The anti-Israel group provides educational materials including ‘American Jews and Political Power: Myth or Reality’
The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), whose executive director said that Israel is behind the “root causes of what is happening in Palestine/Israel,” announced this week that it is partnering with local schools to make them “more inclusive.”
“CAIR-Philadelphia is partnering with schools this year to make sure every student feels seen, safe, and supported,” the group said in a Monday Instagram post. “Invite the CAIR Philly staff for a training to educators and staff on cultural competency, anti-bullying, and inclusive practices.”
“The CAIR Philadelphia staff works not only with staff and administration, but also directly with students!” the post continued. “We can visit classrooms as guest facilitators to lead student-centered discussions.”
It’s unclear what exactly that partnership entails—neither the Pennsylvania Department of Education nor the School District of Philadelphia responded to requests for comment. CAIR does, however, provide a slew of resources on its “Educational Seminars and Workshops” webpage, including one the group promoted in its Instagram post: “An Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices.” That guide contends that “Jihad” does not refer to “violence committed in the name of Islam” but is rather an internal struggle “to become a better person.” It also says “most” oppression of Muslim women “is not related to their adherence to Islam, but rather tied to customs and traditions.”
CAIR-Philadelphia’s education page also provides a guide titled “Remembering and Reflecting: Teaching September 11, 2001 in Diverse Classrooms.” It advises teachers to “avoid using inaccurate and inflammatory terms such as ‘Islamic terrorists,’ ‘jihadists,’ or ‘radical Islamic terrorists.'” Other courses and lectures offered by the group include “Fake News: Mass Media Seminar” and “American Jews and Political Power: Myth or Reality.” Educators must submit a request to receive them, meaning their contents are unknown beyond broad descriptions.
The “American Jews and Political Power” lecture offers a discussion of “the controversial topic of Jewish political power in the U.S.” as well as the “heated debate inside the Jewish establishment over Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands.” Students receiving the lecture will also “learn about the young Jewish activists supporting the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) campaign against Israel.”
CAIR-Philadelphia’s announcement comes amid a rise in anti-Israel sentiment in educational materials. The 2025 handbook for the largest teachers’ union, the National Education Association, included plans to promote a version of Holocaust remembrance that does not specifically mention Jews. It did, however, give a lengthy description of the group’s plans to “educate members and the general public about the history of the Palestinian Nakba,” described as the “forced, violent displacement and dispossession of at least 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland in 1948 during the establishment of Israel.”
Both CAIR-Philadelphia and the group’s parent organization, meanwhile, are known to demonize Israel and defend Hamas.
Two days after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack, CAIR-Philadelphia executive director Ahmet Tekelioglu blamed Israel for the massacre and criticized Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro for unequivocally condemning the assault. He argued that the Jewish state is behind “the root causes of what is happening in Palestine/Israel.”
Shapiro “should be able to acknowledge the humanity of Palestinian people living under occupation and the abhorrent conditions that Israeli governments have subjected them to,” Tekelioglu said. “The current stance paints an image of one-sidedness that is both inaccurate and unethical.”
In March 2024, meanwhile, CAIR-Philadelphia hosted a fundraising banquet that featured several speakers who have a history of anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks, including author and former basketball player Ibrahim Jaaber, who called Israelis “demons” who lie to “cover their horns” just days after Oct. 7, Jewish Insider reported.
The executive director of CAIR’s national arm, Nihad Awad, praised Oct. 7. In late 2023, he said he was “happy to see” Palestinians in the Gaza Strip “breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land.”
In April 2024, Awad penned a eulogy for Sheikh Abdul-Majid al-Zindani, who was designated by the United States “as a recruiter and fundraiser for al-Qaeda,” according to the ADL.
CAIR’s support for Hamas dates back decades. In 2009, the group was named as a co-conspirator in a federal court case related to terrorism financing after a government investigation revealed that its founders met in Philadelphia to discuss strategies to advance the Islamist agenda. A founder of CAIR’s Texas chapter was later sentenced to 65 years in prison as a result of the case.
And in 1993, the FBI wiretapped a secret meeting in which participants, including Awad, discussed ways to support Hamas.
CAIR’s terror ties spurred Sen. Tom Cotton to launch an effort aiming to strip the group of its tax-exempt status. On Aug. 5, the Alabama Republican sent a letter to the IRS arguing that CAIR’s “deep ties to terrorist organizations” warrant an immediate IRS investigation that should include a comprehensive review of CAIR’s “financial records, affiliations, and activities.”
Neither CAIR nor CAIR-Philadelphia responded to a request for comment.
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