New Report Exposes Widespread Antisemitism in US Cultural Sector

A new report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals a significant rise in antisemitism within the United States' cultural landscape, impacting museums, the publishing industry, and the art world. The report details the systematic exclusion and silencing of Jewish and Israeli artists and narratives.

According to the ADL, many U.S. museums are downplaying or obscuring their Jewish and Israeli collections, integrating them into broader narratives that dilute their specific identities. In the publishing industry, Jewish professionals interviewed for the report described severe discrimination, including the suppression of books with Jewish, Israeli, or Zionist themes, blacklisting, boycotts, and exclusion from literary events. The report notes that this literary antisemitism often manifests subtly, through shifting standards and institutional silence, particularly amplified in the climate following October 7th.

The art world has seen at least 65 documented incidents across 41 locations in the U.S. involving the cancellation, harassment, and silencing of Jewish and Israeli artists. Protests have escalated to preventing performances and disrupting shows. "Jewish and Israeli artists are harassed, excluded from performances, and removed from artistic programs," stated ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. "Simply put, this is antisemitism and discrimination against Israelis. The culture and arts sector must wake up before Jewish voices are completely silenced."

Greenblatt added, "We knew the situation was serious, but not to this extent." The report highlights that the anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment in the U.S. has been consistently strengthening over the past three years, infiltrating nearly all aspects of Jewish community life.