A tool for addressing antisemitism: The NASW Code of Ethics

The field of social work mandates the promotion of social justice and confrontation of oppression. Specifically, the NASW Code of Ethics compels social workers to challenge injustice, necessitating a proactive approach to address antisemitism. Antisemitism, and its rise, is a societal problem demanding social work intervention. Notably, antisemitic incidents surged to a record 2,717 in the US in 2021, a 34% increase from the previous year, with significant rises in harassment, vandalism, and assaults. Post the 10/7 Hamas attack in Israel, antisemitic incidents jumped 360% over the previous year. Similarly, online antisemitism has increased significantly. A recent study of social workers’ attitudes suggested that antisemitism is a problem in both social work education and the workplace. The NASW Code of Ethics guides the conduct and decision-making processes of social work professionals. This ethical code emphasizes the importance of social justice, dignity, worth of the person, and the significance of human relationships. We propose that the NASW Code of Ethics serves as a template for education, training, and systemic change in the field of social work to address present-day antisemitism.