Antisemitic Vandalism Targets Scarsdale High School's Israel Club

Flyers promoting the school's 'Israelfest' were torn down and dumped in bathroom urinals, sparking outrage and a call for action.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 7:04pm

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A photorealistic painting of a dimly lit bathroom stall with a single urinal, the only light source coming from a window casting warm, diagonal shadows across the scene, creating a somber, contemplative mood.The disturbing vandalism of a student club's flyers in a prestigious high school bathroom reflects a broader erosion of civil discourse.Scarsdale Today

An act of antisemitic vandalism has occurred at Scarsdale High School in New York, where flyers posted by the school's Israel Culture Club were torn down and discarded in bathroom urinals. School officials and community members have condemned the incident, which they say represents intolerance and a degradation of civil discourse.

Why it matters

The incident at the prestigious Scarsdale High School, known for its high-performing public education system, highlights the broader issue of rising antisemitism in the United States. It also underscores the need for schools to address issues of intolerance and promote respectful dialogue, even around complex political topics.

The details

According to school officials, the flyers promoting the club's upcoming 'Israelfest' event were torn off walls and thrown into boys' bathroom urinals. An Instagram post about the event also prompted 'vulgar' comments, some from non-students. While some in the community complained that the club's flyer included 'disputed territories as part of the State of Israel,' the school principal said that did not justify the vandalism, which he called 'unacceptable' and 'disturbing to the entire school community.'

  • The incident occurred on Friday, April 19, 2026.

The players

James Dugan

A Scarsdale school board member whose daughter attends the high school. He denounced the incident online, calling it a 'profound teaching moment.'

Kenneth Bonamo

The principal of Scarsdale High School, who wrote a letter to parents condemning the vandalism and stating that the school takes these concerns seriously.

Drew Patrick

The Superintendent of Scarsdale Schools, who also addressed the incident in a letter to parents, acknowledging the challenges of rising antisemitism and political polarization.

Scarsdale High School's Israel Culture Club

The student group whose flyers promoting an 'Israelfest' event were the target of the antisemitic vandalism.

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What they’re saying

“Recent events have provided a profound teaching moment for me as a parent and have impacted me and my family. As a parent I will focus on healing my family. But as a school board member, my focus will continue to be on our students, our schools, and our education program.”

— James Dugan, Scarsdale school board member

“These behaviors are unacceptable and more broadly should be disturbing to the entire school community for the intolerance they represent. Please be assured that we take these concerns to heart as we work to uphold our standards of conduct and community values.”

— Kenneth Bonamo, Principal, Scarsdale High School

“We live in a time of rising antisemitism, political polarization and a degraded civil discourse. I want the community to know that we take these complex challenged seriously and work to confront them every single day.”

— Drew Patrick, Superintendent of Scarsdale Schools

What’s next

School officials have stated they are investigating the incident and working to address the broader issues of intolerance and civil discourse within the school community.

The takeaway

The antisemitic vandalism at Scarsdale High School underscores the need for schools to be vigilant in addressing acts of hate and promoting respectful dialogue, even on complex political topics. This incident serves as a 'profound teaching moment' for the community to confront rising antisemitism and work towards greater understanding and inclusion.