Santa Ana, CA K-12. ADL and several other Jewish organizations announced yesterday that California’s Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against the school district for introducing ethnic studies courses that were developed in secret and infected with antisemitism. The school will cease instruction of several courses that contained false and damaging narratives about Israel and the Jewish people, will disband the SAUSD Ethnic Studies Steering Committee and take additional steps including provisions for meaningful public input. As ADL VP for National Litigation James Pasch stated, “This case sends a message that if school leaders proceed with implementing antisemitic curriculum and material in violation of the law, we will use the courts to protect the community.”

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Case Western. Eleven anti-Israel protestors have been indicted for vandalizing Case Western Reserve University with red paint. The incident included antisemitic language and symbols; it took place during a campus protest led by Students for Justice in Palestine, causing $400,000 in damages. Each of the indicted protestors faces counts of vandalism, breaking and entering, and possessing criminal tools, with one also charged with telecommunications harassment. Prosecutor Michael O’Malley emphasized that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, criminal acts won’t be tolerated, saying “When demonstrators cross over the line and commit criminal acts, it is our responsibility to hold those individuals accountable.”

(Source: Courtesy Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office)

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Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) has agreed to remove links to materials that were criticized as promoting antisemitic tropes following a backlash from lawmakers and community leaders. The decision comes after a tense hearing led by the Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism, where officials accused the MTA of sharing resources that presented a one-sided view of the Israel-Hamas war. State Rep. Simon Cataldo called the materials “heinously antisemitic,” and Gov. Maura Healey said they “never should have been shared” in the first place. ADL termed this a welcome first step in restoring confidence in the MTA.

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Sydney Conservatorium (Australia). After a student group at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music showed an anti-Israel slide during its orientation week that attributed the global rise in antisemitism to “Israel’s conflation of Judaism with their actions in the Levant” and accused Israel of genocide, the university responded swiftly, blaming a student group and saying that the anti-Israel messages “do not reflect the university’s position.” The school administration then met with Jewish groups to reaffirm their dedication to campus safety and inclusivity.

🎟 Interested in Addressing Antisemitism on Campus?
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Lox of Options. Jewish students at Columbia University now have another kosher option. Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is now accepting Columbia University’s Flex Dining meal points at its kosher cafeteria. JTS Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz called the move an "obvious" positive step following a challenging year for Jewish students at Columbia. Rubin Schwartz said, “After the challenging year that we had last year, in one of many conversations that I had with Columbia leadership, we kind of revived this idea of what would it be to provide another space for Jewish students — in particular, their students who want kosher food — to have a space to be together, to eat where dining dollars would be accepted.”

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Courage in Canada. A lecture tour across Canada showcased a growing generation of Jewish students standing proudly in the face of campus hostility. Historian and author Gil Troy visited Jewish schools, Hillels, interfaith groups and faculty to discuss the post-10/7 academic climate. He writes that despite rising antisemitism in classrooms—where students reported harassment and biased curricula—Troy found students deeply committed to their Jewish identity and Zionism. He highlighted inspiring moments of solidarity, including non-Jewish faculty standing up against intimidation. “They refuse to be cowed,” he noted, emphasizing that these students are emerging stronger, more connected and more determined to stand on the right side of history.

Roots of Remembrance. Just days before Tu Bishvat, families of victims from the 10/7 Hamas attack gathered at the site of the Nova festival massacre to plant trees in memory of their loved ones. Among them, Meirav and Doron Madar planted a eucalyptus sapling for their son, Shahak Yosef Madar, one of 360 people killed in the attack on the festival. The ceremony, part of a worldwide initiative, symbolized resilience and renewal, echoing the Jewish tradition of tree planting as a sign of life and strength. Sponsored by the Jewish National Fund, the event drew on the deep-rooted symbolism of trees in Jewish history, honoring both loss and perseverance.

(KKL-JNF chair Ifat Ovadia-Luski plants trees alongside the parents of Shahak Yosef Madar, who was killed on 10/7. Source: Yossi Ifergan/KKL-JNF Archive)

• Students — how to take action, deal with antisemitism, and organize your community.
• Alumni — how to organize a sign-on letter, answer a fundraising request, or write a letter to a university president.
• Parents — write a letter about commencement, organize a dial day, or get help selecting a college for your student.
• Faculty and Staff — support for impacted faculty and staff, and guidance on how to discuss what constitutes antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and how to provide help to students and colleagues.
• Glossary of Commonly Used Antisemitic Phrases Heard at Protests.
• Campus Antisemitism Report Card — see the grade a college earned in this first-ever report card.
• Report an Antisemitic Incident.
• Are you a student or know one who needs legal help? Contact our Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), run by ADL, Hillel, the Brandeis Center, and Gibson Dunn. Hundreds of incidents have been reported. You are not alone!

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