Countering antisemitism, promoting Jewish inclusion

APA unequivocally condemns antisemitism in all its forms, recognizing its painful impacts on mental health and well-being and the heightened climate of fear and insecurity many Jewish psychologists and community members are experiencing. APA is committed to working with communities to create systemic and lasting change. This reflects our understanding that the psychological impacts of antisemitism, and all hate and discrimination, require serious attention and long-term support.

As part of APA’s core mission to benefit society and improve lives, we work to counter antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination, guided by psychological science, human rights principles, and APA’s ethical commitment to promote well-being for all people. As psychologists, it is vital to understand and address experiences that impact an individual’s mental health and well-being, including the climate of fear, anxiety, and insecurity caused by rising antisemitism across society.

Antisemitism is a form of prejudice that targets Jewish individuals and communities, and it remains a persistent issue worldwide. As part of APA’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, we also focus on making APA itself welcoming and inclusive through continuous improvement of our policies, culture, and member engagement practices. Antisemitism and bigotry have no place in any professional community, especially a community devoted to improving the well-being of individuals and society as a whole.

Listening to members and partners

Deepening our understanding of the lived experiences of our members is fundamental to fostering psychological safety and to ensuring our culture is welcoming and inclusive.

• The APA Board of Directors established the Collaborative of Jewish Psychologists, a group of psychologists charged with identifying ways to enhance APA’s efforts to combat antisemitism. (August 2025).
• In addition to routine one-on-one or small group conversations, APA conducted a series of listening sessions beginning in April 2025 with more than 125 Jewish psychologists and other organizational stakeholders.
• APA partnered with #StandUpToJewishHate campaign (2023).

Promoting our value of communicating and engaging with respect

• APA enhanced its rules governing the use of its 590 listservs engaged by hundreds of participants using this free service. Rules were updated to specifically prohibit hate speech or discriminatory content—including antisemitism. APA also requires all listservs to have an active moderator who is responsible for enforcing these rules, including where appropriate, moving posters to read-only status, banning repetitive violators from the listserv, and shutting down a listserv entirely because of repetitive violations of listserv decorum rules.
• APA developed and disseminated a listserv Moderator Training Program and Toolkit to promote consistent listserv rule enforcement. Additional moderator training was delivered via interactive webinar in early December 2025. Resources, updates, and reminders are now delivered monthly to listserv moderators.
• At APA conferences and convenings, APA leaders call on all participants to use care with language and to honor the ability of all members to engage in our process free from bigotry, intimidation, or harassment.
• APA convention registration requires each attendee to comply with a Code of Conduct to ensure conduct free from bigotry, intimidation, or harassment.
• In 2025, APA revised and promoted its “dialog principles” to make clear the expectation that every APA member will ensure that deliberation—even on difficult issues where we bitterly disagree—will be conducted with respect for every member.

• American Psychologist special issue: Antisemitism and Psychology (2026)
• How to talk to children about antisemitism
  Open, honest, and age-appropriate conversations can reinforce shared values and make clear that prejudice and hate are unacceptable, March 20, 2026
• The devastating psychological impact of hate crimes
  Decades of research suggest hate crimes can lead to a wide range of mental health issues, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Updated: May 19, 2026; Published May 18, 2023
• Jewish Identity and Antisemitism: Jewish History, Tradition, and the Rise of Antisemitism, July 16, 2025 (webinar/CE)

• Resolution on Antisemitism condemns all antisemitic attitudes and actions, and will use its influence to promote fairness, respect, and dignity for all people, regardless of religion or ethnicity, in all arenas in which psychologists work and practice, and in society at large. (2026)
• Resolution Against Hate Crimesopens in new window opposes prejudice and discrimination based upon race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or physical condition, and condemns harassment, violence, and crime motivated by such prejudice. (2005)
• APA Policy Statement on Reaffirming APA’s Commitment to Justice, Human Rights, Fairness, and Dignityopens in new window
  Research consistently shows that discrimination and systemic barriers—based on race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, social class, age, disability, religion, and national origin—contribute to health disparities and are harmful to mental health.

Psychological research into prejudice and bias has shed light on underlying factors that drive antisemitism. By understanding the deeper dynamics of the cognitive biases and other psychological mechanisms, we can better address antisemitism and work toward a more inclusive and understanding society.