What Is Antisemitism? The IHRA Definition Explained
Antisemitism, defined: the IHRA working definition's full text, its 11 examples, who has adopted it, and why it's debated — explained plainly.
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · September 24, 2026
Topic Hub
Jewish California
Courts, curricula, and communal power from the Bay Area to Los Angeles.
31 articles
California has the second-largest Jewish population in the United States — roughly 1.2 million people across Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and the Central Valley. That scale makes Jewish California a bellwether: the ethnic studies fights, campus antisemitism complaints, synagogue protest cases, and Federation-JCRC power struggles that start here tend to spread nationally within a year or two.
The Jewish Legal News covers those stories from the legal side — the filings, rulings, school board votes, and institutional decisions behind the headlines. Below is our full California archive, followed by answers to the questions readers ask most about Jewish life in the state.
California Coverage
Stunning 9th Circuit Win Revives Fight Against Liberated Ethnic Studies
The Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal for lack of standing but reversed the with-prejudice ruling and vacated the anti-SLAPP order and fee award against Jewish parents in the Liberated Ethnic Studies case.
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · September 5, 2026
Palo Alto Mosque Field Trip Lawsuit: Families Needed
Palo Alto Unified took students to a mosque and handed out Qurans without telling parents. The federal lawsuit over that field trip needs families now.
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · August 18, 2026
What Percent of California Is Jewish? 3% (City-by-City Data)
California is about 3% Jewish — 1.2 million people, #2 in the U.S. See the LA, Bay Area & San Diego numbers, and how they're counted.
Staff Writer · August 3, 2026
Who Really Runs Bay Area Jewish Advocacy? Federation, JCRC, BAJC, and BACCA
The Bay Area's Jewish advocacy landscape looks like a mix of establishment institutions and grassroots activists. In practice, it's one federation network operating at two speeds — with the JCRC on the coalition track and BAJC and BACCA on the more aggressive one.
Staff Writer · July 17, 2026
Who Is Ari Kohen? Profile of the Nebraska Human Rights Scholar
Ari Kohen is a University of Nebraska–Lincoln political science professor who directs the Forsythe Family Program on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.
Staff Writer · July 15, 2026
What Is the JCPA? The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Explained
A plain-English guide to the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA): what it does, its history, its structure, and why it's back in the news under CEO Amy Spitalnick.
Staff Writer · July 15, 2026
Who Is Tye Gregory? Profile of the JCRC Bay Area CEO
Tye Gregory is the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area (JCRC Bay Area). A profile of his tenure, the JCRC's role in California ethnic studies fights, and the controversies over free speech and progressive coalition politics.
Staff Writer · July 15, 2026
Massachusetts Jewish Man Marc Aisen is Finally Free from Michigan Gulag
Marc Aisen was arrested in Massachusetts, extradited across the country, and held in a jail cell in Oakland County, Michigan, for more than 2 years — all for messages sent to public officials. His case is a warning about how vague "cyber-harassment" laws can be turned against political speech.
Staff Writer · June 30, 2026
CodePink's Social Media Posts Targeting Adas Torah Synagogue Not Protected by First Amendment
Federal Judge Rules CodePink’s Social Media Posts Are Not Protected Speech — Citing “True Threat” to Jewish Synagogue Worshippers June 13, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA In a landmark decision with significant implications for the boundary between…
Staff Writer · June 13, 2025
Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Releases Some Ethnic Studies Curriculum
In response to JLN's request for ethnic studies curriculum, PAUSD has released the following materials: On September 17, 2024, PAUSD released the following: Mexican+Migration+1930s+Student+Materials_2…
Staff Writer · March 31, 2025
San Francisco Unified School District Releases Ethnic Studies Curriculum
Pursuant to a January 21, 2025 Public Records Request to San Francisco Unified School District ("SFUSD"), the district responded with this letter on March 3, 2025 . The letter indicates that the ethnic studies curriculum is being…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · March 4, 2025
How the California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Teaches that Jews Oppress non-Jewish Minorities
The California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum ("MC") teaches that Jews are dominant oppressors of other non-Jewish minorities. But MC proponents say that the MC “doesn’t actually say that Jews are bad.” True, Ethnic Studies does not…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · February 23, 2025
Part 4: Why does JCRC still support Ethnic Studies knowing that Israel is framed as a Colonizer?
Part 1 explained how JCRC censored Jewish moms' comments explaining that they don't feel JCRC represents them, especially on several key issues. Part 2 outlined the disagreement between the Jewish moms and JCRC regarding Ethnic Studies. I…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · February 18, 2025
Part 3: Ethnic Studies Teaches Antisemitism in 3 Simple Steps
Part 1 explained how JCRC censored Jewish moms' comments explaining that they don't feel JCRC represents them, especially on several key issues. Part 2 outlined the disagreement between the Jewish moms and JCRC regarding Ethnic Studies. In…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · February 18, 2025
Part 2: JCRC Censors Jewish Moms' Feelings on Ethnic Studies
Read Part 1: "Out of Touch" JCRC Censors Jewish Moms' Feedback Part 1 reported that JCRC recently censored at least three Jewish moms' Instagram comments that criticized JCRC's policies, while at the same time claiming to conduct a…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · February 18, 2025
"Out of Touch" JCRC Censors Jewish Moms' Feedback
While claiming to conduct a "survey" of Bay Area Jewish community members, JCRC censored comments from Jewish mothers who expressed that they feel JCRC does not represent them. JCRC created the firestorm over email and Instagram by…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · February 4, 2025
What the Court SAID and DIDN'T SAY about Liberated Ethnic Studies
Much ado has been made about a recent court decision dismissing a challenge to what is known as the Liberated Ethnic Studies “LES” curriculum. LES supporters are hailing this as a big victory. First, the background on LES: “Liberated…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · December 6, 2024
Kasle, et al. v. Van Putten, et al. (Sequoia Union High School District) (3:24cv8015) (N.D. Cal.)
Sam and Andrea Kasle and other parents/guardians of Jewish students have filed a complaint against the Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD), its officials (including Superintendent Crystal Leach, principals, vice-principals, and…
Staff Writer · November 1, 2024
Jewish Organizations Split Over Definition of Antisemitism
Jewish organizations are increasingly divided on the issue of whether governments should adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Jewish Legal News is closely monitoring this divide,…
Staff Writer · October 12, 2024
Boston Jews Outraged by JCRC's Weak Support for Jewish Self Defense
JCRC Boston’s Tweet thanking the District Attorney who appeared to take sides against a pro-Israel protester and Iraq War Veteran sparked outrage and criticism from Boston Jews on Friday, leading to JCRC deleting the Tweet and posting a…
Staff Writer · September 13, 2024
Karen Fiss v. California College of the Arts - N.D. Cal - Case No. 4:24-cv-03415-HSG
Dr. Karen Fiss, a full professor at California College of the Arts, is suing the institution for employment discrimination based on religion and ethnic origin under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She alleges that CCA has…
Staff Writer · August 16, 2024
Helmann v. Code Pink, Palestinian Youth Movement - Central District of California, Case No. 2:24-cv-05704-SVW-PVC
On June 23, 2024, Helmann tried to enter the Adas Torah Synagogue but was blocked by a violent mob of anti-Israel activists. CODE PINK and COURTNEY LENNA SCHIRF, on behalf of HONOR THE EARTH d/b/a PALESTINIAN YOUTH MOVEMENT organized their…
Staff Writer · August 8, 2024
Defense For Children International-Palestine Et Al v. Biden Et Al, Case Number 4:23cv5829
# Date Proceeding Text 1 11/13/2023 COMPLAINT against All Defendants, (Filing Fee: $402.00, receipt number ACANDC-18829273). Filed by A. N., Ahmed Abu Artema, Laila Elhaddad, Basim Elkarra, Al-Haq, Waeil Elbhassi, Mohammed Ahmed Abu…
Staff Writer · April 25, 2024
JCRC’s Agenda on Newsom Anti-Israel Letter Sharpens Division with Bay Area Jewish Parents
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s March 21, 2024 letter to California’s Muslim, Palestinian American, and Arab American communities has sharpened division between leadership of Jewish Organizations and Concerned Jewish Parents (“CJP”) of…
Staff Writer · April 8, 2024
Parents Ask Jewish Organizations to Restore Fighting Antisemitism As Main Agenda
In a poignant letter addressed to Bay Area Jewish leaders , hundreds of Jewish parents articulated a growing concern over the approach to combating antisemitism and extremism within the educational system. The letter, deeply rooted in the…
Staff Writer · February 20, 2024
California Ethnic Studies Curriculum is Legally Inoperative, Grass Roots Memo Points Out
California Assembly Bill 101 (AB101), the bill that aimed to make Ethnic Studies a graduation requirement for California high school students, has sparked controversy since its introduction. Much of the debate surrounding AB101 has focused…
Staff Writer · July 21, 2023
Censorship Plagues Passover Freedom: Being Censored by my Fellow Jews Doesn’t Make Me Free This Passover
Being Jewish, I look forward to Passover every year. It's a time to celebrate our most cherished values and connect with family and community. However, this year, it's hard to connect because I've been feeling disheartened by the lack of…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · April 10, 2023
1st Amendment Rights Expanding Online
Despite the news being mostly negative when it comes to censorship online, another trend towards free speech online has taken hold. Dozens of courts across the country, including at least 4 circuit courts, have determined that you DO have…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · April 1, 2023
New Trends Seen in Black History Month Posts Could Affect Black -Jewish Relationship
Why did the Jewish Federation of Omaha prioritize its bizarre political agenda and botch Black History Month so badly? Instead of celebrating the accomplishments of great African Americans in American history, during their Black History…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · March 27, 2023
American Jews Boycott Israeli Officials
American Jews Boycott Israeli Officials Some Jewish Communities and Jewish Organizations have begun boycotting Israeli officials. In December 2022, Prime Minister Netanyahu formed a coalition with right wing members of the Knesset that has…
Moishe Rabinowitz · March 10, 2023
Bay Area Jewish News
San Francisco, Palo Alto, Berkeley and Silicon Valley coverage — including the Bay Area Jewish Coalition, BACCA, and the Federation-affiliated JCRC network that shapes local advocacy. Who really runs Bay Area Jewish advocacy.
Stunning 9th Circuit Win Revives Fight Against Liberated Ethnic Studies
The Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal for lack of standing but reversed the with-prejudice ruling and vacated the anti-SLAPP order and fee award against Jewish parents in the Liberated Ethnic Studies case.
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · September 5, 2026
Palo Alto Mosque Field Trip Lawsuit: Families Needed
Palo Alto Unified took students to a mosque and handed out Qurans without telling parents. The federal lawsuit over that field trip needs families now.
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · August 18, 2026
What Percent of California Is Jewish? 3% (City-by-City Data)
California is about 3% Jewish — 1.2 million people, #2 in the U.S. See the LA, Bay Area & San Diego numbers, and how they're counted.
Staff Writer · August 3, 2026
Who Really Runs Bay Area Jewish Advocacy? Federation, JCRC, BAJC, and BACCA
The Bay Area's Jewish advocacy landscape looks like a mix of establishment institutions and grassroots activists. In practice, it's one federation network operating at two speeds — with the JCRC on the coalition track and BAJC and BACCA on the more aggressive one.
Staff Writer · July 17, 2026
Who Is Ari Kohen? Profile of the Nebraska Human Rights Scholar
Ari Kohen is a University of Nebraska–Lincoln political science professor who directs the Forsythe Family Program on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.
Staff Writer · July 15, 2026
What Is the JCPA? The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Explained
A plain-English guide to the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA): what it does, its history, its structure, and why it's back in the news under CEO Amy Spitalnick.
Staff Writer · July 15, 2026
Los Angeles Jewish News
Los Angeles and Southern California legal coverage — synagogue protest and First Amendment cases, school district antisemitism complaints, and the region's Jewish communal institutions.
What Is Antisemitism? The IHRA Definition Explained
Antisemitism, defined: the IHRA working definition's full text, its 11 examples, who has adopted it, and why it's debated — explained plainly.
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · September 24, 2026
Stunning 9th Circuit Win Revives Fight Against Liberated Ethnic Studies
The Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal for lack of standing but reversed the with-prejudice ruling and vacated the anti-SLAPP order and fee award against Jewish parents in the Liberated Ethnic Studies case.
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · September 5, 2026
What Percent of California Is Jewish? 3% (City-by-City Data)
California is about 3% Jewish — 1.2 million people, #2 in the U.S. See the LA, Bay Area & San Diego numbers, and how they're counted.
Staff Writer · August 3, 2026
CodePink's Social Media Posts Targeting Adas Torah Synagogue Not Protected by First Amendment
Federal Judge Rules CodePink’s Social Media Posts Are Not Protected Speech — Citing “True Threat” to Jewish Synagogue Worshippers June 13, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA In a landmark decision with significant implications for the boundary between…
Staff Writer · June 13, 2025
What the Court SAID and DIDN'T SAY about Liberated Ethnic Studies
Much ado has been made about a recent court decision dismissing a challenge to what is known as the Liberated Ethnic Studies “LES” curriculum. LES supporters are hailing this as a big victory. First, the background on LES: “Liberated…
Mark L. Javitch, Esq. · December 6, 2024
Helmann v. Code Pink, Palestinian Youth Movement - Central District of California, Case No. 2:24-cv-05704-SVW-PVC
On June 23, 2024, Helmann tried to enter the Adas Torah Synagogue but was blocked by a violent mob of anti-Israel activists. CODE PINK and COURTNEY LENNA SCHIRF, on behalf of HONOR THE EARTH d/b/a PALESTINIAN YOUTH MOVEMENT organized their…
Staff Writer · August 8, 2024
Full guide
California Jewish Population: How Many Jews Live in California?
A deeper breakdown of the ~1.2 million figure — Los Angeles, Bay Area, San Diego and statewide counts, how the estimates are produced without a Census religion question, and how the demographics drive California's Jewish legal fights.
Jewish California: Frequently Asked Questions
How many Jewish people live in California?
California is home to roughly 1.2 million Jewish residents, the second-largest Jewish population of any U.S. state after New York. The largest concentrations are in Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay Area.
What percentage of California is Jewish?
Jewish Californians make up roughly 3% of the state's population — well above the national average of about 2.4% — which is why California policy fights over ethnic studies, hate crimes, and campus antisemitism carry outsized national weight.
Which organizations represent Jewish California?
The main institutional players are the Jewish Federations (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and others), their affiliated Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRCs), and coalitions such as the Bay Area Jewish Coalition and BACCA. Many groups that present as grassroots are in practice Federation-affiliated and institutionally funded.
What are the biggest Jewish legal issues in California right now?
The largest are the liberated ethnic studies curriculum litigation, synagogue protest and First Amendment cases in Los Angeles, campus and K-12 antisemitism complaints under Title VI, and disputes over how JCRCs represent community members on Israel-related policy.
Where can I read Jewish California news coverage?
The Jewish Legal News publishes ongoing reporting on California courts, school districts, and Jewish communal institutions. This hub collects every California story we've published in one place.
More from Jewish Legal News
Who Is Amy Spitalnick? Profile of the JCPA CEO
Amy Spitalnick is the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. A profile of her career from Integrity First for America and J Street to JCPA, her media presence, and the AOC-AIPAC controversy.
Staff Writer · July 11, 2026
Are Prominent Israelis Dragging American Jews into Civil War?
Events in Israel often gives rise to passionate debates that echo beyond its borders. Central to this discourse are figures like Daniel Gordis, Yossi Klein Halevi, and Matti Friedman—Israelis who have gained significant recognition among…
Staff Writer · September 20, 2023
Nebraska Professors Handpick Holocaust Scholars from left-wing Twitter Followers
Lincoln, NE - A public records lawsuit filed by Jewish Legal News, Inc . ("JLN") against the University of Nebraska-Lincoln ("UNL") has unveiled concerning details about the University’s methods for choosing presenters for its Sommerhauser…
Staff Writer · August 14, 2023
Federation Dividing Jews in America on Israel Judicial Reform
American Jewish organizations, including the Federation and ADL, are increasing their intervention into Israeli politics, despite the recent lawful activity of the democratically elected Knesset. The controversial judicial reform in Israel…
Staff Writer · July 25, 2023