Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), recently faced criticism on social media for her comment questioning the absence of women during a traditional Jewish prayer service. Weingarten, who has identified herself as a “deeply religious” Jew, commented on a video posted by conservative commentator Mark Levin, showing an all-male minyan, a quorum required for certain Jewish rituals, outside the White House.
Weingarten’s post, which limited comments to her followers, asked, “Where are the women?” This inquiry drew a community note from X and a sharp rebuke from Levin. The community note, citing Jewish advocacy group Chabad, explained that Orthodox Jewish practices involve gender-separated prayers, with women usually praying on the other side and out of sight from the men’s section.
Levin, responding to Weingarten’s post, called her a “contemptible moron” and asked her to stay off his timeline. The post also attracted attention from other social media users, including Manhattan Institute’s Ilya Shapiro and political commentator Chad Felix Greene, who highlighted Weingarten’s background and her possible intentions behind the tweet.
Kassy Dillon, a video journalist at Daily Wire, noted that Weingarten turned off comments because she might have realized the inappropriateness of her tweet. Nikki Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, pointed out Weingarten’s Jewish background and her role as president of AFT, suggesting her lack of awareness regarding Orthodox Jewish customs.
This incident is part of a challenging week for Weingarten on social media. She also sparked debate with a post about the rise in homeschooling in America, sharing an Axios article on the subject. Some users, including evolutionary biologist Colin Wright, attributed this increase to the educational agenda pushed by AFT, including gender ideology instruction in public schools.
The AFT had not responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment at the time of reporting. Weingarten’s social media activities have opened discussions about her understanding of religious practices and the influence of AFT’s policies on the American education system.