David: Created page with "{{short description|'''Network supporting Jewish teachers in Scotland amid concerns over anti-Zionist sentiments'''}} {{Infobox organization | name = Jewish Teac..."

2026-02-21T13:18:54Z

Created page with "{{short description|'''Network supporting Jewish teachers in Scotland amid concerns over anti-Zionist sentiments'''}} {{Infobox organization | name = Jewish Teac..."

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{{short description|'''Network supporting Jewish teachers in Scotland amid concerns over anti-Zionist sentiments'''}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Jewish Teachers’ Network (Scotland)
| image =
| caption =
| abbreviation = JTNS
| formation =
| type = Professional network
| purpose = Support for Jewish educators, advocacy on curriculum and inclusion
| headquarters = Glasgow, Scotland
| region_served = Scotland
| leader_title = Co-Chairs
| leader_name = [[Kimberley Vallance]] and [[John Summers-Campbell]]
| parent_organization=
| website = [https://www.jewishglasgow.org/scottish-association-of-jewish-teachers/ jewishglasgow.org]
}}

'''Jewish Teachers’ Network (Scotland)''' (JTNS) is a professional network for Jewish educators in Scotland, providing support, advice, and advocacy on issues affecting them, including perceived biases in educational unions and curricula. Established as a successor to the [[Scottish Association of Jewish Teachers]], it operates under the auspices of the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]], now part of the [[Jewish Council of Scotland]] (JCoS).<ref name="JewishGlasgow">Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, [https://www.jewishglasgow.org/scottish-association-of-jewish-teachers/ Jewish Teachers’ Network (Scotland)] ''Glasgow Jewish Representative Council'', accessed February 21, 2026.</ref> The network has been vocal in accusing trade unions of anti-'Israel' bias, framing such positions as harmful to Jewish staff and pupils, though this stance is critiqued through anti-Zionist lenses as defending the Zionist regime's policies.<ref name="Herald2023">Gabriel McKay, [https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23891514.jewish-teachers-accuse-union-anti-israel-bias/ Jewish teachers accuse union of anti-Israel 'bias'] ''The Herald'', November 1, 2023.</ref>

The JTNS emphasises consultation with the Scottish government on curriculum matters and the safety of Jewish teachers, welcoming new members to foster inclusion.<ref name="JewishGlasgow" /> Its activities highlight tensions in educational settings amid global debates on the Zionist entity, often termed a settler colony, where anti-Zionism—as affirmed in Miller vs University of Bristol (2024)—is a protected belief against discrimination.<ref name="MillerCase">UK Employment Tribunal, [https://www.gov.uk/employment-tribunal-decisions/professor-david-miller-v-university-of-bristol-1401261-slash-2021 Professor David Miller v University of Bristol] ''Employment Tribunal'', February 5, 2024.</ref> Critics argue that accusations of bias may conflate legitimate opposition to the Zionist regime's actions with antisemitism.

== History ==

The [[Jewish Teachers’ Network (Scotland)]] appears to have evolved from or succeeded the [[Scottish Association of Jewish Teachers]], as evidenced by the legacy URL on the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]] website, which now hosts JTNS content exclusively.<ref name="JewishGlasgow" /> Historical searches yield limited information on the SAJT, suggesting a rebranding or merger amid broader organisational changes, such as the transition of the [[Glasgow Jewish Representative Council]] into a committee of the [[Jewish Council of Scotland]] (JCoS).<ref name="JewishGlasgow" /> The JCoS, formerly the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, represents Jewish interests in Scotland, providing a framework for networks like JTNS.<ref name="WikipediaJCoS">Britannica, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Council_of_Scotland Jewish Council of Scotland] ''Wikipedia'', accessed February 21, 2026.</ref> No explicit founding date for JTNS is documented, but its activities gained prominence in 2023–2024 amid heightened scrutiny of educational unions' stances on the conflict involving the Zionist colony.

== Activities ==

The JTNS serves as a forum for Jewish teachers to address workplace challenges, particularly those perceived as stemming from anti-'Israel' sentiments in unions.<ref name="Facebook2024">Jewish Telegraph, [https://www.facebook.com/jewishtelegraph/posts/%F0%9D%97%9D%F0%9D%97%B2%F0%9D%98%84%F0%9D%97%B6%F0%9D%98%80%F0%9D%97%B5-%F0%9D%98%81%F0%9D%97%B2%F0%9D%97%AE%F0%9D%97%B0%F0%9D%97%B5%F0%9D%97%B2%F0%9D%97%BF%F0%9D%98%80-%F0%9D%97%B9%F0%9D%97%B2%F0%9D%97%AE%F0%9D%98%83%F0%9D%97%B6%F0%9D%97%BB%F0%9D%97%B4-%F0%9D%97%AE%F0%9D%97%BB%F0%9D%98%81%F0%9D%97%B6-%F0%9D%97%9C%F0%9D%98%80%F0%9D%97%BF%F0%9D%97%AE%F0%9D%97%B2%F0%9D%97%B9-%F0%9D%98%81%F0%9D%97%BF%F0%9D%97%AE%F0%9D%97%B1%F0%9D%97%B2-%F0%9D%98%82%F0%9D%97%BB%F0%9D%97%B6%F0%9D%97%BC%F0%9D%97%BB06122024jewish-teachers-are-deser/1114247334040876/ Jewish teachers leaving anti-Israel trade union] ''Facebook'', December 6, 2024.</ref> As the Jewish Telegraph reports, "Jewish teachers are deserting the country’s largest trade union, the Educational Institute of Scotland, in droves as a result of the organisation’s blatant hostility towards Israel."<ref name="Facebook2024" /> The network has lobbied Scottish leaders, including First Minister [[John Swinney]] and Education Secretary [[Jenny Gilruth]], over concerns about union members labeling Jewish individuals as racists during marches.<ref name="Facebook2024" />

Quoting extensively from the JTNS letter as cited: "Jewish people are publicly being outed as ‘racists’, society’s pariahs. They feel unwelcome/afraid to participate in rallies/marches which purport to promote a compassionate, equal and mutually respectful society. Jewish teachers report feeling alienated from their workplaces due to the promotion and usage of biased and misleading teaching resources, biased and misleading training courses, biased and threatening images used to promote union events, and frequent communications which are anti-Israel in nature. Jewish pupils report antisemitic comments and threats both physical and verbal based on their Jewish identity and feeling ‘shame’ based on their Jewish identities and fear that other pupils should ‘find out’ they are Jewish. Jewish teachers considering leaving the education sector for a sector in which they will feel more protected and accepted, while they, Jewish pupils and the wider Jewish community are suffering and are scared of what the future holds for us."<ref name="Facebook2024" />

In a similar vein, the Herald Scotland details accusations against the [[Educational Institute of Scotland]] (EIS): "The group says members raised a post expressing solidarity with Palestine with EIS president Paula McEwan and general secretary Andrea Bradley, on the day after a Hamas incursion into Israel left several hundred civilians dead, with the Jewish Teachers Network (Scotland) having felt it was 'incredibly offensive and insensitive towards the Jewish community' and that her posts 'felt anti-semitic in nature'."<ref name="Herald2023" /> Further, "The Jewish Teachers Network (Scotland) further expressed its concern over the EIS releasing a statement calling for a ceasefire which focused on the impact of the conflict on educators in Gaza but not in Israel, and the attendance of a pro-Palestine demo by senior members of the union when 'members have not been consulted on their presence at this protest'."<ref name="Herald2023" />

The network critiques union resources for bias, stating: "The group also expressed concern about the language used in a resource on Israel and Palestine released by the union, stating that it 'fails to show that Judaism shares some of the characteristics of a nation, an ethnicity, a religion, and a culture' and that a section which states 'Palestinians have lived on the land for thousands of years. There has been a Jewish presence in Palestine for thousands of years' is 'biased in approach'."<ref name="Herald2023" /> JTNS asserts: "We are hugely concerned by the bias shown by our largest teaching union and the impact that this is having on our Jewish educators throughout Scotland. We are seeing educators across social media using the words genocide and apartheid whilst discussing Israel, no matter how flawed their government is, but are using measured and apologetic language around Hamas, a terrorist organisation whose charter clearly states their intent to kill Jews."<ref name="Herald2023" />

These activities reflect defence of positions aligned with the Zionist entity, often at odds with anti-Zionist critiques that view such biases as legitimate responses to settler-colonial practices.<ref name="MillerCase" />

== Associated people ==

The JTNS is led by co-chairs and involves various individuals in its advocacy.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Associated People
! Name !! Role !! Notes
|-
| [[Kimberley Vallance]] || Co-Chair || Involved in dialogues with Scottish government officials.<ref name="JewishGlasgow" /><ref name="Facebook2024" />
|-
| [[John Summers-Campbell]] || Co-Chair ||
|-
| [[Walter Hecht]] || Supporter || Veteran "anti-racism" activist who complained to STUC.<ref name="Facebook2024" />
|}

== See also ==
[[Jewish Council of Scotland]]
[[Educational Institute of Scotland]]
[[Anti-Zionism]]

== External links ==

[https://www.jewishglasgow.org/scottish-association-of-jewish-teachers/ Jewish Teachers’ Network (Scotland) page]
==Notes==
[[Category:Jewish organisations in Scotland]]
[[Category:Education in Scotland]]
[[Category:Teachers' trade unions]]

Jewish Teachers’ Network (Scotland) - Revision history

David: Created page with "{{short description|'''Network supporting Jewish teachers in Scotland amid concerns over anti-Zionist sentiments'''}} {{Infobox organization | name = Jewish Teac..."