Jewish Psychologists for Justice Opposes APA BoD's suggestion of Antisemitism

Dear Members of the American Psychological Association Board of Directors:

We are writing on behalf of Jewish Psychologists for Justice (JPJ) to express our deep disagreement and consternation over your decision to review — as possibly antisemitic —the 2027 Spring Conference call for papers from the Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology (Division 39).

We find your suggestion that the conference chair’s note may violate APA’s 2026 Resolution on Antisemitism to be absurd. That resolution highlights that antisemitism “involves hostility, prejudice, discrimination, harassment, hatred, or violence against Jews as Jews” (emphasis added). To be clear, there is no uncertainty that (1) hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced from their homes by Israeli forces in 1948 (the Nakba), and (2) Israel, with essential political and military support from the U.S. government, is currently engaged in the devastation and destruction of the Palestinian people. To acknowledge these realities is not “antisemitism” by any meaningful standard, and certainly not by the very resolution you have cited as grounds for concern.

That some individuals or groups have complained to you that the Division 39 conference call is “antisemitic” does not surprise us at all — because the weaponization of false charges of antisemitism in order to defend Israel’s heinous actions has become painfully familiar. What is increasingly frustrating to us as a Jewish organization is the repeated failure of the APA’s leadership to take a stand against this dangerous propaganda and fearmongering, which ignores the real antisemitic threats posed by white supremacists, Christian nationalists, and the Trump Administration itself. We believe not taking a stand further endangers the Jewish people.

We also want to emphasize that attachment to and support for the state of Israel do not represent common bonds uniting the American Jewish community, or Jews worldwide. In fact, such claims and unquestioning advocacy on behalf of Israel are a source of pain and alienation for many Jews, including members of JPJ. Regardless of your intentions, for the APA to elevate the concerns of only those Jews dedicated to advancing Israel’s supremacy at the expense of Palestinian rights and freedom is extremely disrespectful and arguably antisemitic.

We hope you will take our perspective with the seriousness it deserves, and we would welcome further engagement on these challenging issues. Thank you.

Moshe Brownstein, Judith Gulko, Ally Hand, Alissa Hochman, Anna Kramarsky, Lynne Layton, Jane Paley, Lizabeth Roemer, on behalf of Jewish Psychologists for Justice