National Jewish Advocacy Center urges DOJ probe into NYC public schools

The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC) has requested that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate the New York City Department of Education over allegations of widespread antisemitism. In a letter addressed to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, the group argues that Jewish students and staff have faced a hostile environment characterized by harassment, intimidation, and discrimination following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.

The NJAC claims that antisemitism is driving Jewish families to withdraw their children from public schools in favor of yeshivas and Jewish day schools, describing the phenomenon as ‘segregation by intimidation.’ The request cites reports from United Jewish Teachers, which documented approximately 250 antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents between October 2023 and July 2026, including threats, vandalism, and assaults.

This request follows existing federal scrutiny of the New York City school system. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights previously launched a probe in April 2026 regarding a pro-Palestinian educator group, and a separate ‘shared ancestry’ investigation was initiated in November 2023.