Jewish Student Rights and Protections

Jewish students deserve to learn in an environment free from fear, isolation, or hate. Unfortunately, antisemitism is rising in elementary, middle, and high schools across the country. At Lemberg Law, we stand with families whose children are being targeted, excluded, or harassed—and we use the law to protect their rights.

Jewish students are protected under a powerful network of federal civil rights laws:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any school receiving federal funding—including ethnic or ancestral antisemitism.
• Title IX bans sex-based discrimination, including religious harassment that overlaps with gendered behavior or stereotypes.
• Section 1983 enforces constitutional rights like freedom of religion and equal protection under the law at public schools.
• Section 1981 bars racial and ethnic discrimination in contracts, which can include disciplinary, enrollment, or academic policies.

Legal Precedent For Student Rights

The rights your child has today weren’t handed out—they were earned through legal battles in courtrooms. Landmark rulings like:

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Struck down school segregation and defined education as a protected civil right.
• Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978): Affirmed the need for fair access to education regardless of race or ethnicity.
• Reed v. Reed (1971): Broadened equal protection standards that now apply to religious and gender-related bias.

These decisions didn’t just correct injustice—they reshaped school environments nationwide. Today, we invoke these precedents to challenge antisemitism in classrooms, cafeterias, sports teams, and beyond.

Why This Work Matters

Sergei Lemberg, who grew up under a regime where Jewish students were denied opportunity, leads our firm with a clear mission: no student should ever have to feel unsafe because of their identity. That commitment is personal. Antisemitic quotas and silent discrimination shaped Sergei’s early years in the Soviet Union. In the U.S., he fights so no child experiences the same.

In a recent case, a New York college adopted mandatory bias training after a Title VI complaint about antisemitic flyers. That change didn’t just protect one student—it made campus safer for all. If your child’s school is failing to act, legal pressure can spark meaningful change.

What You Can Do Now

If your child is facing slurs, exclusion, intimidation, or denial of religious accommodations, the law may entitle your family to:

• Policy changes, such as mandatory training or new procedures.
• Formal investigations by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
• Monetary damages, depending on the nature and extent of harm.
• Legal support, often at no cost to you.

At Lemberg Law, we offer free, confidential consultations to help you understand your rights and next steps. You don’t have to confront the school system alone.

Call Sergei Lemberg at 855-301-2100 or fill out our firm to speak with our legal team. Together, we can protect your child—and set a precedent for others.