New York schools are teaching children that Jewish nationalism is “extreme” while district officials scramble to deny responsibility for anti-Semitic study materials.
Key Takeaways
- A New York Regents Exam study guide defines Zionism as “extreme nationalism” and labels Israel’s actions as “terrorism”
- Both the Half Hollow Hills Central School District and NY State Education Department deny creating or approving the controversial material
- The guide emerged during a period of heightened anti-Semitic incidents across the country
- Rep. Elise Stefanik condemned Governor Kathy Hochul for allowing “antisemitic rot” in New York’s education system
- Similar anti-Israel sentiments have been expressed by education officials at CUNY, reflecting a broader pattern
Anti-Israel Study Guide Discovered in New York Classrooms
A disturbing study guide for 10th-grade students in New York has ignited outrage after defining Zionism as “extreme nationalism” and categorizing Israeli settlement as “terrorism.” The guide, reportedly distributed to prepare students for the New York State Regents Exam, contains overtly biased language that echoes Hamas propaganda rather than factual historical context. The materials have prompted swift condemnation from Jewish advocacy groups, parents, and lawmakers who see this as part of a broader pattern of increasing anti-Semitism in educational institutions across the country.
In response to mounting criticism, Half Hollow Hills Central School District superintendent Brian Conboy acknowledged the inappropriate nature of the materials while simultaneously distancing the district from their creation. “On behalf of the district, I want you all to know that offensive and inaccurate materials such as this do not meet our standards of excellence and are not something we take lightly. We can and will do better moving forward,” Conboy stated in a message to the school community.
Officials Deny Responsibility as Questions Mount
The controversy has quickly evolved into a case of finger-pointing, with both local and state education authorities denying responsibility for creating or approving the anti-Israel content. The New York State Education Department claims it never approved the guide, while the Half Hollow Hills Central School District maintains it did not create the materials. This leaves serious questions about accountability and oversight in the educational system. The guide’s origin remains uncertain, with estimates suggesting it may have been in circulation since 2018-2020, potentially influencing thousands of students across multiple school years.
“Zionism is not an ‘extreme’ form of nationalism, it is simply the name for the nationalism of the Jewish people,” said Eugene Kontorovich.
The study guide describes the “settler movement by Jews taking away land from Palestinians” as an example of terrorism, a characterization that legal and historical experts have condemned as profoundly inaccurate and inflammatory. Such language normalizes anti-Semitic views among impressionable students at a time when Jewish communities are experiencing heightened threats and violence nationwide. The materials mirror propaganda commonly found on college campuses where anti-Israel sentiment has boiled over into physical intimidation of Jewish students.
Pattern of Anti-Israel Sentiment in New York Education
This incident is not isolated but appears to be part of a concerning pattern within New York’s educational institutions. At the City University of New York (CUNY), Arthur Cheliotes, board chairman of the School of Labor and Urban Studies, recently faced criticism for spreading anti-Israel conspiracy theories on social media. Cheliotes shared posts comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler and distributed a list titled “What Israel Doesn’t Want You to Know,” containing numerous debunked claims.
“I’m blown away. I’m saddened. These are bogus conspiracy theories that are at odds with the truth,” stated A CUNY insider.
When confronted about his posts, Cheliotes defended them, stating, “These positions seem reasonable to me,” despite their inflammatory and factually challenged nature. Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, a former CUNY trustee, didn’t mince words in his assessment: “This man is an imbecile and antisemite.” Governor Kathy Hochul had previously ordered a review of antisemitism at CUNY campuses in 2023, but critics argue these latest incidents demonstrate that meaningful reform hasn’t materialized.
Political Response and Educational Oversight
Representative Elise Stefanik has taken a leading role in condemning the study guide and linking it to broader governance issues in New York. “The worst Governor in America, Kathy Hochul owns this antisemitic rot in NY education. This New York State Regent Exam study guide is a disgraceful example of the rampant and persistent indoctrination of our children in the K-12 education system perpetrated by radical Far Left Democrats,” Stefanik stated. Her criticism highlights growing concerns about political bias infiltrating educational materials and the failure of state leadership to maintain educational neutrality.
The controversy emerges as anti-Israel activists increasingly target younger audiences with skewed historical narratives. The framing of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in these educational materials aligns with a broader attempt to delegitimize Israel’s existence while ignoring the complex historical realities of the region. Parents and advocacy groups are demanding comprehensive audits of educational materials to identify and remove politically charged content that masquerades as objective historical information.
