The Jewish Architects of Opera
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After a suburban Chicago yearbook praised Hamas, Jewish parents react.
The post spread like wildfire through social media apps for Chicago-area moms last week. Glenbrook South High School, a public high school with over 3,000 students - many of them Jewish - in the beautiful suburb of Glenview, had just published its yearbook, The Etruscan. It contained fulsome words of support for Hamas’ deadly attack last October 7.
A sophomore in the school wrote about October 7: “The first day I woke up and I saw what Palestine did, and I was happy because they’re finally defending themselves.” As Hamas fighters raped, mutilated, tortured, murdered and kidnapped Israelis, the high schooler described feeling happy. The student also called Israel’s very existence into question, saying “In my opinion, it isn’t a war, considering this has been going on for 75 years.”
Parents in the school felt betrayed and outraged. Adding to the sense of crisis, parents who complained were being met with insistence from the school administrations that this outrageous quote was protected student speech.
“It’s pretty all-consuming at the moment,” explained Rabbi Aaron Braun, who has many congregants whose kids attend the school and whose own son is planning to start there next year. I started reaching out to parents in the district to find out whether this inflammatory, hateful quote was indicative of pro-Hamas sentiment in the area. Their answers paint a worrying picture of where American Jews find themselves today.
“The school district has been wonderful,” said one parent who wanted to remain anonymous. Yes, their child had experienced anti-Jewish harassment in the past, but this parent considered it a limited problem. Besides, they said, the school had handled it wonderfully. I was pleased to hear that the high school had come down hard on anti-Jewish bullying, but was bewildered by the sense of fear this parent felt about complaining publicly.
Lindsey Garfield is another parent in the school; her son is in the same grade as the girl whose quote about being happy on October 7 is included in the yearbook. He has many diverse friends at Glenbrook South. “He’s really separated his Jewish identity from his school identity.” Outside of school, her son is very active in Jewish activities and has a robust circle of Jewish friends.
I asked Lindsey if her son felt any antisemitism since October 7 at school. She explained that “Glenbrook is a diverse community; it’s a respectful community. We didn’t have a walkout. There wasn’t a parade down the hallway with Palestinian flags.” At many local high schools this year, anti-Israel parades, Palestinian flags, and sit-ins have been the norm.
One high school near Glenview hosted a demonstration where students chanted “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free,” and “Israel must pay for their crimes.” Jewish students reported feeling threatened and unsafe during the event. Chicago public schools have held rallies in support of Gaza; many Jewish students have reported staying home from school on those days.
At Glenbrook South High School, anti-Israel sentiment has been more muted. Some students have worn Palestinian-themed t-shirts to school that proclaim “From the River to the Sea,” Lindsey explains. After she gave her son a t-shirt from Israel that features the Coca-Cola logo in Hebrew writing, he told her he wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing it in school. “I think he doesn’t want to start anything up with kids who don’t know him,” Lindsey says. “He doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of antisemitism.”
Rabbi Braun says the increase in antisemitism in the community since October 7 is obvious. “There’s more willingness to say abhorrent things about Israel and about Jews in general,” he notes. His upscale suburb, with a large Jewish population, has seen anti-Israel protests. “It’s indicative of a changing climate. I know it’s difficult for my own kids,” he explains, as antisemitism becomes more open in local public schools.
Recently, when he visited Glenbrook South High School, he was dismayed to see a poster advertising that April is Muslim American Heritage Month and May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, but no poster touting Jewish American Heritage Month which is also in May. When Rabbi Braun asked why Jewish American Heritage Month wasn’t mentioned, he was told it appeared on a different poster elsewhere in the school. After parents complained, the school added Jewish American Month to their poster, but wrote the words in the same color as the background.
“My kids notice,” Rabbi Braun recounts of this encounter. “Why are we treated differently? Those things are troubling and are indicative of a trend.” After the yearbook came out, Rabbi Braun wondered if he could still send his son to Glenbrook South for high school. “Yesterday, yes, I had real thoughts about whether I was doing the right thing sending my son into this environment. My feelings of concern and hurt were escalated when parents with kids in the school reported being told by the principal that this was a free speech issue. That gave me pause about whether I feel comfortable about sending my son into that environment.”
Eventually, the principal sent a letter to the school community expressing “regret” for the yearbook quote and saying the school launched “an investigation that will continue until we reach a resolution.” She added, “We are exploring all options to remedy this deeply offensive and regrettable situation.”
For parent Lindsey Garfield, this is a start. “I made sure I wrote letters to the District Superintendent and the principal.” She also filed a report with the Anti-Defamation League and made sure to involve her kids in her efforts. “I’m trying to teach them to use this a lesson to show that we stand up, we write letters, we need to educate people.” She’d like the school to recall and reprint the yearbook and that the entire school community use this as a teaching moment to tackle antisemitism.
If Jewish history teaches us anything, it’s that hiding our Jewishness never appeases antisemites. The only solution to anti-Jewish hate is Jewish pride.
This kind of hate is learned from parents, teachers, and social media.
For those participating in the "WOKE" movement & activists - in/on a variety of other issues. Their lack of knowledge about the real issues - which has been documented on TV & on Aish - may be based on lack of thought. Lack of thought - is often INFLUENCED BY "INFLATION" - OR - THE LACK THEREOF. Many of those involved in these movements - may feel that - "A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS" - isn't worthy of their time - to accurately think THROUGH & OUT-OF-THE-BOX on an issue. While the PAID ACTIVISTS - ARE PAID WELL for their thoughts - on how to think for the activists they recruit - inviting them to join the issue - WITHOUT HAVING TO THINK IT OUT. The A.J. Edelman article on Aish - indicates our need - to PROVIDE ANSWERS - or - pay those who don't think for themselves.
It is rubbish that the school admin is dismayed by the article in the Yearbook. nothing gets published without the consent of the Faculty advisor. whoever that is should be fired. The Author should have been hauled into a counselor's office to be taught her words meant the genocide of the Jewish people. She needs to be taught who the colonizers were and who are the Indigenous people as well as what river and what sea as we know American children are abysmally ignorant of geography and world history.
All the way down the line, there are edits and proofreaders. As a student photographer I worked on the sister school's, Glenbrook North, yearbook and know the scrutiny of the publication. All the administration is responsible for this divisiveness.
In his contemplation, Rabbi Braun's genuine anguish is apparent. Questions like "Why are we treated differently?" and "...whether I was doing the right thing sending my son into this environment" weigh heavily on him. As a graduate of Open Orthodox Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, he surely values maximum integration into non-Jewish culture. Yet, amidst these concerns lies the seeds of a crucial realization: our unique identity as Jews. Despite attempts to assimilate, our distinctiveness resurfaces. Whether we heed this reality in or self-image and decisions like our children's education, we face a critical juncture — awakening or denial, each with its consequences.
Over 2000 years, when will our Jewish families learn that educating and seeking dialogue with our enemies is useless? Why should our youngsters be scared by antisemites in their classrooms and not the other way? If the authorities barely pay attention to anti-Jewish excesses why shouldn't these young terrorists act according to their parents' education? Since the emancipated Jews sought defense by their overlords when they were helpless in their ghettoes what has changed? Evidently our ancestors have left the ghetto but the ghetto has not left them. Our youngsters must be taught to act as bold, proud and upright Jews who will defend their status when necessary.Jewish parents, make our youngsters learn self defense like our brothers in Israel.This will be THE education for the antisemites.
As a Goy, I too will fight for the survival of the Jewish promise. A world without the Jews is a backwards, non-evolving world of idiots.
Definitely our education system is terribly broken. Many teachers and administrators need to be trashed....or forced to read books about the Holocaust and view photos.
It’s not about the Holocaust they need to learn but about the history of the world in general and the Middle-East in particular. With plenty of primary sources and archaeological evidence.
It's not surprising that a student would write something like this. What is surprising is that a teacher would approve it for publication. He or she should be held responsible. Since when are some students (or teachers) allowed to target other students? How can this happen in a public school? This is not protected free speech. It is hatespeech directed against students and possibly an accessory to an assault or itself an assault.
The teacher and administration must put in place a policy applying to all speech/ writing permitted in the yearbook. It must prohibit all expressions of praise or criticism of religion, foreign policy, etc. Otherwise, to prohibit only anti-Israel or antisemitic speech would indeed violate the First Amendment.
I agree 100% to this statement, the Jewish parents should sue,sue,sue
I agree with the person that wrote this remark, but there should be a legal difference between free speech and hate speech, and what happened in this school was hate speech the code " to the river(etc)", is G_d forbid destroy Israel, kill Jews G_d forbid, this is what they learn in public school these days I heard most Jewish parents send their kids to Hebrew Day Schools/or Yeshivas for this reason
The yearbook is the organ of a public school. There are many things that are inappropriate to it--political statements, religious creeds, personal attacks, etc. Free speech is not the right to use a yearbook or anything comparable to express personal political beliefs--whatever they happen to be. To allow the yearbook to be used by one group of students to attack another goes beyond negligence towards the criminal.
So the school shouldn't of allowed such a problemitic year book, it should of been destroyed and have a decent year book that wasn't so offensive in a lot of ways
It's a tough one; rights are not absolute, like the old excample you can't yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater unless there is a fire. That being said, someones fee speech is always someone elses hate speech; the concept is to allow any speech that does not directly interfere with someone's rights.
Jewish schoolchildren need to sing:
"From the River to the Sea!
Israel shall always be!".
Or "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will never be!"
I agree, and am yisrael chai " never again"
When children this young are spouting inaccurate information in order to support antisemitic statements and behavior the best response is massive education and information flooding into the schools. Jewish children and adults need to become education ambassadors. There needs to be a nonstop barrage of truth.....um, no the Palestinians are not finally defending themselves. They have been shelling Israeli civilians daily for years, etc.....many pro Palestinian Americans are simply unaware of the facts.
I beg to differ: they couldn't care less about the facts!
Consider that their propaganda is based on lies intended to engender pity; that's the only thing those miserable cowards do well, and pro-"Palestinians" {that term is the biggest lie!} – that is, anti-Semites and other members of the "cream of the crap" society (mostly thoughtless fools who follow the loudest crowd) fall for it, thereby smearing themselves with dirt that doesn't wash off!
Look, ignorant people are born every day; that is why we have an educational system.
Unfortunately, the educational system is broken, and engaging in indoctrination instead of education.
Look, ignorant people are born every day, that is why we have systems of faith.
Unfortunately, they too, every one of them, by majority, are broken also.
Look, ignorant people are born every day, that is why we have governments and laws to keep people in check....
The world, by majority, is in failure.
Surely you know what time it is.
Just keep your connection with HaShem, and do your best to cope appropriately.
Jew hatred. Jew hatred. That's it. 99% of those imbecils (students and educators) don't even know where is Gaza but it involve the Jews and that's all they need to know. It's an old age genetically embedded in many Christians and most Muslims.
These young cretins are the future leaders of the Democratic Party and even more chilling, the future members of Congress and perhaps the White House. We should all be thinking of the day when the whole diaspora makes aliyah and together we build a strong and vibrant Israel. An Israel that is not dependent on the whims of some Democrat President to supply weapons.
Do not make this a democratic bashing. It is despicable behavior by children and allowed by adults
I fear you are correct. the only democrat standing up for Israel is Fetterman in PA.
And Ritchie Torres, and Eric Adams, and probably some others. I agree - overall the democrats are not our friends. But let's not forget to mention and thank the friends we do have there.
One question for the person who wrote this crap in their school yearbook.
This weekend is the big "Bottle Rock" concert in Napa Valley. How would you feel if a group of military people claiming to be protectors of an oppressed group started shooting, raping and taking hostages at this event?
We must realize that Yasmeen (who was apparently nursed on Jew-hatred) and her ilk would applaud the armed brutes as "heroes" -- as long as they weren't Jewish, of course.
She and those like her should actually be ashamed of the Arab/Muslim way of operating: Attack civilians, then cry "unfair!" when the army representing those civilians is forced into an existential war.
Despicable cowards whose only talent is obscuring or twisting the truth and propagating utter falsehood! They believe their oily money will win them friends in high places, but the fact is that only lowlife rabble-rousers, misguided leftists and die-hard anti-Semites stand with them.
It's unreasonable & unfair & mentally unhealthy to send a Jewish child to a non-Jewish school. Recently I met a man like that who'd been sent to public school, despite being orthodox. The gentile kids mocked him & even beat him. The father repeatedly went to court & won, but his son lost & regrets his father sending him to such a situation. I can imagine for a nonorthodox Jewish child it must be much worse.
I went to a secular public school my entire childhood, and I was just fine. More than fine. I flourished. And I was the only Jewish student there! So, there are many factors that go into an individual's experience. Not only religion or race.
You are an exception rather than the rule.
As a thought experiment, one can reason thusly: generalizating from the support for Hamas, one can state as a principle that if Country A oppresses Country B, the citizens of Country B are entitled to rape, torture and murder the citizens of Country A.
Given the history of interactions between the US and Mexico, do you as a US citizen willingly consent to be raped, tortured and murdered by a Mexican?
Your thought experiment is both fallacious and misleading since Hamas is not a sovereign country but rather an entity living within the boundaries of a country that actually provides it with aid despite its heinous charter that unmistakably spells out its raison d'etre: to kill Jews and wipe Israel off the map, cv"s.
And they're undeterred by repeated failure, b"H, because they're generously provided with funds by those who use them to do their dirty work (which those monstrous brutes, ym"s, consider "holy").
As for their non-Muslim supporters, those are either hopelessly rabid anti-Semites or hateful fools searching for a "cause" that will make their empty lives appear meaningful.
Also, the United States doesn't oppress Mexico, or Mexicans.
1. The experiment is geared towards the (mis)understandings of the students, who think Gaza is a sovereign nation oppressed by Israel.
2. The states now known as New Mexico and Texas are founded on land forcibly annexed by US from Mexico (= stolen land). Recently the US built a security fence between itself and Mexico (= open air prison). So by analogy US does “oppress” Mexico.
3. Thus according to the principles established by supporting Hamas….etc.
The idea is for students to place themselves in the position they assign to Israel and then decide if brutality is justified in their case also? If not… - just maybe they’ll wake up to their own hypocrisy. And be ready to see another side of things.