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Axios
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Hundreds of Jewish groups urge NEA to reject ADL ban
Nearly 400 Jewish organizations are urging the nation's largest teachers' union to reject a member-approved proposal that would sever ties with the civil rights group Anti-Defamation League (ADL) over the war in Gaza. Why it matters: The proposal calls for the National Education Association (NEA) to no longer use ADL material on antisemitism and Holocaust education nor promote other ADL statistics or programs. The big picture: An NEA executive committee still must approve the member-backed measure, but a diverse array of Jewish groups told the NEA in a letter Monday that the panel should reject that proposal. The groups want the NEA to issue a strong statement against antisemitism, which the organizations say is behind the proposal. Catch up quick: NEA members voted last week to cut ties with the ADL at the 2025 Representative Assembly this week in Portland, Oregon. "NEA will not use, endorse, or publicize any materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), such as its curricular materials or its statistics," according to the proposal text. "NEA will not participate in ADL programs or publicize ADL professional development offerings." The latest: In a letter signed by 378 Jewish organizations, the groups said the NEA measure would effectively boycott "ADL's widely respected anti-bias and Holocaust education curricula." That includes programs used in thousands of schools nationwide, the organizations said. "Calling for a National Education Association boycott of the (ADL) is an egregious example of the rising antisemitism in schools and society throughout North America," said Eric Fingerhut, Jewish Federations of North America President and CEO, said in a statement. An NEA spokesperson did not immediately respond to Axios for comment on Monday evening. Zoom in: Because it was determined to be a "sanction item," the NEA proposal is an automatic referral to the NEA Executive Committee, an NEA spokesperson previously told Axios. "Therefore, the official action on (proposal) is adopted and referred to committee," a spokesperson said. Context: The ADL has provided public schools with materials about the Holocaust, anti-hate training and antisemitism for four decades. It also provides an annual report on antisemitism in the U.S., which can also be shared in schools. Caveat: If the NEA Executive Committee adopts the ADL ban, schools can still use ADL material. Yes, but: It sets up potential future showdowns with local NEA unions and school districts if the war in Gaza continues. What they're saying: "Excluding ADL's gold-standard educational resources is not just an attack on our organization – it's a dangerous attack on the entire Jewish community," ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement.
Axios
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Teachers' union NEA members endorse cutting ties with ADL
Members of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest teachers' union, have voted to sever ties with the civil rights group Anti-Defamation League (ADL) over the war in Gaza. Why it matters: The member-backed measure calls for the union to no longer use ADL material on antisemitism and Holocaust education, nor will it promote other ADL statistics or programs. Driving the news: The proposal was adopted by NEA delegates at the 2025 Representative Assembly this week in Portland, Oregon. However, because it was determined to be a "sanction item," it is an automatic referral to the NEA Executive Committee, an NEA spokesperson, Staci Maiers, told Axios. "Therefore, the official action on (proposal) is adopted and referred to committee," Maiers said. Zoom in: According to the proposal text, "NEA will not use, endorse, or publicize any materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), such as its curricular materials or its statistics." In addition, "NEA will not participate in ADL programs or publicize ADL professional development offerings," the measure read. Context: The ADL has provided public schools with materials about the Holocaust, anti-hate training and antisemitism for four decades. It also provides an annual report on antisemitism in the U.S., which can also be shared in schools. Caveat: If the NEA Executive Committee adopts the ADL ban, schools can still use ADL material. Yes, but: It sets up potential future showdowns with local NEA unions and school districts if the war in Gaza continues. What they're saying: " With antisemitism at record high levels, it is profoundly disturbing that a group of NEA activists would brazenly attempt to further isolate their Jewish colleagues and push a radical, antisemitic agenda on students," an ADL spokesperson told Axios in a statement. "We will not be cowed for supporting Israel, and we will not be deterred from our work reaching millions of students with educational programs every year." The ADL said it will continue to call out antisemitism and prioritize supporting Jewish students and educators "when they are attacked and scapegoated." The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said it welcomed the NEA vote due to concerns over ADL's "anti-Palestinian bias." "This principled move is a significant step toward fostering respect for the rights and dignity of all students in public schools, who must receive an education without facing biased, politically-driven agendas," CAIR said. Between the lines: It is the latest episode of historic liberal-leaning groups and unions at odds over the war in Gaza, support for Israel and interpretations of antisemitism. Earlier this year, a union representing over 30,000 faculty and staff at the City University of New York (CUNY) passed a resolution to divest its union funds from Israeli companies and government bonds. Last year, the San Francisco Unified School District held mandatory antisemitism training for staff at four high schools, prompting the teachers' union, United Educators of San Francisco, to state that it would support any educator who chose to opt out of the mandatory training. What we're watching: The NEA Executive Committee will have a final say on the measure.
