ADL Report Finds Jewish and Israeli Artists Facing Exclusion in US Cultural Sphere

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has released a comprehensive study detailing the exclusion and pressure faced by Jewish and Israeli figures in the American arts and culture scene. The report, titled "State of the Arts: Advancing Jewish Inclusion in Arts, Entertainment and Culture," highlights instances of marginalization within museums, publishing houses, and theaters.

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt stated that Jewish artists and performers are being "canceled," blacklisted, and pushed out of American cultural life. He noted that 40 leading museums do not incorporate Jewish identity into their diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates. The report also found that authors are being pressured to remove Hebrew words from manuscripts and alter the names of Jewish characters.

An examination of 40 major American art museums revealed that only one, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, received a top rating. Twelve museums, including the Whitney Museum of American Art and The Broad, were given a "critically unsatisfactory" score. By May 2026, only one of the 40 museums had acknowledged Jewish American Heritage Month.

In the publishing industry, the ADL identified seven trends that have intensified since October 7, 2023. Manuscripts featuring Jewish, Israeli, or Zionist characters are increasingly viewed as a commercial risk, with authors urged to omit Hebrew terms, Israeli locations, and Jewish names. Social media campaigns have promoted boycotts and blacklists, such as a May 2024 Google spreadsheet titled "Is your fav author a Zionist?" encouraging people not to buy or promote books by listed writers. Over 1,000 authors also signed a letter calling for a boycott of Israeli publishers, literary agencies, and festivals.

The entertainment sector recorded 65 antisemitic incidents across 41 U.S. cities, affecting musicians, comedians, actors, dancers, and directors. Notable examples include the "cancellation" of comedian Judy Gold and singer Regina Spektor. Despite these challenges, a July 2026 ADL poll of 951 American adults indicated significant public interest in Jewish and Israeli themes, with a large majority expressing willingness to attend exhibitions, performances, or purchase books related to these subjects.