Antisemitic incident occurs in yearbook of East Brunswick High School in New Jersey
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Friday, June 7, 2024
The annual yearbook at East Brunswick High School in New Jersey, given out this week, was reported to have had an antisemitic incident where photos that were supposed to be of Jewish students were replaced with images of Muslim students as well as removing the names of the Jewish students. School Superintendent Victor Valeski said that they were conducting an investigation and that the problem occurred from the school, not the publisher. Valeski added that he was "devastated and frustrated" about the incident. The mayor of East Brunswick Brad Cohen called the incident a "blatant antisemitic act" adding that "hate has no place in East Brunswick and antisemitism will not be tolerated." The mayor also warned that hate crime charges could be pressed against the perpetrators.
A member of the Jewish Student Union, Abigail Aronovich, stated that there is blatant antisemitism at the school. Furthermore, she said that she found it "hard to see it as an error" and that there has been an ongoing "issue with antisemitism at the school". Another member of the Jewish Student Union said they were excited to get the yearbook, only to find they had been removed. She said that she was "shocked and disturbed when we got up to our page and saw what happened," adding that "it was disappointing, and it feels like they were trying to take our identity away from us." The student requested that, for anyone determined to be the perpetrator, the reprimanding or firing if they are a teacher and if they are a students the revoking of graduation or prom privileges. Leaders of the East Brunswick Jewish Center Christine Mahler and Jack Goldberg said that they were "shocked and appalled" continuing by saying that "we have a very prominent Jewish community in East Brunswick, and everyone is very upset" and they've "never had anything like this happen before." A variety of groups demanded answers over how the incident happened.
Students reportedly did not understand why anyone would target their club, which is used as a place for Jewish students to congregate and practice their religion.
The incident is one of many similar incidents targeting Jewish students in the United States.
Valeski stated that the yearbooks were given only to the seniors and that they are being recalled and reprinted, at an estimated cost of $1,000.
Sources
[edit]- Kendall Tietz. "Mayor says Jewish club yearbook photo replaced with Muslim students in 'blatant antisemitic' act" — Fox News, June 7, 2024
- Ronny Reyes. "NJ high school cuts Jewish club from yearbook, replaces with pic of Muslim students in ‘blatant antisemitic’ act" — The New York Post, June 5, 2024
- Nick Caloway and Naveen Dhaliwal. "Yearbook controversy involving Jewish Student Union photo under investigation at N.J. high school" — CBS News, June 6, 2024