More than 40 rabbis and cantors in Montgomery County, Md., warned in a letter Monday that public school leaders have failed to address a rising tide of antisemitism in local classrooms, urging officials to implement new teacher training and stricter social media rules.

In the letter, addressed to Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor, the clergy — representing dozens of Montgomery County synagogues across denominations — wrote that they are “alarmed that the lack of a meaningful response by MCPS has led to an increase in the normalization of antisemitic attitudes, language and behaviors in our schools.” They called on the district to incorporate specific antisemitism training previously suggested by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, including implementing teacher training specific to antisemitism and enforcing consequences for hateful social media posts. 

Incidents in recent months, according to the JCRC, include inflammatory anti-Israel messaging at Olney Elementary School’s cultural night; “Heil Hitler” gestures and speech occurring at middle school events; and “physical threats and harassment directed toward Jewish students at multiple schools.”

In May, the JCRC called out the uniquely high rate of antisemitic incidents in the school district, which is just outside of Washington, D.C.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, Maryland is ranked 5th in the nation for school-based antisemitism, and 84% of those incidents are in Montgomery County, which is home to more than 35 active synagogues and has the largest Jewish population in the state.  

The rise of antisemitism in the county extends beyond school based incidents. Montgomery County recorded 121 antisemitic incidents in 2025. By comparison, neighboring Fairfax County, Va., recorded 49 antisemitic incidents during the same period in 2025, according to the ADL. 

MCPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Jewish Insider about the letter.