Project Esther is an effort by the American conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation to suppress what it classifies as antisemitism. The effort has received the support of a number of evangelical Christian but no major Jewish organizations. It has been criticized by journalist Steve Rabey for incorporating antisemitic tropes into its rhetoric. [1] According to Slate,Haaretz,The Forward, and the Jewish Insider, Project Esther does not address right-wing antisemitism. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The Heritage Foundation launched Project Esther in October 2024; it is named after the biblical figure Esther. [6] The project describes pro-Palestinian groups as part of a "Hamas Support Network". [7] [8] It has been characterized by The Guardian as aiming to dismantle the pro-Palestinian movement in the U.S. [9]
The project reportedly struggled to find Jewish organizations with which to partner, while sidelining those that do partner with it. [5] [10]
The group has targeted eight "masterminds"—George Soros, Alex Soros, JB Pritzker, Angela Davis, Manolo de los Santos, Vijay Prashad, Neville Singham, and Jodie Evans—who it believes are at the center of progressive politics. The Soros family is the subject of a number of longstanding antisemitic conspiracy theories that match the language used by Project Esther. [4]
In January 2025, a report by The Forward revealed a leaked pitch deck the Heritage Foundation sent to Project Esther donors that included a plan to identify and target Wikipedia editors the group said were "abusing their position" by publishing allegedly antisemitic content. [11]
According to analysis by Baptist News Global, "Project Esther's own rhetoric about battling powerful Jewish 'masterminds' reinforces centuries-old conspiracy theories about Jews who have too much power and influence." [1]
Jacobin has said the effort is part of a red scare against the pro-Palestinian movement and the political left. [12]
According to Slate , Project Esther does not acknowledge or address right-wing antisemitism or white supremacy. [2] According to The Forward, "Project Esther focuses exclusively on left-wing critics of Israel, ignoring the antisemitism problems from white supremacists and other far-right groups." [4] Haaretz has also reported that Project Esther does not address right-wing antisemitism. [3] When asked by Jewish Insider to explain why the effort did not include right-wing antisemitism, James Carafano, the head of Heritage's antisemitism operations, said "white supremacists are not my problem because white supremacists are not part of being conservative". [5]
The Times of Israel has described Project Esther's aim as a "government crackdown on anti-Israel groups once Donald Trump returns to the White House". [13]
According to reporting by Religion Dispatches , Project Esther is closely tied to Christian Zionism and the New Apostolic Reformation. [14]
The Project has received support primarily from evangelical Christian organizations. [15]
Supporting organizations include the Family Research Council, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Concerned Women for America, Regent University, Independent Women’s Forum, Coalition for Jewish Values, and the Steamboat Institute. [5]