Jewish kids flee NY public schools over Oct. 7 antisemitism, parents blame teachers for pumping up 'the venom'
A data-backed account of how antisemitism inside New York City's public schools has driven thousands of Jewish families into private Jewish education — and shows no sign of stopping.
AI summary
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The Post's review found thousands of families have shifted to yeshivas and Jewish day schools, with a Teach Coalition report recording nearly 2% enrollment growth in Jewish schools for the 2025–2026 school year. A Prizmah survey found 60% of parents who enrolled children in Jewish schools said they would not have done so without the ongoing Hamas-Israeli war. Parents describe escalating hostility, eroding friendships, and administrators going silent, while incidents including teachers openly praising Hamas leaders have accelerated the exodus.
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Teach Coalition found K-12 enrollment in Jewish schools rose nearly 2%, roughly 3,100 students, in the 2025–2026 school year alone. In the source
Prizmah CEO Paul Bernstein says a survey found 60% of parents enrolling in Jewish schools would not have done so without the Hamas-Israeli war. In the source
More than half of those parents said they had fled public schools, and families seeking to move kids to new schools has "doubled, if not tripled," according to an admissions consultant. In the source
Brooklyn teacher Damien Nevin sparked controversy by repeatedly praising Hamas terrorists, including writing "Long live Yahya Al-Sinwar" in a Signal group chat. In the source
A July report by United Jewish Teachers found at least 250 antisemitic or anti-Israeli incidents inside New York City public schools since the 2023 terror attack. In the source
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Every single Jewish family I work with, every single one, it might be the first question, it might be the last question, but it will always be a question: What is this school like for Jewish students?
A school consultant confirms Jewish families now universally screen schools for safety, a shift that did not exist three years ago.
In context
“It’s three years in, and if anything, it’s gotten worse,” Adams said. “Before three years ago, I worked with many, many Jewish families, and no one asked what a school was like for Jewish families. “Over the last three years, people have been asking more and more as they’re looking for new schools,” she added. “Every single Jewish family I work with, every single one, it might be the first question, it might be the last question, but it will always be a question: What is this school like for Jewish students?” The most recent catalyst for parents is Hamas-loving Brooklyn teacher Damien Nevin, a failed fashion photographer who moved to teaching — and sparked controversy by repeatedly praising…
Receipt
My son instantly lost his close friends. They would no longer touch or talk to Jews. Administration just kind of went silent.
A mother's account shows social ostracism and institutional silence hitting a student immediately after Oct. 7.
In context
A disturbing report in July by United Jewish Teachers found that there had been at least 250 antisemitic or anti-Israeli incidents inside the city public school system since the 2023 terror attack on Israel. In one instance, parent Deborah Uri said she pulled her son out of Townsend Harris High School shortly after the terror attack after he had “a couple of upsetting incidents.” “After Oct. 7, things changed at the school,” she said. “My son instantly lost his close friends. They would no longer touch or talk to Jews. Administration just kind of went silent.”
Receipt
60% of parents who enrolled kids in Jewish day schools said they wouldn't have done so if not for the three-year Hamas-Israeli war — and more than half said they had fled public schools.
Survey data links the majority of new Jewish day-school enrollments directly to the war and flight from public schools.
In context
…ition found that K-12 enrollment in Jewish schools in the state rose nearly 2% — roughly 3,100 students — in the 2025-2026 school year alone, largely in New York City and upstate towns like Monsey. Coalition CEO Sydney Altfield said the jump was 4.2% from 2022 to 2025, more than double the 1.8% growth in Jewish school enrollment from 2019 to 2022. Paul Bernstein, CEO of Prizmah, a network representing 300 Jewish day schools and yeshivas in the US and Canada, said a recent survey determined that 60% of parents who enrolled kids in their Jewish schools said they wouldn’t have done so if not for the three-year-old Hamas-Israeli war. More than half of them said they had fled public schools, Bern…
60% of parents who enrolled kids in their Jewish day schools said they wouldn't have done so if not for the three-year-old three-year Hamas-Israeli war — and more than half of them said they had fled public schools.
Receipt
Back then, I think they were at least trying to pretend it was just about Israel. And now it's pretty clear that anti-Zionism is Jew hate.
A source marks the ideological escalation: what was once framed as political criticism is now openly recognized as antisemitism.
In context
“Things have progressed very quickly. The language changes, the caliber of the venom. I think we’re entering a new phase,” she said. “Back then, I think they were at least trying to pretend it was just about Israel. And now it’s pretty clear to those for whom it wasn’t clear before that anti-Zionism is Jew hate and antisemitism as we know it.” A June report by the Teach Coalition found that K-12 enrollment in Jewish schools in the state rose nearly 2% — roughly 3,100 students — in the 2025-2026 school year alone, largely in New York City and upstate towns like Monsey.
Back then, I think they were at least trying to pretend it was just about Israel. And now it's pretty clear to those for whom it wasn’t clear before that anti-Zionism is Jew hate.
Receipt
K-12 enrollment in Jewish schools rose nearly 2% — roughly 3,100 students — in the 2025-2026 school year alone, with the jump more than doubling the pre-Oct. 7 growth rate.
Enrollment figures provide measurable proof that the flight from public schools has accelerated well beyond pre-Oct. 7 trends.
In context
“Back then, I think they were at least trying to pretend it was just about Israel. And now it’s pretty clear to those for whom it wasn’t clear before that anti-Zionism is Jew hate and antisemitism as we know it.” A June report by the Teach Coalition found that K-12 enrollment in Jewish schools in the state rose nearly 2% — roughly 3,100 students — in the 2025-2026 school year alone, largely in New York City and upstate towns like Monsey. Coalition CEO Sydney Altfield said the jump was 4.2% from 2022 to 2025, more than double the 1.8% growth in Jewish school enrollment from 2019 to 2022.
K-12 enrollment in Jewish schools in the state rose nearly 2% — roughly 3,100 students — in the 2025-2026 school year alone, largely in New York City and upstate towns like Monsey. Coalition CEO Sydney Altfield said with the jump was 4.2% from 2022 to 2025, more than double doubling the 1.8% pre-Oct. 7 growth rate.
Receipt
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