Dear friends,
I wanted to update you on key discussions from our most recent hearing at the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism on January 23. This session highlighted both the progress we’ve made in the K–12 education space, the work that still needs to be done, and the ongoing importance of JCRC’s work.
Working within K-12 schools is critical to shaping the experiences and futures of our students, ensuring they grow up in environments free from prejudice and full of understanding. The hearing reinforced just how vital this work is for our community. We heard from leading experts and partners on the challenges and solutions we face in addressing antisemitism in K–12 to better equip the commission to make policy recommendations.
ADL opened the session by presenting findings from their recent survey on antisemitism in schools and support for Holocaust education. They shared that 43% of parents are aware of at least one incident of antisemitism or anti-Israel bias at their child’s school, with many of these incidents occurring as early as elementary school.
Despite this, only 29 states mandate Holocaust education and only a fraction of current K–12 parents surveyed indicated that their child’s school offered antisemitism (21%) or Holocaust education (30%).
This statistic is both alarming and a call to action for all of us. The reality of antisemitism in schools is a problem we must address with urgency.
Take, for instance, the harrowing stories of Noga and Nadav, as told to the Commission by Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern.
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern, PsyD, presented a deeply moving perspective on the psychological effects antisemitism has on students. She illustrated just how damaging these experiences are to students’ sense of safety and to their mental and emotional well-being.
Dr. Bar-Halpern’s presentation made it clear that the impact of antisemitism in our schools extends far beyond classroom incidents — it affects entire families and communities. It reinforced our responsibility to create a culture of understanding and support for students who face such challenges.
In addition to these sobering presentations, we heard from our partners at Facing History and Ourselves, led by Elizabeth Carroll, New England Program Director. Elizabeth shared the important role their organization plays in equipping educators with the tools and resources to confront antisemitism and teach about the Holocaust. Facing History’s comprehensive approach — offering teacher training, educational materials, and New England Holocaust Memorial tours — helps foster a deeper understanding of these complex issues in the classroom.
Our partnership efforts with Facing History includes creating content and training for our docents who give guided tours at the New England Holocaust Memorial, which I discussed at the hearing in greater detail in the video below:
Perhaps, most importantly, as noted by Lizzie: When states like ours fund mandates for genocide education, it ensures that these lessons are prioritized and can be implemented consistently across all schools. At JCRC, we are proud to have led the advocacy, in partnership with our allies on in civic space on Beacon Hill, to secure the funding to implement this mandate in Massachusetts.
Highlighting these issues through the Special Commission to Combat Antisemitism carries considerable weight in shaping the educational landscape. The Commission has the ability to make strong recommendations, and its influence can drive legislative action.
As we move forward, it’s clear that our work is far from over. But through continued collaboration with experts, educators, and community leaders, we are making strides in creating a school culture that is safe, inclusive, and better educated.
Warm regards,
Jeremy Burton
Chief Executive Officer, JCRC of Greater Boston
