JCRC-NY & Center for Jewish History Call for K-12 Education Solutions to Help Combat Antisemitism

NEW YORK, NY (03/10/2025) (readMedia)-- Last week, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) hosted a panel at the Center for Jewish History exploring the role of proactive K-12 Jewish identity curricula as a strategy for tackling antisemitism. Combating Antisemitism on Campus Through K-12 Jewish Identity Education convened Jewish educators in a dialogue about teaching students across differences and student perspectives on navigating anti-semitism in spaces where peers lack foundational knowledge on Jewish heritage. Panelists also emphasized the need for strengthened professional development opportunities and faculty training – a focus area JCRC-NY supports through its academic affairs programming.

Watch the recording here: JCRC-NY March 5th Panel

At the K-12 level, former Hillcrest High School teacher, Karen Marder described her path to educating students after being targeted in a student-led riot for expressing solidarity with Israel post-Oct 7th. Professors Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Magda Schaler-Haynes relayed the need for more foundational knowledge about Jewish identity in K-12 schools as well as stronger anti-bias training and enforcement in higher education, informed by their respective work on the NYC Public Schools' upcoming Hidden Voices curriculum and Columbia's Antisemitism Taskforce Reports.

"At JCRC-NY, we convene the 'village.' With NYC home to the world's second largest Jewish population, it's critical for us to build bridges between Jewish and other New Yorkers. Education is the starting point and is the enduring antidote to ignorance and hate. Our schools must prioritize culturally-responsive curricula that include Jewish identity studies, including origin information and positive contributions to New York and American life, in order to truly tackle the problem of antisemitism as part of a comprehensive approach. That's why we remain committed to collaborating with educators, administrators, and community partners to ensure that students of all faiths and backgrounds have a safe and welcoming space to learn," said Mark Treyger, JCRC-NY CEO and panel moderator.

Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History, noted that, "In light of CJH's commitment to preserving and mobilizing Jewish history, the Center enthusiastically supports the effort to combat antisemitism by providing K-12 students with a deeper understanding of Jewish history in all its fascinating complexity. The Center is proud to support initiatives that ensure Jewish stories are included in the broader narrative of our shared past, helping to build a more informed and inclusive society."

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About JCRC-NY: JCRC-NY, a proud UJA-Federation of NY agency, serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area. As an active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY operates as a central coordinating and resource body with a mission to build relationships to advance the values, interests, and security of the Jewish community and to create a more interconnected New York for all.

About the Center for Jewish History: The Center for Jewish History in New York City illuminates history, culture, and heritage. The Center provides a collaborative home for five partner organizations: American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.