Key Highlights:
- Maysa Jarara, a mathematics teacher at Park Slope Collegiate in Brooklyn, faces widespread backlash for allegedly sharing an antisemitic caricature of soccer icon Lionel Messi on Facebook.
- Educational advocacy leaders, including representatives from United Jewish Teachers and the New York City Public Schools Alliance, have strongly condemned the imagery and related social media posts.
- The controversy spotlights ongoing concerns surrounding educator accountability, online conduct, and rising antisemitism within New York City public schools.
Brooklyn Educator Under Fire Over Lionel Messi Caricature
A New York City public school educator has ignited widespread public outrage after reportedly posting an illustration of international soccer superstar Lionel Messi that relies heavily on classic antisemitic tropes. Maysa Jarara, who works as a mathematics teacher at Park Slope Collegiate in Brooklyn, reportedly published the controversial graphic to Facebook on July 19.
The shared illustration depicts Lionel Messi crying while wearing a Jewish skullcap and rubbing his hands together, drawn with exaggerated facial characteristics that observers and watchdogs have likened to historical antisemitic propaganda. Accompanying the graphic, Jarara reportedly included the caption: “The look on his face is priceless,”
Watchdog groups and critics noted that the depiction closely mirrors the infamous online hate meme known as “The Happy Merchant.” The trope characteristically weaponizes derogatory visual stereotypes about Jewish people, promoting false narratives centered on greed, manipulation, and deceit. Similar caricatures have a documented history in hate propaganda, most notably during the Nazi era to systematically dehumanize Jewish communities.
Conspiracy Theories and Scrutiny of Social Media Posts
Because Lionel Messi commands a massive global audience that transcends sports, the weaponization of his likeness has drawn sharp scrutiny. The athlete, who participated in a peace tour to Israel in 2013, has previously been pulled into unfounded geopolitical and sports conspiracy narratives. According to CyberWell, an organization that tracks online antisemitism, disinformation spread during the World Cup falsely claiming that Jewish people secretly dictate FIFA operations and orchestrated Lionel Messi’s career successes—tropes that directly mirror historic myths regarding Jewish control over powerful global bodies.
The criticism directed at Maysa Jarara extends to several other social media publications. Additional posts attributed to the Brooklyn teacher feature intensely critical depictions of Israel, including an image of an Israeli flag drenched in blood. Furthermore, an Instagram post shared around the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel reportedly displayed a man in a keffiyeh dancing with a woman wearing a hijab before a burning pile. The post carried the caption: “And we love life and we can live it in a way,”
The October 7 attacks resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people in Israel and sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, leaving the date an exceptionally sensitive subject globally.
Education Advocates and Community Leaders Respond
The revelation of the social media content has triggered forceful condemnations from local education and community advocates. Moshe Spern, the president of United Jewish Teachers, denounced the caricature, stating: “Jarara has crossed a major line by trafficking in classic antisemitic tropes that cast Jews as greedy and scheming,”
Karen Feldman, president of the New York City Public Schools Alliance, likewise expressed grave concern regarding the educator’s conduct: “This is deeply disturbing. We have a teacher who is entrusted with educating children publicly sharing inflammatory, biased, and historically misleading posts about Israel and the Jewish people,” Feldman said.
According to reported public records, Jarara earned a salary of $140,000 in 2025. Jarara could not be reached for comment, and available reporting has not indicated any formal disciplinary resolution regarding her employment or the posts in question.
Why This Matters
This incident reflects a mounting challenge facing public education systems across the United States, particularly within New York City. As geopolitical tensions surrounding the Middle East remain high, school districts are confronting repeated instances where teachers’ private social media use intersects with their professional responsibilities. The situation moves beyond basic questions of free speech or political disagreement, focusing instead on whether public school personnel who instruct diverse student bodies can appropriately fulfill their duties while publicly amplifying dehumanizing ethnic and religious tropes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Maysa Jarara?
Maysa Jarara is a mathematics teacher employed at Park Slope Collegiate, a public school located in Brooklyn, New York.
What makes the shared Lionel Messi image controversial?
The illustration shows Lionel Messi crying, wearing a skullcap, and rubbing his hands together with exaggerated facial features. Critics and watchdogs identify these elements as direct references to historical antisemitic caricatures and the offensive online meme known as “The Happy Merchant.”
Has any disciplinary action been taken against the teacher?
According to the available reporting, no formal disciplinary action or administrative outcome has been confirmed regarding the posts, and Jarara could not be reached for comment.
