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“I’m deeply concerned that the NEA is being used as a platform for extremism,” David Smokler, director of K-12 educator outreach at StandWithUs, told JNS.
Edited by: TJVNews.com
The National Education Association (NEA) is set to hold its Representative Assembly next week in Philadelphia, with nearly 7,000 delegates expected to attend. According to information provided in a report on the Jewish News Syndicate web site, among the various topics to be discussed, several new business items inspired by Israel’s conflict with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip have garnered significant attention, particularly from American Jewish groups.
The assembly will consider several contentious proposals, including:
Denying a Connection Between Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism: This proposal suggests that criticism of Zionism, the movement supporting the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in Israel, should not be conflated with antisemitism, which is hostility or prejudice against Jewish people.
Supporting the BDS Movement: The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement advocates for various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets obligations under international law. Supporters argue that BDS is a non-violent way to promote Palestinian rights, while critics contend it unfairly singles out Israel and undermines peace efforts.
Affirming the Nakba: The term “nakba,” meaning “catastrophe” in Arabic, refers to the Palestinian perspective on the creation of modern-day Israel in 1948, which led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. This agenda item seeks to acknowledge and affirm the historical and ongoing impacts of the nakba.
These proposals have sparked concern among American Jewish organizations, which view them as extreme and potentially divisive. David Smokler, director of K-12 educator outreach at StandWithUs (SWU), voiced his apprehensions to JNS. “As a former educator and union officer, I’m deeply concerned that the NEA is being used as a platform for extremism. Teachers across the country should not be encouraged to promote hateful agendas or misinformation in their classrooms.”
When speaking to JNS, Smokler emphasized the need for the NEA to prioritize inclusivity and fight against anti-Semitism, while also fostering critical thinking about controversial issues:
“The NEA should focus on standing up for all its members, fighting anti-Semitism, and fostering critical thinking about controversial issues.”
The outcomes of these votes could have significant implications for educators across the United States, influencing how issues related to Israel and Palestine are discussed in classrooms. Supporters of the proposals argue that they promote justice and human rights for Palestinians, while opponents warn that they could exacerbate divisions and promote biased perspectives.
As the NEA Representative Assembly convenes, the decisions made will be closely watched by various stakeholders, including educators, students, parents, and advocacy groups, reflecting the ongoing debate over the intersection of education, politics, and international conflict.
The NEA’s roots are deeply intertwined with the civil rights movement, advocating for racial and social justice across the educational landscape. JNS reported that over the decades, the NEA Representative Assembly, composed of delegates from diverse backgrounds, has consistently adopted resolutions that condemn war, terrorism, hate, and violence. These resolutions reflect the organization’s core values and its commitment to nurturing a society that embraces peace and equality.
The spokesperson for the NEA emphasized to JNS this historical commitment, stating, “Our members and delegates are committed to educating and nurturing understanding in their students of every race, faith, and background. NEA has a deep history that is steeped in civil rights and advocating for racial and social justice.”
The Russian Empire and its neighbors, which form most of today’s Eastern Europe and large swaths of Central Europe, was the homeland of most early Zionist settlers. They had acquired experience in a range of clandestine political organizations in the Russian Empire. It is this revolutionary experience that constitutes the bedrock of Russian Zionists’ influence on the political culture of Israel.
In response to the emergence of political Zionism as an “international nationalism” towards the end of the 19th century, an inter- and transnational front that rejected Zionism also emerged in European Judaism. Within liberal and Orthodox Judaism in particular, the reservations regarding this new movement were so grave that organizations came into being, the main aim of which was to oppose Zionism. While the anti-Zionism of liberal Jews was primarily based on the fear that Jewish nationalism might endanger integration into non-Jewish society and give new momentum to anti-Semitism, anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews usually rejected Zionism not only because of the secularist trend at its core, but also because it was an attempt to bring about the messianic age by human intervention.