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Leading SEL Resource Depicts Jewish Child as Bully, Raising Concerns Amid NYC Election

Leading SEL Resource Depicts Jewish Child as Bully, Raising Concerns Amid NYC Election

A troubling case of antisemitism has surfaced in a Mylemarks social-emotional learning (SEL) video used in schools across the country. The video, titled “Angry,” features a visibly Jewish child portrayed as the bully. Educators reviewing the series note that this is the only visibly Jewish character across Mylemarks’ catalog, and his depiction as the aggressor sends a damaging and exclusionary message.

For a program built to teach empathy, respect, and inclusion, this portrayal cuts against its core purpose. When the sole Jewish character in a curriculum on kindness is cast as a bully, it not only reinforces antisemitic tropes that Jews are the oppressors in the oppressor/oppressed model, but also risks alienating Jewish students in classrooms meant to model tolerance. One educator we spoke to noted that propaganda associating Jews as aggressors is being fed to the youngest audiences in the most subtle ways.

Educators have urged Mylemarks to review the content, remove or revise the scene, and issue a public apology. As of the publishing of this article, Mylemarks has not responded.

The concern also raises a broader question: who shapes the lessons and values our children absorb in school? That question is especially urgent in light of the New York City mayoral race, where frontrunner Zohran Mamdani has named former U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman — who has a record of inflammatory rhetoric toward Israel — as his first choice for Schools Chancellor. When children’s educational content like this is shaping the next generation’s understanding of empathy and identity, leadership matters.

It is telling that the United Federation of Teachers, which has promoted Mylemarks’ resources, has also endorsed Mamdani.

We hope and pray that New York’s schools teach kindness that includes the Jewish child, too.

Letter to Mylemarks

Dear Mylemarks Team,

I am writing to express concern about one of your SEL videos in the “Videos in a Flash” series. It is titled “Angry” and features a Jewish child — wearing tzitzit and a yarmulke — portrayed as the bully. As an educator and viewer, I find this troubling. This appears to be the only visibly Jewish character across your series, and his depiction as the aggressor sends a deeply harmful and exclusionary message.

In educational materials designed to teach empathy, kindness, and respect, representation matters greatly. When the sole identifiable Jewish character is framed negatively, it reinforces antisemitic stereotypes and alienates Jewish students. The impact of such imagery can be damaging in classroom settings where inclusion and cultural sensitivity are central goals.

I urge you to review this video and consider revising or removing the scene. I also strongly encourage Mylemarks to issue a public apology to the Jewish community for the pain and prejudice this material has caused. Taking responsibility in this way would show true commitment to your mission of fostering empathy and respect among students.

Thank you for taking this concern seriously. I hope you will engage thoughtfully and transparently with the Jewish community in addressing this issue.

Sincerely,
Devorah

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Allison Josephs

Allison Josephs is the founder and executive director of Jew in the City has been involved in the field of Jewish Outreach for over twenty years and is the Partner in Torah mentor to actress Mayim Bialik. She was named one of NJOP’s Top Ten Jewish Influencers and one of the Jewish Week’s 36 under 36. Allison has been quoted or written about in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, People Magazine, NYPost, Daily News, TMZ, The Daily Beast, and Hollywood Reporter. She has appeared on numerous television and radio networks including CBS, ABC, Fox5, TLC, Associate Press TV, and NPR; her articles have appeared in publications including The Washington Post, JTA, Jewish Week, Jerusalem Post, The Forward, and Kveller. Pearson Education, the largest textbook company in the world, produced a video segment on Allison’s life for the Judaism chapter of their textbook. She is a sought-after international lecturer whose corporate clients include Con-Edison and NYU Langone and hosts a weekly podcast on the Nachum Segal Network. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University in Philosophy and lives with her husband and four children minutes from the George Washington Bridge.