Narratives of Jewish American Public School Educators Amid Rising Antisemitism Post October 7, 2023

<p>This study investigated how Jewish American public school educators are responding to rising antisemitism post-October 7, 2023. While research exists on global antisemitism, the experiences of Jewish educators within the unique context of American public schools represent a significant and under-explored gap in academic literature. A qualitative narrative research approach, grounded in critical theory, was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight Jewish American public school educators and analyzed thematically. The findings revealed participants’ experiences of a heightened sense of fear and silence from colleagues and institutions, leading to feelings of isolation and being unsupported. Critically, this study found that rising antisemitism led to a sharpened Jewish identity and strengthened communal bonds among the educators, demonstrating their agency in constructing a counter-narrative that challenges dominant perceptions, particularly regarding Jewish American whiteness and privilege within the discourse of intersectionality and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These findings suggest that contemporary antisemitism profoundly impacts Jewish American educators personally and professionally, necessitating a more inclusive understanding of the Jewish experience within educational and societal dialogues. This research contributes to the field by amplifying marginalized voices and challenging prevailing narratives that often overlook or mischaracterize Jewish identity within frameworks of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The study highlights the need for increased awareness and support regarding antisemitism in public education and provides actionable implications for school administrators, non-Jewish colleagues, and Jewish American educators.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D. Doctor of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - Public Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Schwartz, Cassandra

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Antonina Luckenchuk
• Dr. Sara Efron
• Dr. Jack Denny

• antisemitism
• Jewish American
• educators
• public schools
• narrative inquiry
• counter-narrative
• DEI
• Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/917

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.nl.edu:diss-1984