhat or strongly agreed that union statements about the Israel-Hamas war that fail to condemn Hamas or the October 7, 2023 atrocities are a problem in their union.

— ADL ReportSurvey finding on union statements regarding the Israel-Hamas war

The ADL aims for this report to give voice to these often-dismissed experiences, illuminate the problem's scope, and advocate for cultural change within teachers' unions nationwide.

October 7 became a "permission structure to express their antisemitism."

— Survey respondentDescribing the impact of the October 7 attacks on union discourse
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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