US Cultural Institutions Systematically Excluding Jewish and Israeli Artists, ADL Report Finds

A comprehensive study by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals systematic exclusion, censorship, and blacklisting of Jewish and Israeli artists across major U.S. cultural sectors. The "State of the Arts" project examined museums, publishing, and live entertainment, finding that 30% of 40 leading museums, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, received the lowest rating for "severe deficiency." Notably, none of these museums incorporate Jewish identity into their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments, and the number of museums observing Jewish Heritage Month has plummeted from six pre-war to just one in 2026. Many institutions are also downplaying Jewish and Israeli collections within broader narratives. In publishing, the report identifies deliberate suppression of works with Zionist or Jewish themes at the manuscript acquisition stage. Professionals interviewed indicated that authors are pressured to remove Hebrew words and alter character names to secure publication, with literary agents reportedly rejecting writers deemed "too dangerous" due to their identity. Organized boycotts, including a letter from a thousand authors against Israeli publishers, and online harassment, such as negative book ratings before reading, have also emerged. The report labels this phenomenon "literary antisemitism," characterized by excuses, shifting standards, institutional silence, and community exclusion.

Similar trends are evident in live performance, with 65 incidents documented at 41 venues involving protests and cancellations targeting Israeli and Jewish artists. Organized campaigns have been directed at artists like Matisyahu, the Batsheva Dance Company, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. In some cases, a "security veto" led to event cancellations for artists such as Mikey Pauker and Raviv Kaner due to anticipated protests. Artist Noga Erez testified to losing international performances because of her Israeli identity, while other creators faced real-time harassment and disruptions. An accompanying ADL investigation found that activist networks are orchestrating these disruptions through physical intimidation, vandalism, and Holocaust trivialization.

"Performances by Jewish artists are being canceled, they are being blacklisted and pushed out of American cultural life," 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 silenced completely." Despite these institutional boycotts, a national poll of 951 adults conducted by the ADL in July shows broad public support for including Jewish and Israeli creators. Shira Goodman, an ADL Vice President, explained that a perceived commercial risk by institutions contrasts with actual audience demand. The ADL urges cultural institutions to resist pressure campaigns and rectify discriminatory policies stemming from business ignorance.