Antisemitic incidents and hostility toward Israel have seen a troubling rise in New York City public schools, according to a new report by the Jewish educators’ organization United Jewish Teachers documenting 250 incidents between the October 7, 2023, attack and the end of July.
According to the report, 64.8% of the incidents involved direct acts targeting people or property, including verbal harassment, threats, assaults, vandalism, and the drawing of swastikas and other hate symbols. Another 23.2% involved, according to the report’s authors, bias in educational materials and classroom instruction about Israel and the Middle East.
Some 9.6% of incidents were connected to protests, school walkouts, and the exclusion of students from events, while the remaining 2.4% included statements by staff members and online posts.
Brooklyn recorded the most incidents, with 91 cases, accounting for 36.8% of all reported incidents. Queens recorded 68 cases, Manhattan 62, the Bronx 22, and Staten Island seven.
The report was sent to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.
Among the cases cited in the report was a student at Townsend Harris High School who was harassed after saying he planned to enlist in the IDF following graduation. Other examples included a poster displayed at Flushing High School featuring a Nazi symbol alongside accusations that Israel practices apartheid, as well as a swastika carved into a board at the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School.
The report’s authors said verbal harassment included antisemitic stereotypes, references to the Holocaust, and expressions that effectively called for the elimination of Jewish Israelis. They also claimed that in some cases, Jewish students were denied or faced restrictions on religious accommodations and participation in school activities.
“The data reveal an ongoing pattern of hostility toward Jewish students, teachers, and staff members,” the report stated. “These incidents created a hostile learning and working environment throughout the system.”
Antisemitism not sufficiently addressed by education officials, report shows
The report also claimed that in many cases, school administrations or district officials failed to take effective action, allowing hostile conditions to continue over multiple school years.
United Jewish Teachers President Moshe Spern said the release of the report ahead of the start of the school year was intended to pressure authorities to take action.
“The data make clear that the current policy has failed,” he said. “Jewish students and educators cannot afford another year like this.”
The organization is calling on the education system to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism; require police investigations and the preservation of evidence before hate graffiti is removed; establish a public and transparent database of antisemitic incidents; introduce mandatory training on the issue; and review curricula for bias against Israel and Jews.
Alongside the organization’s figures, official education system data show a broader rise in student complaints about bullying, harassment, and religious discrimination. Complaints increased from 151 during the 2018-2019 school year to 398 in 2023-2024. In 2024-2025, 319 incidents were recorded.
However, the city’s data does not specify the religion of those targeted, meaning it is not possible to determine how many of the cases involved Jewish students or were directed against Jews.
NYC Department of Education: 'Zero tolerance' for antisemitism
The New York City Department of Education said it is committed to ensuring that every student and educator is safe and treated with respect.
“We have zero tolerance for hate or bias, including antisemitism, and we investigate and address every reported incident in accordance with the chancellor’s regulations and the law,” it said.
The department added that every school has a staff member responsible for preventing bullying and prejudice.