Dear Editor,

Your August 11 article, “Leaders laud recommendations by antisemitism commission,” misleads readers into thinking there is consensus support for the K-12 recommendations of the state legislature’s Special Commission on Antisemitism.

What about the deep-felt concerns by people—including Jews—who staunchly oppose antisemitism yet believe the commission’s approach is dangerous? Many believe it will criminalize support for Palestinian life, threaten civil rights, undermine the integrity of education, put good teachers at risk, compromise students’ right to learn, play into right-wing efforts to make speech conditional on political alignment—and that it will make the problem of antisemitism even worse!

The 40-organization strong coalition, Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts (TIM), led by Newton’s own Sawa: Newton-Area Alliance for Peace and Justice, among others, published a robust critique of the commission’s preliminary K-12 recommendations as did the Boston-area Concerned Jewish Faculty and Staff (CJFS). When the revised recommendations did not respond to this feedback, TIM and CJFS called (unsuccessfully) to delay the vote. At the hearing, there was a heartfelt protest by Jews and allies asking (again unsuccessfully) for public discussion before the final vote. All of this should have been part of your coverage. As one of the Massachusetts Jews who opposes the commission’s problematic K-12 recommendations, I urge you to investigate its non democratic and non-transparent processes, its platforming of anti-Palestinian racism, and its marginalization of Jews who don’t share the pro-Israel political opinions of the dominant commissioners. Yes, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the American Jewish Committee reflect the views of some Jews, but they are not more Jewish or more credible than Jewish Voice for Peace or Boston Workers Circle.

Public policy should be based on genuine study, engagement with diverse views, and thoughtful analysis, not kneejerk rubber stamping. Yet the commission and state officials such as the new education commissioner are treating the K-12 recommendations as ready for implementation without a legislative process or even a discussion by the Joint Education Committee.

We count on the media to point out such irregularities so the public can push our elected officials to remedy them.

Nora Lester Murad
Auburndale