Cherry Hill Public Schools earn a failing grade on fighting antisemitism

By refusing to send out the statement about antisemitism in the same way it routinely communicates about all kinds of issues, the district sends a message that the safety and well-being of Jewish students and families are not its priority.

By Susan B. Tuchman and Jeffrey Schreiber

(July 2, 2025 / USA Today) Education is not solely about academics; it is also about instilling values and morality in students. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of a true education.” The Cherry Hill School District in New Jersey claims to share this mission, by preparing students “to thrive in an ever-changing world and make it a better place for all.” But in the face of surging antisemitism that has infected its own schools, the district has responded with avoidance and inaction instead of moral clarity and leadership.

Lawsuit claims Jewish student was targeted

In June 2025, parents of a Cherry Hill high school student filed a federal lawsuit against the district after their son was allegedly targeted because of his Jewish identity and support for Israel. According to the complaint, shortly after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, their son was surrounded in the school cafeteria by a group of students, some wearing keffiyehs, who cursed at him and raised their fists, threatening violence against him. He escaped a physical assault only because his friends intervened, the suit claims. Just days later, two students allegedly cornered him in a school bathroom, told him that “Jews are not safe here,” and threatened to beat him “unconscious” if he posted anything in support of Israel on social media.

The response of district officials to these physical threats was as disturbing as the threats themselves. The parents’ lawsuit claims that the district failed to protect their son and instead retaliated against him. They say he was unfairly disciplined, while his attackers’ actions were minimized or ignored entirely.

To settle the lawsuit, the district agreed to issue a strong, detailed statement condemning antisemitism. The statement highlights the “skyrocketing” rise in antisemitic incidents in New Jersey and makes it clear that the district will “not tolerate antisemitism in any form.” It promises that all perpetrators of antisemitism, both staff and students, will be held accountable. And it emphasizes the importance of recognizing how antisemitism can manifest. The statement includes a working definition of antisemitism nearly identical to the widely accepted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, or IHRA, definition, including examples related to anti-Israel bias.

The settlement agreement requires the district to both issue the statement to the community and “also” post it on its website. But the district has failed to comply.

Although the statement was technically posted online, the district buried it in an obscure section of the district’s website and mislabeled it as a “Statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day.” The label made no mention of antisemitism, making it unlikely that community members would recognize its relevance. In contrast, another statement on the same webpage, about Islamophobia, was labeled clearly and appropriately, demonstrating that the district knows how to effectively communicate information to its community when it wants to.

More troubling still, in violation of the settlement agreement, the district has refused to issue the statement to families and students — but not because the district cannot do so or because issuing the statement would violate standard district practices. The district frequently sends emails and letters to the community regarding topics such as Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, summer programs, building renaming ceremonies, registration for workshops and seminars and other reminders.

In May 2020, following the death of George Floyd, the district sent a letter expressing concern for students and families of color. In March 2021, it issued a letter addressing concerns about anti-Asian hate after murders in Georgia. In fact, four years ago, the district sent out a letter acknowledging the rise in antisemitism. The precedent for active communication with the community plainly exists, but when the communication involves the unprecedented increase in antisemitism nationally and in New Jersey since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, the district has chosen not to use it.

Do the Cherry Hill schools care about Jewish students?

By refusing to send out the statement about antisemitism in the same way it routinely communicates about all kinds of issues, the district sends a message that the safety and well-being of Jewish students and families are not its priority. This message is especially damaging given the current climate of hate targeting Jews. The Anti-Defamation League recently reported that New Jersey has the third-highest number of antisemitic incidents in the country, and the problem is scarily escalating elsewhere.

In May, two Israeli embassy staff were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. In June, a man threw Molotov cocktails at a peaceful vigil in Colorado. An 82-year-old woman died from her injuries weeks later. The Cherry Hill School District did not offer support to its Jewish community after either event, nor did it even acknowledge that either event occurred.

School districts are responsible not only for educating students but also for modeling the moral values they aim to instill. Leadership in education includes standing up against hate, protecting vulnerable students and fostering a safe and inclusive environment. When a district fails to speak out clearly and consistently against bigotry, it fails all its students.

In Cherry Hill, the district is showing that it will do whatever it can to avoid educating its students about antisemitism, publicly condemning hatred of Jews and sending a forceful message that antisemitism will not be tolerated. The district should not need a settlement agreement to appreciate the importance and necessity of denouncing hatred and bigotry against Jews.

Shame on the Cherry Hill School District for its disgraceful lack of moral leadership.

Susan B. Tuchman is the director of the Zionist Organization of America’s Center for Law and Justice. Jeffrey Schreiber is a partner at Meister Seelig & Fein PLLC.

This op-ed was originally published in USA Today and can be viewed here.