This morning, I received an email from World Jewish Congress asking to "Sign a pledge in support of Holocaust education".
According to WJC "The Jewish people are just 2.4% of the American population but the targets of 66% of all hate crimes committed.
Denial and distortion are powerful tools for haters. The lack of factual Holocaust education actively contributes to the rise of antisemitism across the globe.
Here at home, one in five young Americans now believe the Holocaust is a “myth.” Nearly half of French youth do not know anything about the Shoah. And studies have indicated that younger people are now far more likely to demonstrate antisemitic attitudes than older adults.
Jew hatred must come to an end, and it can start with education.
Education is the most powerful tool we have to counter ignorance, build understanding, and ensure that Never Again truly means Never Again.
To protect our children from ignorance and blind hatred. We must ensure that our youngest citizens learn the truth and will “Never Forget.”
I am the daughter of Holocaust, Ghetto, and Jewish pogrom survivors who escaped to the United States seeking freedom from antisemitism. Growing up, I had to give up my dreams of becoming a musician or a doctor because our passports marked us with the “5th line” — Jewish nationality — and we were not accepted.
As the last generation of Shoah survivors pass their legacy of remembrance on to us, we are the bridge who must pass it on to future generations and must stop this cancerous growth of antisemitism. Debunking lies, propaganda, and conspiracy myths by sharing truthful Holocaust and Jewish Heritage history is one of the best ways to achieve this.
We tell our children what our parents taught us: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” a quote from The Life of Reason: Reason in Common Sense by Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana
Personally, I will wear my Mama Bear hat and leave no stone unturned to protect my children from antisemitism here in America. I believe that the best way to combat hate is through what has always been sacred in my family — education.
Learning the lessons of history is more urgent than ever.
That is why the work and responsibility of our educators is so important!
That is why I stand with the World Jewish Congress in support of enhanced, factual Holocaust and Jewish history education and on behalf of everyone signed, so far 233 people as of today 10/24/25, we are calling on the Fair Lawn Board of Education to meet your own approved 2025-2026 Aug 28, 2025 District Goals: GOAL 2: CULTIVATING BELONGING & COMMUNITY - Creating environments where everyone thrives together and to Include the nationally recognized Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) as part of the school curriculum, as it is already implemented in many school districts across the country, including New York City.
See how it's done on NYC Department of Education website:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/subjects/social-studies/jewish-american-heritage-month
To our family, friends, and all our Fair Lawn community - thank you for signing, sharing!
Please join us Thursday Oct 30 7:30pm at Fair Lawn BOE meeting to support us in person, speak up, make our voices heard!
Fair Lawn Public Schools
37-01 Fair Lawn Ave.
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410