US Teacher Shares Anti-Semitic Leo Messi Cartoon, Sparks Outrage
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
A Brooklyn math teacher, Maysa Jarara, has been widely condemned for sharing an anti-Semitic caricature of footballer Leo Messi. The illustration, which depicted Messi with stereotypical anti-Semitic features, was shared on Facebook months ago. Jewish organizations criticized Jarara for promoting classic anti-Semitic tropes and inciting hatred. Her other social media posts have also included anti-Israel content and imagery related to the October 7th massacre.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A Brooklyn math teacher shared an anti-Semitic caricature of footballer Leo Messi.
- The cartoon depicted Messi with stereotypical anti-Semitic features, resembling Nazi propaganda.
- Jewish organizations condemned the teacher for crossing a "red line" with anti-Semitic imagery.
- The teacher had previously shared other anti-Israel and offensive content online.
- Organizations called her posts "incendiary" and "historically misleading."
A math teacher in Brooklyn, New York, has been condemned by Jewish organizations for sharing an anti-Semitic caricature of Argentine footballer Leo Messi on Facebook. The illustration, which bears resemblance to Nazi propaganda and the "Happy Merchant" anti-Semitic trope, depicts Messi with a large nose, wearing a kippah, and crying.
The cartoon was shared months ago by Maysa Jarara, a math teacher at a Brooklyn school, according to the New York Post. The image's characteristics evoke classic anti-Semitic imagery portraying Jews as greedy and conspiratorial. Jarara's caption for the image read, "The expression on his face says it all."
This illustration emerged amidst existing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that have targeted Messi, particularly during the World Cup. These theories falsely suggest that Jews control FIFA and manipulate events to benefit his career, as noted by Cyberwell, an organization monitoring online anti-Semitism.
Jarara's problematic posts extend beyond the Messi caricature. Earlier this month, on the third anniversary of the October 7th massacre, she posted an illustration on Instagram depicting a man in a keffiyeh dancing with a woman in a hijab next to a burning pile, with the text "We love life and we can live it in a certain way." She also shared messages denigrating Israel, including one showing the Israeli flag covered in blood.
Jewish organizations strongly denounced Jarara's actions. Moshe Safran, President of United Jewish Teachers, stated that Jarara "crossed a significant red line by disseminating classic anti-Semitic imagery depicting Jews as greedy and scheming." Karen Feldman, President of the New York City Public Schools Alliance, expressed deep concern, calling it "very disturbing" that a teacher entrusted with educating children would publicly share "incendiary, biased, and historically misleading posts about Israel and the Jewish people."
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