Jewish Families Flee NYC Public Schools Amid Rising Antisemitism Post-Oct. 7
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Jewish families are leaving NYC public schools due to antisemitism.
- Enrollment in Jewish schools has significantly increased since 2022.
- Parents cite biased content and teacher praise for Hamas as reasons for leaving.
- Antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents in public schools have risen sharply.
- A Brooklyn teacher praised an organizer of the October 7th massacre.
Jewish families in New York City have been withdrawing their children from public schools following the Hamas attack on Israel three years ago, citing a hostile environment and antisemitic incidents. Parents report that educators, including a Brooklyn teacher who praised the organizers of the October 7 massacre, have contributed to a climate of hate. This has led thousands of families to seek more welcoming environments in yeshivas and Jewish day schools.
Parents describe public schools showing biased videos about Israel without context and labeling Zionists as aggressive. Josh Gorovitz, who moved his family to a different part of the state, expressed concern about what his daughter was being taught in class. Natalia Murakhver noted a rapid increase in the "toxicity" of language used in schools after the attack, stating that anti-Zionism has become a clear manifestation of antisemitism.
Data from the Teach Coalition shows a nearly 2% increase in enrollment in New York State's Jewish schools for the 2025-26 academic year, totaling approximately 3,100 students. Between 2022 and 2025, enrollment grew by 4.2%, more than double the growth rate from 2019-2022. Prizmah, representing 300 Jewish schools in the US and Canada, surveyed parents, with 60% indicating they enrolled their children due to the war, and over half of those coming from public schools.
School admissions consultant Alina Adams has seen a doubling or tripling of Jewish families seeking alternative schools. She stated that the question of a school's favorability towards Jewish students is now a primary concern for every Jewish family she works with, a question that was rarely asked before the war.
Recent incidents include a Brooklyn teacher, Damien Nevin, who praised Yahya Sinwar, a key organizer of the October 7 attacks, in an anti-Israel chat. Another teacher, George Treme, faced accusations of spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories related to 9/11. A report by United Jewish Teachers documented at least 250 antisemitic or anti-Israel incidents in New York City public schools since the October 7 attack. Deborah Uri shared that her son experienced "several unpleasant incidents" at Townsend Harris High School, losing friends overnight after October 7, with the school administration ignoring the situation.