US Cultural Institutions Under Scrutiny for Marginalizing Jewish and Israeli Creators
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Jewish and Israeli creators face systematic marginalization in US culture.
- ADL report finds many US art museums lacking in support for Jewish artists.
- Performing arts events have seen protests, threats, and cancellations.
- Authors report pressure to downplay Jewish themes and face boycotts.
- ADL CEO calls the situation a widespread boycott and blacklisting of Jewish artists.
A new report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals a concerning trend of Jewish and Israeli creators being systematically marginalized within the American cultural landscape since the October 7th attacks. The comprehensive study, which examined 40 art museums, documented cancellations and harassment in the performing arts, and analyzed the book industry, found that even institutions championing diversity and free expression struggle to protect Jewish and Israeli artists, sometimes participating in their exclusion.
Art museums received particular attention, with 13 out of 40 institutions categorized as having "critical deficiencies." Notable institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Broad, and LACMA in Los Angeles, along with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, were among those receiving the lowest ratings. While some museums like the Whitney and the Guggenheim showcased positive aspects, such as programs on Jewish diaspora or collections featuring Israeli artists, the report highlighted a lack of clear mechanisms for reporting antisemitism and the absence of explicit policies against it.
The performing arts sector also saw significant issues, with 65 incidents documented across 41 locations by August 2026. These include protests and threats aimed at preventing performances by comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and musicians such as the Batsheva Dance Company and Ravev Cantor. Musician Ravev Cantor canceled a US tour in early 2025 due to threats and organized efforts to disrupt his shows. The report terms this phenomenon a "security veto," where the threat of disruption allows opponents to influence an artist's ability to perform.
In the book industry, authors reported being asked to downplay Jewish elements in their manuscripts, facing loss of agents, and encountering online blacklists. One table circulated categorized writers based on their stance on Israel, encouraging avoidance of their books. The report also references a call for boycotting Israeli publishing houses and agencies, with authors like Sally Rooney previously refusing to sell translation rights to Israeli publishers.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt stated, "Jewish artists are being boycotted, blacklisted, and pushed out of American cultural life. We knew the situation was bad, we just didn't know how bad."
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