We represent a group of Jewish residents of Montgomery County who have been working since Oct. 7 to show solidarity with the struggle for justice in Palestine and to address antisemitism in our county through the lens of mutual liberation.
This past week, many of us gathered to celebrate Shabbat together. On Sunday, we attended two events that built support for Palestine, provided us with much-needed spaces to grieve in community, and energized us to work for peaceful solutions: a picnic hosted by the group “MCPS for Palestine” and an interfaith “Solidarity with Gaza” event hosted by the Islamic Community Center of Potomac and Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
The first of these events was smeared as antisemitic in a recent op-ed by Giula Franklin Siegel, representing the Jewish Community Resource Council of Greater Washington (JCRC). Contrary to her suggestion that this event promoted antisemitism, it was a beautiful, diverse gathering that brought together people of all different backgrounds and faiths who share a deep concern for all of our Montgomery County Public Schools students.
We condemn antisemitism in our schools and we condemn the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the forcible displacement and killing of Palestinians in the West Bank. We refute the idea that these two statements are in any way contradictory. We believe it is vital to call out antisemitic words and acts and that it is crucial to allow space for students and staff who wish to voice their outrage about what is taking place.
But we must be accurate and honest when we discuss antisemitism. No one disputes that swastika graffiti is antisemitic. But the statement that “Israel kills” is unequivocally true. We cannot label honest but harsh criticism of Israel as antisemitic; especially when doing so distracts us from white nationalism, the source of most antisemitism in this country.
It is disappointing to continually hear community organizations and leaders such as JCRC claim to speak for all of us. Jews in Montgomery County are tremendously diverse in our religious practice, our politics, and our relationships with Israel. As the school year begins, yes, we are worried about antisemitism. However, we are just as deeply concerned about the ongoing U.S.-funded genocide in Gaza, and we are concerned about hateful bias against and the silencing of Palestinian and Muslim students and staff, which is not conducive to a safe and engaging educational environment.
We believe that leaders and members of our community should be able to speak out for Palestinian lives without facing bad faith accusations of antisemitism. This cause is simply far too important to be silent on. As Jews, we will continue to advocate locally for peaceful solutions that recognize the interconnectedness of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hatred.
Elissa Laitin is a parent of a Montgomery County Public Schools high school student. Kate Sugarman is a Montgomery County resident