_edited.png)
About Us
The Jewish Affairs Caucus, NEA JAC, is dedicated to advocating for the concerns and well-being of Jewish people, fostering a supportive and inclusive community. Our mission extends beyond advocacy; we actively participate in NEA/RA business that impacts not only the Jewish community but also the human and civil rights of all individuals. We strive to keep NEA members informed about the unique experiences and challenges faced by Jewish children and educators, and we work to create open channels of communication among our members. Everyone is welcome to join us because together, we can make a meaningful difference.
Our Positions
We Believe in the Union
We are proud union members. We’re not trying to tear anything down; we’re pushing for change because we believe in what the union stands for. Speaking up about antisemitism is not a threat to the union; it’s how we protect it. We want the NEA to live up to its own values of equity, inclusion, and justice for all.
Change Comes From Within
We are walking the path of other NEA members who demanded better. Black educators, women, LGBTQ+ members all fought to make this union live up to its values and promises. We honor their legacy by continuing that work. Equity requires ongoing growth.
Antisemitism Is a Union Issue
Antisemitism doesn’t just happen elsewhere; it happens inside our schools, inside our union halls, and inside our movement spaces. When Jewish educators are erased, stereotyped, or excluded, it weakens our collective power. Addressing antisemitism is part of building a stronger, more united union.
Addressing Problems Protects the NEA
Antisemitism doesn’t just happen elsewhere; it happens inside our schools, inside our union halls, and inside our movement spaces. When Jewish educators are erased, stereotyped, or excluded, it weakens our collective power. Addressing antisemitism is part of building a stronger, more united union.
Defining Antisemitism Is Essential
Without a clear definition of antisemitism, harmful rhetoric and behavior can be dismissed or excused. A definition rooted in the lived experiences of Jewish people ensures that antisemitism is recognized when it happens and addressed consistently in all union spaces.
Collective Blame of Jews Is Bigotry
Holding all Jews responsible for the actions of a government or political movement is discrimination. It erases the diversity of Jewish perspectives and identities and fuels hostility. Criticism of a government is fair. Blaming or excluding a people is not.
Erasing Jews Harms Everyone
When Jews are left out of DEI, ethnic studies, or anti-bias programs, antisemitism goes unaddressed and Jewish members are left vulnerable. Full inclusion strengthens the union’s ability to protect all marginalized communities.
Antizionism Is Antisemitic
Criticizing a government is fair. Blaming a people is not. Antizionism is antisemitic because it is used to shame, silence, or exclude Jews. Equating Zionism with the actions of a government erases the cultural, historical, and ancestral ties many Jews have to Israel. Denying Jewish people the right to define themselves or to belong in movement spaces because of this identity is bigotry.
Jewish Safety Is a Racial Justice Issue
Dignity, safety, and justice are not zero-sum. We reject the false framing that supporting Jewish safety comes at the expense of other communities. True equity means making space for all marginalized groups, including Jews, without conditions or litmus tests.
Let Jews to Define Themselves
Like all marginalized communities, Jews have the right to define our own identity, history, and the terms that describe discrimination against us. When others impose definitions or deny our lived experiences, it erases our voices and weakens efforts to address antisemitism. Respecting Jewish self-definition is essential for genuine equity and inclusion.
