Politics · Italy · 7 hrs ago
Milan Jewish community leader calls for Reggio Emilia officials to resign
A group of Jewish teachers from the United States cancelled a planned visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy.
The visit was part of a programme on early childhood education run by Reggio Children, a company partly owned by the public sector.
The company reportedly asked the teachers to sign a statement distancing themselves from actions by Israel’s government because they are Jewish.
The delegation refused, and the request prompted criticism.
Walker Meghnagi, head of Milan’s Jewish community, called the demand antisemitic and urged Reggio Emilia’s city administration to resign.
Mayor Marco Massari rejected the accusation and said he hoped the situation could be clarified.
The programme was scheduled to run from October 12 to 16, but the teachers withdrew from the visit.
Walker Meghnagi, president of the Jewish Community of Milan, called for Reggio Emilia’s municipal administration to resign over a dispute involving Jewish teachers invited to an early-childhood education programme.
Meghnagi said Reggio Children had sought a declaration distancing the teachers from actions by the Israeli government because they were Jewish.
The delegation of American Jewish teachers rejected the request and gave up its visit to the city.
Reggio Emilia Mayor Marco Massari rejected the antisemitism accusations and said the city hoped to clarify any misunderstanding.
- Who
- Walker Meghnagi, president of the Jewish Community of Milan, called for the resignations. Mayor Marco Massari responded on behalf of Reggio Emilia.
- What
- Meghnagi called for the municipal administration to resign over a reported request that Jewish teachers distance themselves from actions by the Israeli government.
- When
- ANSA published the report on October 11, 2026. The programme was scheduled to run from October 12 to 16.
- Where
- Reggio Emilia, Italy.
- Why
- Meghnagi said the reported request singled out teachers because they were Jewish and amounted to antisemitism.
Walker Meghnagi
Marco Massari
Nature of the request
Walker Meghnagi
Meghnagi said teachers were asked to take a political position because they were Jewish, calling this antisemitism and racial profiling.
Marco Massari
Massari rejected the antisemitism accusations and said they did not reflect the city’s values, history or educational aims.
What should happen
Walker Meghnagi
Meghnagi called for the municipal administration to resign.
Marco Massari
Massari said he hoped the issue could be clarified without mixing political judgments into educational discussion.
I ask that the Municipal Administration of Reggio Emilia resign.
We firmly reject the accusations of antisemitism directed at the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, which in no way correspond to our values, our history and the reasons for our educational commitment.
You cannot ask an American citizen, a teacher, a Jew, to answer as a Jew, as such.
Reggio Children reportedly asked visiting Israeli and American teachers to sign a declaration distancing themselves from actions by the Israeli government.
The delegation of American Jewish teachers rejected it and gave up its visit to the city.
Walker Meghnagi called for Reggio Emilia’s municipal administration to resign.
Mayor Marco Massari rejected the antisemitism accusations and said the city hoped to clarify any misunderstanding.
- Meghnagi
- President of the Jewish Community of Milan
- Reggio Emilia mayor
- Marco Massari
- Programme dates
- October 12–16, 2026
- Visiting delegation
- American Jewish teachers
- Requested response
- A declaration distancing the teachers from actions by the Israeli government
Sources
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