By: Shifra Shottenstein
Across Canada, Jewish communities are seeing a troubling rise in antisemitism in schools. These are places that are supposed to foster diversity and inclusion. Schools should be environments where every student feels welcomed and supported. For many Jewish students and educators, however, this ideal is not always reality.
During my own time in teacher’s college, diversity was a major focus throughout my courses. After completing my degree and applying for a job, I was often asked in interviews how I would make every student feel included. Diversity should mean equality for everyone. Yet recent events, especially in Canada, show that not all educational policies live up to this promise.
On June 5, 2024, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Program and School Services Committee met to discuss updates to their Student Learning Strategy for Combatting Hate and Racism, including a proposed definition of “anti-Palestinian racism.” The meeting ended without giving delegates from the organized Jewish community a chance to speak. Jess Burke, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), highlighted the concern: “The proposed TDSB strategy for combating hate and racism fails to address antisemitism in the TDSB system, amidst an alarming increase in anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli hate. While the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism has been adopted by the TDSB, the school board has failed to align IHRA with its equity policy.” Burke also warned that defining “anti-Palestinian racism” in ways that undermine Jewish identity could lead to inequitable treatment for Jewish students and educators—exactly the opposite of what true inclusion should look like.
The issue became even more urgent in August 2025, when the Jewish Educators and Families Association of Canada (JEFA) released a report showing systemic antisemitism in Ontario schools. Nearly one in six antisemitic incidents involved educators or happened during school-sanctioned activities. In response, the Ontario government appointed supervisors to oversee four major school boards, including the TDSB, citing concerns about student safety and rising antisemitism.
In the same month, CIJA criticized the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) after it passed a divisive motion at its AGM promoting the concept of “Anti-Palestinian Racism” (APR). CIJA emphasized that while it supports protections against discrimination for all communities, the current framing of APR risks conflating political discourse about Israel with racism and may label basic expressions of Jewish identity as discriminatory. CIJA also noted that many APR definitions go beyond the scope of the Ontario Human Rights Code, raising concerns about alignment with human rights protections.
Diversity should mean equality for all and not selective inclusion. When any group is treated unfairly, it goes against the very values diversity initiatives are supposed to uphold. Schools must invest in anti-bias training, reporting mechanisms, and open dialogue about antisemitism to truly protect students. The fight against antisemitism in schools is not just about protecting Jewish students. It’s about ensuring that every child feels respected, safe, and included, and that the principle of equity remains at the heart of education.
Shifra Shottenstein is the Chairman of the Committee to Bring Back Diversity and Justice to Public Schools
