Dear Friend:
I hope you’ve had a great week. As you are probably aware by now, the Alliance has been laser focused on the ongoing situation involving antisemitic hazing at Smithfield High School. After the superintendent’s stunning reversal of the discipline given to the five perpetrators, the Alliance has been working to increase public and political pressure to make sure incidents like this are not swept under the rug.
I’m grateful to our partners at the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center for their willingness to work with the school district to provide training and support. I’m grateful to the elected officials, clergy, and everyday citizens who have spoken out this week on behalf of our community. And I’m grateful to all of you for reaching out and asking how you can help. Through our mutual outrage, it’s clear that we all want to do something, to make sure our community is heard loud and clear: that antisemitism and hate should not be tolerated anywhere, especially in a school environment.
On Monday evening, November 3, the Smithfield School Committee will be meeting in an executive session to discuss the incident and the response to the incident by the superintendent and school officials. I hope you will consider joining me. The meeting will be held at Smithfield High School at 5:30pm, and will be followed by a public forum. There is strength in numbers, and the school committee needs to understand that there must be accountability for the actions of the administrators in reversing their decision. And if you are from Smithfield, I would ask you to consider testifying during public comment, sharing how this incident has affected you as a resident of the town and as a member of our community.
If you plan to attend, please let us know by RSVP’ing here. We will share more details with those who sign up.
Monday night, I’ll be asking why this reversal happened, how the decision was made, what protections are being provided to the victim, and how the school will ensure that students understand antisemitism will not be tolerated. And I’ll be demanding that the school district continue the work they were doing with the Holocaust Education Center, so this can be a teachable moment for all.
Even in these dark moments for our community, I find light in all of you, and in the many who have stood with us this week, so we don’t stand alone.
Until next time, I wish you a safe, peaceful, and joyous Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom,
Adam Greenman
President & CEO
