As Our American K-12 Children Return to School—What Hell Awaits Them?

Our American Jewish K-12 children are being attacked by fellow students and their parents, teachers, and the school’s administrators ignore their concerns.

When our generation’s kids didn’t want to go to school on a particular day it was because they were ill or wanted to stay home and play, not fear for their safety!

Can you tell I’m mad? Aren’t you? We’re familiar with the testimony of the Ivy League college administrators who failed miserably to protect our college-age Jewish young adults. Still, these are our babies who don’t have the capacity to deal with this, and apparently, too many adults don’t either.

Now if you think that it’s a Jewish problem, think again. We Jews are always the canary in the coal mine. Canaries were once used in coal mines because they were sensitive to toxic gases. If the canary became sick or died, it was a sign that the air was unsafe for miners.

Admittedly, while writing this it gave me a pain in the pit of my stomach as visions of the Holocaust wafted by, reminding me of the gas chambers in the concentration camps. May their memories be a blessing. Followed of course, by the atrocities of October 7th. When will the list of attacks on Jews ever end? Not this week. As I said in my last Times of Israel Blog, “More Than Size Matters—Are Jews the Invisible Minority?” There is no place where we can feel safe!

In 2023, the ADL reported 1,162 cases of antisemitism in U.S. K-12 schools. Additionally, there were also 1,987 incidents at Jewish institutions, which the ADL says were driven by bomb threats at synagogues and other institutions starting in the summer. Many of these incidents mentioned below occur repeatedly and from school to school.

But our little shayna punims (Yiddish for beautiful faces)? I listened horrified as the events at K-12 schools were recounted. These are incidents, surprisingly at some of the public schools with the largest Jewish populations wouldn’t they be safe there? such as New York and Berkeley, California, but also schools located in the Philadelphia School District, Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) in California, Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, and the Carmel Unified School District. Unfortunately, there’s too much hate to go around.

Swastikas on school playground in Queens

Dozens of swastikas, a Nazi eagle, and the words “Hail Hitler” (sic) were found drawn in chalk on the pavement of PS 139’s schoolyard in Queens. The perpetrator? A twelve-year-old.

A Title VI complaint is being investigated by the Department of Education, which was filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), in February 2024. It was filed against Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD), claiming that it failed to address non-stop “severe and persistent” bullying and harassment of Jewish students in classrooms, hallways, schoolyards, and walkouts since October 7, 2023.

Sign at Berkeley High School KRON4

Examples of antisemitism revealed included, “numerous incidents including anti-Semitic comments, such as “kill the Jews,” non-Jewish students asking Jewish students what “their number is,” referring to numbers tattooed on Jews during the Holocaust, Jewish students being told “I don’t like your people” and being derided for their physical appearance, and Jewish students being blamed and demonized.

The complaint continued that students have had to endure anti-Semitic teacher rants, class activities, and teacher-promoted “walkouts” that praise Hamas. During an unauthorized teacher-promoted walkout for Palestine, no teachers intervened as students shouted, “Kill the Jews,” “KKK,” “Kill Israel,” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Anti-Jewish bigotry and harassment have increased, and the environment has become even more hostile and threatening. Additional incidents included: “Kill Jews” scrawled at Berkeley High School, “Kill all Zionists” written at the bus stop used by many Berkeley High School students to get to and from school, a ninth-grader bullied after his parent reported anti-Semitic incidents, teachers continuing to teach one-sided anti-Israel propaganda disguised as education, and removal of posters condemning anti-Semitism and supporting Israel’s right to exist, while anti-Israel and pro-Hamas posters remain undisturbed.

The ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, the American Jewish Committee and Potomac Law Group also filed suit on behalf of the Brandeis Center Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) for alleged violations of California’s open meetings law, including failing to provide proper public notice before approving multiple ethnic studies courses containing anti-Jewish bias and for refusing to protect the public, including members of the Jewish community, from intimidation and harassment at Board meetings.

I was listening to the Congressional Hearing held recently where details of the antisemitism occurring in our schools were being probed. Its title is “Confronting Pervasive Antisemitism in K-12 Schools.”

Mr. David Banks Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools

Mr. David Banks, Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools, added to our vile list of examples. Unfortunately, throughout the schools there are too many to mention. One student caught on a security camera dressed up as Hitler giving the nazi salute, and three swastikas were drawn on teachers’ walls in one week. Jewish kids fear riding the bus and wearing their kippahs (Jewish head coverings). Some children as young as second grade are spewing nazi propaganda.

Interestingly, at Mr. Bank’s alma mater, Hillcrest High School, there was a two-hour student riot by “radicalized” teens. As reported in the New York Post, the students wanted a Jewish teacher fired who merely had shown her support for Israel by attending a pro-Israel rally and posting a picture on social media. “They found where she lives — her address, her phone number, her family and everything—her personal information,” a senior said.

Students outrageously were captured on video yelling, “F–k the Jews!” Clips showed a water fountain ripped out in the hallway and shattered tiles in the second-floor boys’ bathroom, which students admitted they vandalized.

The teacher was forced to hide in a locked office as hundreds of kids surged into hallways chanting, jumping, shouting, and waving Palestinian flags or banners. Students recorded the commotion, posting multiple videos, some set to pulsing Arabian music, on TikTok. Most comments posted on the videos applauded the kids and jeered the teacher, one calling her a “cracker ass bitch.” Many tried to barge into the teacher’s classroom despite school staffers blocking their entry.

“Everyone was yelling ‘Free Palestine!’” a senior said.

However, let’s put blame where it belongs, these kids are parroting what they hear at home and now unfortunately, we realize far too many are taught hatred from their teachers as well. And the principal, what happened to him? He wasn’t fired, he was moved.

I realize that these examples are running long, but please let me tell you about one more outrage. As reported in the New York Post, a public New York City elementary school is being accused of “Jewish erasure” because a map in one of its classrooms showed all of the countries in the Middle East except for Israel — which it labeled as Palestine.

PS 261 in Brooklyn: Qatari purchased map replaces Israel with Palestine. NEW YORK POST

The map, labeled the “Arab World,” appears in a classroom at PS 261 in Brooklyn, where Rita Lahoud gives students lessons in the Arab Culture Arts program — which is funded by Qatar Foundation International, the American wing of the Qatar Foundation, a nonprofit owned by the country’s wealthy ruling family,” forgive me—WTF?

Before I have a stroke, let’s switch gears for a breath of comfort. Let me tell you about a recent event that I went to at Crossline Church called, “Standing Together, Film Screening and Panel Discussion.” It was hosted by Crossline Church, the Israeli American Council, and in partnership with Shoreline Church and Grafted Ministries. Like our synagogue fortress these days, I was relieved that they knew how to handle security. The necessity for armed guards and bullet proof windows is a given today for Jews to be safe. Is this 2024, or a nightmare?

We were welcomed with arms open wide, and I couldn’t help but note how unusual it felt, and I was grateful for their supportive invitation. The joy Inbal Greenberg, of the IAC demonstrated was palpable. It was obvious she was with friends, relationships that are hard to find as an Israeli nowadays. October 7^th is sadly forevermore seared into all Israeli and Jewish hearts. Inbal reflected that prior to October 7^th, Israelis kept their constant pain suffered by the incessant terror attacks mostly to themselves, perhaps thinking they had to maintain a stiff upper lip for sanity, or to move through their day. October 7^th shattered their composure. But has the world filled their ears with another story? Is it too late to find anyone willing to listen? One wonders how many chapters of pain will be added during what will most likely reach an entire year or more of the Israel-Hamas War. There are no winners in war.

I was excited to find out that the first part of the event was showing, “HOPE IN THE HOLY LAND: THE SERIES: Episode 1- Liberation or Occupation?

Todd Morehead Interviewing Rabbi Fleischer in “HOPE IN THE HOLY LAND: THE SERIES: Episode 1- Liberation or Occupation?

The docuseries is a follow-up to the feature “Hope in the Holy Land.” I had met both Todd Morehead and Justin Kron, the producers, previously for my vodcast, PEACE with Penny, just before “Hope in the Holy Land” was released, in May 2021.

“Hope in the Holy Land” captures the story of Todd Morehead, an American Christian with a deep love for Israel who sets off on a journey across the Holy Land to confront his indifference toward the Palestinians and to search for the deeper truths behind one of the most perplexing and polarizing conflicts in the world. Along the way, he discovers the painful struggles of Jews, Muslims, and Christians on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide. It’s a documentary about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that I found to be fair to both sides. I encourage you to find out for yourself and click on the “Hope in the Holy Land” link to see the film.

HOPE IN THE HOLY LAND

We did a PEACE with Penny update interview November 2023, and congratulations were in order because they had won the 2021 Melech Tel-Aviv International Film Festival for Best Digital Showcase Documentary. Mazal Tov! We also caught up on what had happened since the film’s release, and learned that they had been working on the “HOPE IN THE HOLY LAND: THE SERIES: Episode 1- Liberation or Occupation?.  Currently, they are working on editing Episodes 2 and 3. In total there will be six episodes, and you can view the trailer for the HOPE IN THE HOLY LAND SERIES here.

Episode 2: THE SNIPER ZONE was just shot in Israel and its topic is the history of the Gaza Strip leading up to October 7^th. It covers radical Islam, Hamas, and their ideologies. Episode 3: THE COLLABORATORS, covers the atrocities of October 7th and many survivor interviews. I can’t wait to see all six and learn even more about this challenging conflict.

First what you realize while watching Episode 1, is that neither side is a monolith. Different people had different perceptions and answered Todd’s questions according to their own personal compass. Admittedly, it was very disturbing to listen to the Palestinian perspective of Jews. Far too many expressed their hate toward Jews.

As one Palestinian pointed out, “You have crazy people from both sides. In the West Bank what are you taught towards Israel and the Jewish people? It’s the stereotype that grows up with you that you are the enemy of the Israelis, and the Israeli is your enemy. That is how your grandfather was thinking and your parents, that’s the flow. It’s not easy to get rid of.”

They probably had never spoken with a Jewish person, at least on a personal level.

It’s times like this that I am so grateful to speak with so many Peace organizations on PEACE with Penny, comprised of Israelis and Palestinians who work together on Peace. Over the years, so many have become friends with one another. The comradery with some feels more like family. I pray that some day all will realize that each of us is just human with the same needs and desires, who want to live safely without having to worry if their child will come home upset only because the teacher assigned so much homework.

The Israeli side seemed to have more fear of the Palestinians than hate.

I could go on and on about all the interesting answers Todd was given from both sides, but I haven’t even gotten to the second half of the event. Check out “Hope in the Holy Land,”  the movie or Episode 1 of the series, they are worth your time!

The second half of the event was made up of knowledgeable Jewish, Israeli, and Christian, participants including:

• JP Jones, Senior Pastor of Crosslines Church
• Dr. Sergey Sundukovskiy, who is a professor, researcher, and entrepreneur
• Todd Morehead, producer of Hope in the Holy Land, both the movie and series and who is part of Grafted Ministries, Hope in the Holy Land, and Shoreline Church
• Yosi Olander, Israeli American, High-tech expert and philanthropist
• Rabbi K’vod Wieder, Temple Beth El of South Orange County
• Inbal Greenberg, Israeli American Council Regional Director of Orange County and Long Beach
• Greg Munck, Lead Pastor and Panel Moderator, Crossline Church

Inbal Greenberg, an Israeli from the Israeli American Council Regional Director of Orange County and Long Beach introduced a special guest, Amit Mekel, the new Israeli Ambassador to Paraguay. He told a moving story that included the fact that he is not Jewish, but Druze. It was unique to hear him proudly announce that he is a Zionist, a term that has extremely different meanings for each side. To Jews, it means we believe that Israel is our homeland. To Arabs, there are so many ugly words attached to the meaning today, but suffice to say, to them it means you are a colonizer, occupier, proponent of apartheid, etc. It’s a term saved for their worst enemy.

His father served in the IDF for twenty-five years and both he and his brother are fighting now in the IDF. Ambassador Merkel served five years in the IDF as a paratrooper. He happened to marry a Jewish woman who he said “is a Jewish second generation of Holocaust survivors. Many of their relatives were murdered by the Nazis in Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Majdanek concentration camps.” When he took a trip to the concentration camps 10 years ago, he promised himself that after eight days seeing the remnants of the horror with his own eyes, he said, “I swore to myself and to God that I see my mission in this life is to protect the Jewish State and the Jewish people.” The couple is raising their three children as Jews. Amen.

Pastor Greg Munck asked the panel several questions and later the audience was given the privilege to ask questions as well. Questions were varied some of which included, why is there this explosion of antisemitism, what role does the media play in its proliferation, what is the history of the Arab narrative, why do the administrators of our kids’ school allow the students and some teachers to present such a one-sided, antisemitic viewpoint and what can we do about it?

One question that shot straight to my heart was asked by an audience member. The crux of what this parent was saying is that his daughter had already lost three best friends because of antisemitism/anti-Israel sentiment. He had learned during the panel answers that if one Pro-Israel person must face forty Pro-Palestinian opinions, statistically speaking, how can we help our kids to know what to say against this avalanche of hate? What do they say to their friends to help?

Rabbi K’vod promptly answered that first she should become as educated as possible to understand the history of the conflict. He advised that there are some great resources of pamphlets that could be found on the “Stand with Us,” website that discusses these issues in a straightforward manner but doesn’t ignore the nuances of this complicated situation. Once she has learned as much as possible, then she can share that knowledge with her friends. He continued that it’s very important not only to talk, but to listen and ask questions. Where did her friends hear x from, and why do you think so-and-so thinks that way?

Rabbi K’vod, made the analogy that what is posted on Tik Tok is like eating sugar cereal. It’s instant gratification. As soon as she begins to present something that is a lot more knowledgeable and robust than those sound bites, her friends will realize she really knows what she’s talking about, she’s providing an entire meal, not just an unhealthy snack.

Dr. Sergey Sundukovskiy, agreed with the rabbi and added that she also had to be aware of how she felt about these emotional circumstances. He cautioned that these are not easy conversations to have, and the best place to practice her answers were in discussions around the dinner table.

Several people both in the panel and audience pointed out that there have been many years of indoctrination with the one-sided viewpoint, many students now are grown and have become today’s teachers. While there are no easy answers, one thing everyone agreed on is that as Jews, we can’t do this alone and that we need partners to support us.

They decried what is presented by the media is no longer the well-researched information of yester-year. Even the young journalists have been educated by the same slanted teachers and atmosphere. Yosi said that in New York it costs $200K to live there and these inexperienced reporters make $70K, so they still live at home with their parents. They haven’t experienced enough of life, yet they report on these complicated situations. He said they live in a very small cocoon of their left-wing friends, and this is the Mantra that is repeating in all those leftwing enclaves in New York.

There is so much more information that I’d love to share, but the bottom line is this blog needs to end. If you want to learn more, here’s the link to the entire event.

Hopefully, one day both sides will realize:

Hate is too great a burden to bear.

It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.

Coretta Scott King

May You Live in Peace, שלום and سلام.