Jewish Families Flee NYC Public Schools Amid Rising Antisemitism Post-Oct. 7
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Thousands of Jewish families in New York have moved their children from public to private Jewish schools following a surge in antisemitism after the October 7 Hamas attack. A report indicates a 2% rise in Jewish school enrollment for 2025-2026, with 60% of parents citing the war as a reason for the switch. Incidents involving teachers and a rise in antisemitic acts in schools have fueled these concerns. New York City's mayor launched an anti-antisemitism program with increased funding, though it omits references to Israel or the Gaza war. Similar issues have arisen in the UK, where the Green Party passed a resolution labeling Zionism as racism.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Thousands of Jewish families in New York have moved children from public to private Jewish schools due to rising antisemitism.
- 60% of parents cited the post-Oct. 7 war as the reason for switching to Jewish schools, a survey found.
- New York City's mayor launched an anti-antisemitism program with a $29 million budget.
- A UK Green Party resolution declared Zionism a form of racism, with 56% voting in favor.
- At least 250 antisemitic or anti-Israel incidents were recorded in NYC public schools since the war began.
- An orthopedic surgeon in Ohio was allegedly fired from Mercy Health because he is Jewish.
Thousands of Jewish families in New York have withdrawn their children from public schools and enrolled them in private religious or secular Jewish institutions, according to a New York Post investigation cited by Ynet. A report from the Teach Coalition indicated a nearly 2% increase in Jewish school enrollment for the 2025-2026 academic year, totaling approximately 3,100 students. Between 2022 and 2025, enrollment grew by 4.2%, more than double the rate of the preceding period.
Paul Bernstein, CEO of the Prizmah network of Jewish schools, stated that a new survey found 60% of parents who enrolled their children in Jewish schools would not have done so without the war that began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Many parents cited a hostile environment and a sharp increase in animosity towards Israel and Jewish people in public educational settings.
One mother, Deborah Uri, told the New York Post that she removed her son from Townsend Harris High School shortly after the October 7 massacre due to "several disturbing incidents." She described a significant change in her son's school environment, where his close friends ceased contact with him and the school administration remained largely silent.
The situation has been exacerbated by incidents involving city education system teachers. In one case, Brooklyn teacher Damian Nevoy is under investigation by city authorities for writing "Long live Yahya Sinwar" in a group chat in 2024. Separately, in September 2026, social studies teacher George Trim faced accusations of spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks.
A July 2026 report by United Jewish Teachers documented at least 250 antisemitic or anti-Israel incidents in New York City public schools since the start of the war. The rise in antisemitism in the West, affecting not only streets and schools but also politics and workplaces, was previously reported by "Vesti."
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city's first anti-antisemitism program on September 29, increasing the budget for the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes from $3 million to $29 million. The funds are allocated for victim assistance, synagogue protection, and Holocaust education. However, the 35-page document does not mention Israel, the Gaza war, or anti-Israel protests, nor does it define antisemitism. This plan followed Benjamin Netanyahu's September 24 UN address, where he called Mamdani an "antisemitic mayor of New York."
Meanwhile, in Ohio, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Mercy Health on September 27. The commission alleges that orthopedic surgeon Ian Walton was fired on November 1, 2023, 25 days after the Hamas attack, solely because he is Jewish. Colleagues had reportedly accused Jews of global conflicts for years, with such statements intensifying after October 7. Walton's operating room time was also reduced. Mercy Health declined to comment extensively as the lawsuit is pending.
In the UK, the Green Party adopted a resolution at their October 4 conference declaring Zionism a form of racism, with 56% of participants voting in favor. The resolution calls for a single Palestinian state across historic Palestine and for boycotts and sanctions against Israel. Party leader Zak Polanski did not participate in the vote and declined to explicitly affirm Israel's right to exist, despite three predecessors opposing the resolution. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated the party has become an organization supporting terrorism.
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