In a recent guest column, Chris Mohn wrote about Gov. Maura Healey’s amendment to our state budget, requiring the addition of curriculum about antisemitism [“Mandating teaching about antisemitism,” Gazette, Aug. 6]. This amendment directs the state education department to provide resources to schools to address hatred against Jewish people. Many of us, as educators and Jewish parents, are relieved that this amendment was passed as the new school year begins, and antisemitism, hatred of Jews, and violent acts against local Israeli nationals, continues. Why then, did this column focus on the Zionist state and “ongoing horrors?” Isn’t the point of this amendment to allow our children an opportunity to understand how ongoing persecution, and hatred towards the Jewish people have now led to a significant rise in antisemitism since the horrors, and murderous attacks of Oct. 7? And, how does teaching about generational horrors such as the Holocaust include “many varied voices?” This is akin to the “fine people on both sides” argument. I’m not sure what the author meant, but I’m assuming she knows that listening to the voices and actions of evil and destruction towards the Jewish people, are not what Gov. Healy and others in our legislature had in mind.
Veronica Darmon
Northampton