NYC Public School Teacher ‘Crossed a Major Line’ with Antisemitic Messi Post

A New York City public school teacher faces intense scrutiny from Jewish education advocates after sharing an antisemitic caricature of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi on social media. Maysa Jarara, a mathematics instructor at Park Slope Collegiate in Brooklyn, posted the image on Facebook on July 19. The graphic depicted Messi with a distorted face, an enlarged nose, and a Jewish skullcap. He was shown crying and rubbing his hands together. Jarara, using an account named “Maysa,” captioned the post, “The look on his face is priceless.” The New York Post noted visual similarities between the image and the “Happy Merchant” meme, a viral template featuring an exaggerated Jewish figure often associated with stereotypes regarding dishonesty and financial manipulation. Moshe Spern, president of United Jewish Teachers, stated that Jarara’s action repeated familiar forms of anti-Jewish prejudice. “Jarara has crossed a major line by trafficking in classic antisemitic tropes that cast Jews as greedy and scheming,” Spern said. The controversy extends beyond the single image. Reports indicate Jarara’s social media history includes material critical of Israel. One image displayed an Israeli flag marked with blood. Another post appeared on Instagram on October 7, three years after the Hamas-led attack on Israel. This image showed two people dancing near a fire, one wearing a keffiyeh and the other a hijab. The caption read, “And we love life, and we can live it in a way.” Karen Feldman, head of the New York City Public Schools Alliance, expressed concern over the conduct of an educator. She described the situation as deeply disturbing, noting that a teacher entrusted with educating children was publicly sharing inflammatory and historically misleading posts about Israel and the Jewish people. According to a public payroll listing published by GovSalaries, Jarara earned $140,016 in annual wages in 2025. The database identifies her employer as the Department of Education and her position as teacher. This incident occurs amid broader tensions within the city’s schools. Separately, the Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter at Stuyvesant High School faced backlash for co-signing an October 8 Instagram post declaring “Intifada Until Victory!” The post, supported by YDSA chapters at Hunter College, the New School, City College, and Lehman College, accused the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter of silencing student activists. The groups criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani for keeping NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her role, labeling her a “Zionist billionaire.” The term intifada refers to violent uprisings against Jews in Israel and is viewed by many as a call to violence. Spern demanded the removal of these posts and a public apology from the YDSA group. In an email to Stuyvesant Principal Seung Yu and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, he cited Title VI, the federal law banning discrimination based on race, shared ancestry, and national origin. He requested a review of the YDSA chapter’s charter, faculty adviser, and recent activities for compliance with school regulations. Spern noted that NYC public schools have seen hundreds of antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents since October 7, 2023. He warned that amplifying such rhetoric risks creating a hostile environment. Neither Yu nor the Department of Education responded to requests for comment. Spern said he had not received a reply from Yu, calling the silence irresponsible. Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of NYC-DSA, defended the organization’s stance. “We support the right to organize,” Gordillo said. He added that NYC-DSA did not organize or endorse the specific rally and dismissed accusations of red scare tactics as ineffective tools for engaging with student movements. Background data suggests rising hostility toward Messi specifically. CyberWell, a nonprofit tracking anti-Jewish content online, published findings on July 14 detailing false allegations during this year’s World Cup. Users falsely claimed Messi was Jewish or acted under Jewish direction, alleging that his performance and favorable refereeing decisions resulted from Jewish control over soccer. Online commenters reacting to Jarara’s post questioned her suitability for teaching and the example she sets for students. Mayor Mamdani, a longtime critic of Israel, previously faced bipartisan backlash over statements marking the third anniversary of the October 7 attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled the mayor an antisemite, a claim Mamdani denies. Pro-Palestinian activists have also criticized Mamdani for retaining Tisch, a self-described Zionist, accusing him of betraying the Palestinian cause. Critics further alleged he did enough to prevent local synagogues from holding events promoting land sales in the occupied West Bank. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul maintains a lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in upcoming polls, with Quinnipiac University showing a 55-41 advantage.