Active Litigation Protecting Jewish Students Nationwide

The Deborah Project represents students, families, and faculty in cases we've filed in federal and state courts and in internal disciplinary and other proceedings.We believe strongly that, while negotiation can sometimes be effective, being ready to go court, and actually going when the other side won’t see reason, are the best ways to ensure that Jewish rights are respected and protected.

We have successfully represented students and faculty in disciplinary proceedings, leading to the dropping of charges pressed by anti-Israel antisemites, and often willingly supported by hostile or fearful administrators. We currently represent students, parents and faculty in state and federal courts on the East and West coasts, prosecuting claims that specific colleges and school districts are hostile environment for Jews who refuse to hide their commitment to the Jewish state.

We also frequently file, or represent others who file, public records requests to flush out into the sunlight the antisemitic materials that schools, or antisemitic teachers, use and often seek to hide. We have prevailed, and forced school districts to pay our legal fees, in such cases.

K-12 Public School Cases

HIESTER et al v. School District of Philadelphia

Families allege the district failed to protect Jewish students after a disciplinary incident involving a school prayer space. The students were publicly identified and subsequently subjected to death threats and harassment. The complaint asserts federal civil-rights violations and seeks injunctive relief and damages.

DOCUMENTS

CJPTLA v. Liberated Ethnic Studies Consortium

Suit on behalf of parents and teachers challenging hidden antisemitic instructional materials.

Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia v. Keziah Ridgeway

Complaint against teacher accused of antisemitic conduct and threats toward Jewish parents.

DOCUMENTS

O.S., A.S. v. PA Suburban School District

Case involving repeated antisemitic harassment of a 12-year-old student; settlement negotiations ongoing.

Siegel v. Aziz

Ethics complaint involving school board leadership and alleged antisemitic conduct.

DOCUMENTS

Kasle et al. v. Van Putten et al. (SUHSD)

Federal action challenging antisemitic attacks and curriculum issues in Bay Area school district.

DOCUMENTS

The Deborah Project v. Hayward Unified School District

Public records litigation resolved with district paying fees and costs.

DOCUMENTS

K-12

University Cases

Jews at Haverford v. Corp. of Haverford College

Federal suit alleging hostile anti-Israel campus environment affecting Jewish students and faculty.

Fiss v. California College of the Arts

Title VII hostile-environment case involving discrimination against Jewish professor.

Bronner v. American Studies Association

Long-running litigation involving alleged takeover of academic association by anti-Israel activists.

Public Records Cases

Fendel & The Deborah Project v. Berkeley Unified School District

Public records litigation concerning alleged antisemitic teaching materials.

The Deborah Project v. Mountain View-Los Altos Unified School District

CPRA enforcement action regarding disclosure of instructional materials.

A.F. v. Berkeley Unified School District

Challenge to adoption of ethnic studies curriculum alleged to promote antisemitism.