At least 250 antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents have been documented across New York City public schools since the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre in Israel, according to a new report from United Jewish Teachers that paints a disturbing picture of persistent hostility toward Jewish students and educators.

“The data reveal a persistent pattern of hostility directed at Jewish students, educators, and staff,” United Jewish Teachers said in the report, which was sent to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.

“The majority of documented cases involve direct acts of harassment, vandalism, and threats.

“Significant shares also involve biased curriculum and instructional materials, as well as disruptive events such as walkouts and protests,” the group said. “These incidents have created hostile learning and working environments across the system.”

According to the report, 65% of the incidents involved direct acts including harassment, vandalism, assaults, swastikas and verbal threats. Another 23% involved what the group described as biased instruction about Israel and the Middle East, while 10% involved walkouts.

Brooklyn accounted for the largest share of reported incidents at 37%, followed by Queens at 27%, Manhattan at 25%, the Bronx at 9% and Staten Island at 2%.

United Jewish Teachers President Moshe Spern said verbal harassment frequently included antisemitic tropes, Holocaust references and “eliminationist language” targeting Israeli Jews. The report also documented swastikas and other hate symbols, physical threats and assaults.

“Jewish religious accommodations and participation in school life have also been denied or obstructed in multiple cases,” Spern said.

Among the incidents cited in the report was the harassment of a Townsend High School student over plans to join the IDF after graduation; a flyer at Flushing High School featuring a Nazi symbol and accusing Israel of apartheid; and a swastika carved into a blackboard at Brooklyn Technical High School.

The report also pointed to broader Department of Education statistics showing a sharp increase in student-on-student bullying, harassment and discrimination based on religion. Such incidents rose from 151 during the 2018-2019 school year to 367 in 2022-2023 and 398 in 2023-2024, before declining to 319 in 2024-2025.

“Many incidents documented by United Jewish Teachers show limited or no effective follow-through by school or district leadership, allowing hostile conditions to persist. These patterns have continued across multiple school years, indicating that existing policies and practices have not adequately protected Jewish members of the school community.“

Spern said the figures were unsurprising.

“It’s what I would expect. They haven’t done anything to address antisemitism,” he said.

The organization is calling on the city to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism throughout Department of Education policies, regulations and professional training.

Mayor Mamdani, a fierce critic of Israel, scrapped an executive order issued by former Mayor Eric Adams adopting the IHRA definition shortly after taking office in January.

The report also recommends mandatory NYPD investigations and evidence preservation in cases involving hate graffiti, the creation of a centralized DOE portal publicly tracking antisemitic incidents, mandatory antisemitism training and reviews of educational materials for anti-Israel bias.

“The data compiled by United Jewish Teachers demonstrate that antisemitism remains a serious and ongoing problem in New York City Public Schools,” Spern said.

The DOE pushed back against suggestions that it was failing to address the problem, saying it maintains “zero tolerance” for antisemitism and other forms of discrimination.

“New York City Public Schools is focused on ensuring that every student and educator is safe and respected in school. We have a zero tolerance for hate or bias, including antisemitism, and investigate and respond to all reported incidents in accordance with our Chancellor’s Regulations and applicable laws,” a DOE representative said.

“Through our Respect for All program, every school has a dedicated staff member leading anti-bullying and bias prevention efforts, as well as multiple avenues for students, staff, and community members to report any incidents so they can be properly investigated and addressed.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)