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Independent Schools Need More Tools to Fight Antisemitism in Their Classrooms
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announcing the formation of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism at a press conference at City Hall on May 13, 2025. Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
Too many American schools fail Jewish students by not addressing antisemitism head-on.
Thankfully, more of them now realize these shortcomings and want to make meaningful changes.
As the last school year drew to a close in May, 160 leaders from 32 of New York City’s leading independent schools gathered for a single, urgent purpose: to better support Jewish students and build educational communities that have the knowledge, tools, and moral clarity to respond to antisemitism in all its manifestations and regardless of its source.
Convened by American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) Center for Education Advocacy and the New York University Center for the Study of Antisemitism, this first-of-its-kind gathering was a recognition that this an urgent issue for schools to tackle.
AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report found that 96% of American Jews aged 18-29 believe antisemitism is a problem in the US, and 93% believe it has increased in the last five years. But among their peers in the general US adult population, those numbers dropped to 59% and 43% respectively.
We have seen the consequences of these disparate beliefs — when the peers of younger Jews don’t think antisemitism is as serious a problem, Jewish youth experience gaslighting, othering, and exclusion.
The polarization, exclusion, and breakdown of civil discourse that fuel antisemitism also threaten the functioning of our society as a whole. Addressing these issues must begin in kindergarten and continue through high school graduation.
For this meaningful and challenging work to take place, trusted relationships with school leaders need to be cultivated. That is our shared responsibility as educators, and why there is no time to waste.
Educational institutions are the lynchpin to ensuring that today’s students are equipped with the knowledge, empathy, and skills to engage in dialogue, which are indispensable to a functioning democracy. They are well-equipped to foster empathy in their students while providing a strong civic education.
As we’ve heard from college leaders, we cannot fix campus culture if we neglect the K–12 pipeline that feeds it. Issues like identity politics, deepening divisions, and “us vs. them” mindsets begin early — and schools must confront them right away.
The educators at the summit came away with a deeper understanding of how they can live up to their schools’ missions by ensuring the safety and belonging of the Jewish members of their school community, including faculty, staff, students, and their parents.
To aid those efforts, AJC has published an action plan for independent school administrators, so that we can provide a roadmap for those looking to make meaningful change.
Among its recommendations:
- Implement mandatory educational programs about Jewish identity and antisemitism for administrators and staff responsible for a culture of belonging. Understanding Jews and antisemitism is vital to effectively address these issues in classrooms.
- Organize education programs about antisemitism for students and parents. Most Americans only have a passing familiarity with Jewish culture and identity. Providing more education fosters can foster an environment where there is zero tolerance for anti-Jewish hate.
- Establish and publicize clear goals for promptly responding to antisemitic incidents and provide guidance on how incidents should be reported and how they will be addressed.
- Provide professional development for faculty on how to teach about the Israel-Palestinian conflict, whose best practices include classrooms promoting viewpoint diversity, fact-based inquiry and the use of primary sources to promote and open and respectful dialogue.
The summit laid the foundation for this serious, positive change — but it is one of only many steps that must be taken to make much-needed progress. The students sitting in today’s classrooms will inherit a democracy already strained by division and mistrust.
If we cannot teach them to engage across differences respectfully, to recognize hatred in its many forms, and to build bridges across ideological divides, we will have failed them — and ourselves — in the most consequential way possible.
Ira Glasser is Director of K-12 Education, New York, at the American Jewish Committee’s Center for Education Advocacy.
The post Independent Schools Need More Tools to Fight Antisemitism in Their Classrooms first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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UK Blocks Israeli Officials From Its Biggest Defense Show
Visitors look at ammunition on display at the Defense and Security Equipment International trade show in this file photo in London, Britain, Sept. 12, 2017. Photo: REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Britain has barred Israeli officials from its biggest defense trade show over its escalation of the war against Hamas in Gaza, its latest effort to pressure a historically close ally over the conflict.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government said in July it would recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to relieve suffering in the enclave and met other conditions, enraging the Israeli government.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense said that as a result of the trade fair ban it would not run its national pavilion as it has done previously at London’s Defense & Security Equipment International (DSEI) event.
Israeli defense companies, such as Elbit Systems, Rafael, IAI, and Uvision, will still be able to attend.
Britain’s move had echoes of a dispute at the Paris Air Show three months ago, when France blocked off with black partitions the stands of Israeli defense companies after they refused to remove attack weapons from display, sparking a furious response from Israel.
A British government spokesperson said on Friday that the Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza was wrong.
“As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025.”
“There must be a diplomatic solution to end this war now, with an immediate ceasefire, the return of the hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” the spokesperson added.
Israel said Britain’s decision was a “regrettable act of discrimination” and “introduces political considerations wholly inappropriate for a professional defense industry exhibition.”
The four-day show, due to open on Sept. 9, features national delegations and private companies, who showcase military kit and weapons at London’s Excel center. The event takes place every other year.
DSEI is organized by a private company, Clarion Defense and Security, but with backing from the British government and the military.
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Israel Pounds Gaza City Outskirts as Military Push Quickens
Palestinians gather near a cemetery as smoke rises following an explosion during an Israeli operation in Gaza City, Aug. 28, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Israel‘s military stepped up armed operations around Gaza City on Friday, ending temporary pauses there that had allowed for aid deliveries, as it announced the recovery of the body of Ilan Weiss, a hostage seized by Hamas.
Israel is pushing ahead with a plan to take full control of the whole Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City, with the goal of destroying Hamas after nearly 23 months of war.
“The local tactical pause in military activity will not apply to the area of Gaza City, which constitutes a dangerous combat zone,” the Israeli military said.
The Gaza City campaign has gradually intensified over the past week as Israel has urged civilians to leave for the south of the Palestinian enclave.
The Israeli military‘s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said the military was operating with great intensity on the outskirts of Gaza City and would “deepen our strikes” as it pressed its assault.
It announced daily 10-hour tactical pauses in fighting across the enclave and new aid corridors in late July, after months of restricted humanitarian deliveries drew international criticism.
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Germany Tells Nationals to Leave Iran, Fearing Retaliation Over Move With UK, France to Restore UN Sanctions
United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the United Nations Barbara Woodward, accompanied by other E3 members German Ambassador Ricklef Beutin and Deputy French Ambassador Jay Dharmadhikari, speaks to members of the press about Iran and nuclear weapons outside the UN Security Council chamber at UN Headquarters in New York City, US, Aug. 29, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Angelina Katsanis
Germany has told its nationals to leave Iran and refrain from traveling there to avoid getting caught in retaliatory acts by Tehran over Germany‘s role in triggering UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
Britain, France, and Germany on Thursday launched a 30-day process to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program, a step likely to stoke tensions two months after Israel and the United States bombed Iran.
“As Iranian government representatives have repeatedly threatened with consequences in this case, it cannot be ruled out that German interests and nationals will be affected by countermeasures in Iran,” the foreign ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday.
“Currently, the German Embassy in Tehran can only provide limited consular assistance on site,” it warned.
Britain, France, and Germany urged Iran at the United Nations on Friday to meet three requirements so their threat of reimposing UN sanctions can be delayed to allow space for talks on a deal to address their concerns about Tehran’s nuclear program.
UN envoys for the three countries – known as the E3 – issued a joint statement before a closed-door Security Council meeting.
The E3 offered to delay reinstating sanctions – known as snapback – for up to six months if Iran restored access for UN nuclear inspectors, addressed concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engaged in talks with the United States.
“Our asks were fair and realistic,” said Britain’s UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward, who read the statement. “However, as of today, Iran has shown no indication that it is serious about meeting them.”
“We urge Iran to reconsider this position, to reach an agreement based on our offer, and to help create the space for a diplomatic solution to this issue for the long term,” she said, with her German and French counterparts standing next to her.
In response, Iran‘s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the E3 offer was “full of unrealistic preconditions.”
“They are demanding conditions that should be the outcome of negotiations, not the starting point, and they know these demands cannot be met,” he told reporters.
Iravani said the E3 should instead back “a short, unconditional technical extension of Resolution 2231,” which enshrines a 2015 nuclear deal that lifted UN and Western sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program.
SINO-RUSSIAN DRAFT
Russia and China have proposed a draft UN Security Council resolution that would extend the 2015 deal for six months and urge all parties to immediately resume negotiations. But they have not yet asked for a vote.
The pair, strategic allies of Iran, have removed controversial language from the draft – which they initially proposed on Sunday – that would have blocked the E3 from reimposing UN sanctions on Iran.
Iravani described the Russian and Chinese draft resolution as a practical step to give diplomacy more time. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the US, France, Britain, China, or Russia.
UN nuclear inspectors have returned to Iran for the first time since it suspended cooperation with them after attacks in June on its nuclear sites by Israel and the United States. But Iran has not yet reached an agreement on how it would resume full work with the International Atomic Energy Agency.