Study Finds Over Half of US Jewish Studies Faculty Publicly Oppose Israel
A new study analyzing 2,499 records from hundreds of academic institutions across the United States reveals that more than half of the examined records show public activity against Israel. The research, published this week, focused on faculty members, academic programs, and research centers involved in Jewish studies, Israel studies, Hebrew, and Holocaust studies. It compared these records with signatures on nine public petitions from 2021 to 2026, memberships in organizations, and public statements.
According to the study, 1,298 records (51.9%) were classified as exhibiting public anti-Israel activity based on criteria defined by the researchers. These records include not only individual faculty members but also academic programs and institutional records. When focusing specifically on 1,014 faculty members personally identified as teaching Jewish, Israel, Hebrew, or Holocaust studies, 401 (approximately 39.5%) were found to have public activity against Israel. The rate was notably higher in Ivy League universities, reaching 72.3%, with Columbia, Princeton, Yale, and Brown leading in numbers.
The study defines "anti-Israel activity" as support for academic boycotts of Israel, signing petitions labeling Israel as an apartheid state or perpetrator of genocide, backing the BDS movement, membership in groups like Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Friends of Sabeel - North America (FSJP), and calls to end U.S. military aid to Israel. The researchers clarify that criticism of the Israeli government, support for a two-state solution, opposition to settlements, or criticism of IDF actions were not included in this classification.
The authors emphasize that the study does not assess classroom teaching content, methods, or grading, but only public activities such as petitions and organizational affiliations. Their stated goal is to provide students, parents, and donors with transparency regarding the public stances of faculty teaching subjects related to Judaism and Israel. They describe this as the most comprehensive public mapping to date of faculty in these fields in the U.S. and plan to update the database annually.
