The American Psychological Association delayed its vote on Friday to recognize the Association of Jewish Psychologists within its organization, marking the second time this year the organization has postponed the decision to recognize Jewish representation in the organization. 

The APA has six official ethnic associations, representing Arab Americans, Black psychologists and Asian-Americans, among other minority groups. Proponents of the proposed Jewish group within the APA argue that Jewish psychologists deserve to be included as well, especially given the rise of antisemitism within the organization. 

On Friday, the Anti-Defamation League condemned APA’s decision to postpone the vote again. 

“This delay serves no apparent purpose. By denying Jewish psychologists the same representation afforded to other ethnic minority groups, APA is applying a double standard to Jewish identity and acting in direct contravention of APA’s own rules,” the ADL said in a statement. 

The APA has struggled to confront antisemitism in its ranks following the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel and ensuing Israel-Hamas war. 

The group’s conference last summer featured a panel that described Oct. 7 as attacks on “military targets.” More than 3,500 people signed on an open letter last year that demanded the organization act against what they described as “the serious and systemic problem of antisemitism/anti-Jewish hate” within the APA.

In February 2026, the APA Council of Representatives first voted to defer action on recognizing the Association of Jewish Psychologists within their organization, pushing back the decision  to an August vote, despite support from a coalition of Jewish American organizations. 

At the time, the APA stated that deferring the vote was meant to give council members time for thorough discussion and deliberation on how best to ensure all voices are heard. The Coalition of National Racial and Ethnic Psychological Associations has opposed the recognition of the AJP as an EPA within the APA, claiming that conflating religion, race and ethnicity “obscures the role of racism,” that “the majority of Jewish Americans in the United States identify as white” and that “Jewish psychologists are not underrepresented within APA.”

The APA did not respond to a request for comment from Jewish Insider asking about the latest delayed vote. 

“Professional organizations are strongest when they apply their own rules consistently and fairly,” said Shira Goodman, the ADL’s vice president of public affairs.

“Throughout this process, AJP’s application became entangled in political debates that had nothing to do with the APA’s criteria for Ethnic Psychological Association status. The Council’s responsibility was to evaluate eligibility under its bylaws — not to referee political disagreements or impose ideological litmus tests on a Jewish professional organization.”