New York, NY, (November 26, 2025) — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), StandWithUs Saidoff Law and the law firm Nixon Peabody LLP, have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the family of a 12-year-old Jewish boy against The Culver Educational Foundation, which operates the prestigious Culver Summer Academy, an overnight camp in Indiana. The complaint details how the child, referred to in the lawsuit as John Doe, endured antisemitic harassment, threats, and violent physical assaults at the hands of other campers while attending the camp during the summer of 2025 and how camp staff, although aware of the ongoing abuse utterly failed to protect the child.
Filed in the Northern District of Indiana, the lawsuit outlines deeply disturbing allegations: campers repeatedly targeted John Doe for his Jewish identity, calling him “Jew Boy,” performing Nazi salutes, and shouting “Heil Hitler” and “exterminate the Jews.” He was repeatedly subjected to physical violence by other campers in their shared cabin and throughout the campus in broad daylight, including being beaten with belts and a broom, kicked in the ribs, stomped on, sprayed in the mouth and eyes with bug spray, and hit in the head with a rock. The campers warned John Doe that they would kill him if he “snitched.”
Despite the young ages of the children, they were repeatedly left wholly unsupervised in their shared cabin during all hours of the day and night. Even when the abuse was observed or reported, Culver staff members failed to intervene and further failed to notify the child’s parents of the extent of the harassment and injuries he suffered. The complaint describes how camp staff ignored or minimized John Doe’s cries for help. One camp officer reportedly told the boy to “stop acting like a cub” after he reported antisemitic threats. Camp administrators allegedly withheld information from the child’s parents, failed to adequately discipline the perpetrators, and have refused to provide video or documentary evidence of the incidents to the family.
In fact, even when Culver staff finally contacted parents to share that John Doe was receiving medical care for an attack by the other campers, they did not share the antisemitic slurs hurled during the attack and further downplayed how badly he was injured. Rather, Culver leadership encouraged John Doe’s parents to let him stay in camp. However, the next day John Doe called his parents and asked to be picked up early. Immediately upon arrival, his parents could see how badly John Doe had been beaten and how emotionally traumatized he was. They brought him home that day. All the while, Culver staff feigned ignorance. In fact, they never even followed up to check on John Doe’s condition after the injured child was taken home.
“The failure of Culver Summer Academy to protect this child, to prevent escalating antisemitic abuse, or even notify his parents of the extent of the harm he endured is a moral and institutional disgrace,” said James Pasch, ADL Vice President, Litigation. “This was not merely bullying. This is violent, hate-driven antisemitism, and it happened under the care of an institution that claims to uphold leadership and character development.”
“These allegations point to systemic failures — not just by the individual perpetrators, but by the adults who had a legal and moral obligation to protect all children in their care,” said Carly Gammill, Director of Legal Policy at StandWithUs Saidoff Law. “No child should be afraid for their life because of their Jewish identity. No parent should be left in the dark while their child is injured and traumatized.”
To ensure that no other child at any of Culver’s programs is subjected to similar abuse in the future, ADL and StandWithUs, on behalf of plaintiffs, are calling for The Culver Educational Foundation to immediately:
- Publicly acknowledge the harm that occurred under its watch;
- Cooperate fully with investigations and release all relevant footage and documentation;
- Establish and enforce robust anti-bias and anti-bullying policies aligned with American Camp Association (ACA) standards;
- Mandate comprehensive staff training on antisemitism and identity-based hate;
- Implement educational programming for campers about antisemitism, diversity, and inclusion; and
- Provide relevant compensatory damages.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.
StandWithUs (SWU) is a 24-year old international non-partisan education organization that inspires people of all ages about Israel, challenges misinformation and fights against antisemitism. StandWithUs empowers people around the world to educate others through social media, print and digital materials in different languages, through educational programs and conferences, weekly newsletters, data and analytics, and missions to Israel. It takes legal action through StandWithUs Saidoff Law. It empowers hundreds of student leaders annually through its college Fellowship and high school Internship. SWU provides schools and educators with vital tools through its IsraeLINK middle school program, Holocaust Education Center, and K-12 Fairness Center. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, StandWithUs has chapters throughout the U.S., Israel, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, Australia and South Africa. More at www.
