World · Middle East · 1 day ago
Jewish educators cancel Italy trip after being asked to condemn Israel
About 100 Jewish early childhood educators from the US and Israel canceled a planned study trip to Reggio Emilia, in northern Italy.
They were due to study the Reggio Emilia Approach, an early education method used by Jewish preschools.
Before the visit, they were asked to sign a statement distancing themselves from Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
The request followed objections from some parents linked to the local host organization, who alleged that the educators supported Israel and its military.
The educators chose not to sign, and the trip was called off.
Italian senator Ivan Scalfarotto said that asking Jews to distance themselves from Israeli government policies because they are Jewish is antisemitic.
The host organization had also been drafting a statement calling for schools to be free of militarization, but the planned visit did not go ahead.
About 100 Jewish early childhood educators from the United States and Israel canceled a planned study trip to Italy after being asked to sign a statement condemning Israel.
The group had planned to visit Reggio Emilia this month to study an approach to early education.
The statement called for distancing oneself from Israel’s occupation of Gaza and alleged rights violations in occupied territories and elsewhere.
The request followed objections from some parents associated with the local organization set to host the educators.
Italian senator Ivan Scalfarotto said asking Jews to distance themselves from Israeli government policies was antisemitism.
- Who
- About 100 Jewish early childhood educators from the United States and Israel.
- What
- They canceled a planned study trip after being asked to sign a statement condemning Israel and its actions.
- When
- The trip was planned for this month; the article was published October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Reggio Emilia, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region.
- Why
- They chose not to sign the statement. Some parents associated with the host organization had objected to their participation.
Parents associated with the local host organization
Jewish educators
Objection to participation
Parents associated with the local host organization
Some parents objected over alleged support for Israel and the Israel Defense Forces.
Jewish educators
The educators chose not to sign the requested statement and canceled the trip.
Asking Jews, as Jews, to distance themselves from the policies of the Israeli government is antisemitism.
That this happens in Reggio Emilia, a city with a deep democratic tradition, leaves one appalled.
Our identities were made public, and our personal and institutional social media profiles were reviewed and characterized as demonstrating our support for Israel and the IDF
a loss for our community in the near term — our teachers, and in turn, their students will not be enriched by this experience
The educators were asked to sign a statement condemning Israel and its actions.
Some parents associated with the local host organization objected to the educators’ participation.
The educators chose not to sign and canceled the trip.
The Times of Israel published its report on the canceled trip.
- Group size
- About 100 educators
- Participants’ origins
- United States and Israel
- Planned destination
- Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Host organization
- Reggio Children
- Statement wording
- Called for distancing oneself from the occupation of Gaza and rights violations in occupied territories and elsewhere
Sources
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