Focus on Education
Word for the day: Chutzpah
• • • • • • • • September 25, 2024 • • • • • • • •
Let’s suppose:
White Christian nationalists believe they know better than the NAACP on how to teach about the black experience in America.
Or
The National Rifle Association knows better than Moms Demand on how to teach about gun safety issues in America.
Both of those are examples of Chutzpah: behavior that is extremely confident and often rude, with no respect for the opinions or abilities of anyone else:
As in….. What Chutzpah!
Last week in San Francisco, a “What Chutzpah!” moment occurred.
It involved SFUSD canceling a training for school staff on Jewish identity and antisemitism. Why?
Some background:
San Francisco is under investigation by the Office of Civil Rights for incidents of antisemitism in its schools.
Just as the district must address anti-Black incidents, Islamophobia, and anti-Asian racism, it must address antisemitism.
Superintendent Wayne scheduled the professional development to help SFUSD staff understand and combat antisemitism.
SFUSD must provide training about the American Jewish experience and antisemitism to ensure that instruction is free of anti-Jewish hate.”
The purpose specifically is not about the Oct. 7 invasion and the war in Gaza.
Many educators do not have the personal background or training to recognize antisemitism. Many can’t identify antisemitic tropes, words, and symbols that often hide in plain sight. They may not understand biases can lead to hate and discrimination.
One important resource schools can use is the American Jewish Committee's Translate Hate glossary. It helps identify, expose, and report antisemitic tropes, words, and symbols from the internet to pop culture. DOWNLOAD THE GLOSSARY HERE
SFUSD must provide training about the American Jewish experience and antisemitism to ensure that instruction is free of anti-Jewish hate.
These trainings align with The US National Strategy to Address Antisemitism developed with input from Muslims, Christian, and Jewish organizations. The report specifically called upon organizations such as the American Jewish Committee
to work to counter antisemitism.
Now, wait for it.
The Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Jewish Voice for Peace – Bay Area (JVP-BA) objected to the training. Calling the American Jewish Committee a “pro-War lobbying group,” they did not trust AJC to teach about antisemitism.
Here it comes.
What Chutzpah!
Yes, it’s true. The AJC supports the right of Israel to exist, and other organizations chant “From the river to the sea.”
But that’s not the issue here.
It is imperative that non-Jewish and Jewish communities work together and stand up for each other in order to counter antisemitism and other forms of hate.
Carol Kocivar is a children’s advocate and lives in the Westside. Feedback: kocivarATwestsideobserver.com
Sept 25, 2024
