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Date: 4/25/2023
BELCHERTOWN — On April 18, faith, student and civic leaders gathered with community members on the Belchertown Common to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom HaShoah, and to stand up to antisemitism and hate.
Holocaust Remembrance Day is recognized worldwide every year to memorialize the lives lost in the Holocaust, and to recognize the resilience of those who survived.
The event took place in the wake of recent antisemitic events at the Jabish Brook Middle School.
The situation at Jabish Brook Middle School was made public after parents wrote a letter to the district and Select Board expressing that a large group of kids are allegedly demonstrating antisemitic behavior.
The anonymous letter highlighted that around 50 students have taken part in intimidating Jewish students with the Nazi salute or jokes about the Holocaust, concentration camps, gas chambers and more.
The Belchertown school department is in the midst of an ongoing investigation and around 10 students have been identified so far.
School Committee member Michael Knapp was at the event to speak on behalf of the committee and Belchertown Public Schools.
He said, “We are shocked, appalled, hurt and angry about the recent acts of antisemitism at the middle school. This comes against the national background on increasing bias and hate against marginalized groups which must be checked and cannot be accepted. Never again. The school department condemns antisemitism and acts of Jewish bigotry. No one should ever have to come to work or school and experience discrimination or bigotry in any form. We are committed to doing our part to end antisemitism in our community.”
The school department continues to review and act on the recent reports but added that it will also use this as a learning experience to educate their students.
Superintendent Brian Cameron added that the district is in contact with speakers to talk to students and help their learn.
Community members gathered on the Belchertown Common to show their support to the Jewish community and that this type of behavior in Belchertown is not tolerated.
Belchertown Select Board members, state Rep. Aaron Saunders (D-Belchertown), state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) along with priests and rabbis were all in attendance to show their support and offer some words.
Their overall message was that this type of behavior is not tolerated in Belchertown or anywhere and that the event on the Belchertown Common was the first step in fixing the problem.
Saunders said, “We are here in solemn observation of Yom HaShoah, of the atrocities, but also to recognize that antisemitism unfortunately is here in Belchertown and this is the beginning of our response to the troubling incidents at the middle school. The community response that’s reflected here today is nothing short of wonderful.”
Holocaust survivor Henia Lewin was also in attendance and spoke about her experiences.
Lewin is currently 83 years old and recognized that she is lucky to be alive after being smuggled out of her home in a suitcase as a child in Lithuania to hide and survive.
“Survivors are hardly alive at this point. I feel as it is my obligation as long as I’m able, to tell what happened when evil runs life,” Lewin added.
Lewin thinks that the current situation taking place in Belchertown can be solved with proper education.
She said, “The people I am most angry with are the bystanders. They looked the other way and let the evil happen. It is they who could have stopped it. I look to young people of today to stop the evil. In the school, do not follow someone whose comes up with these crazy ideas about someone skin color, about someone religion. Under the skin we are all the same. It is important that the youth not be followers but be leaders and it starts with education.”
Massachusetts lawmakers approved a bill in November 2021 that enforced middle and high schools to teach the history of genocide and human rights issues, including the Holocaust.
Knapp added, “We are taking steps to eliminate this from the culture in our schools. Educating students on the harmful effects and eliminating for opportunities for this to occur. Consider the Belchertown School District a partner in ending antisemitism in our community.”