So I know it’s kind of old news at this point, but I just read another article about “Hit A Jew Day”. This one from The Jewish Light.

I’ve heard the news reports and read numerous other articles. I read Tim’s post about it and the comments. And seriously, are you kidding me?

The “are you kidding me?” is directed at the people who think this is not a big deal or just immaturity. Yes, many sixth graders are immature. And no, I don’t believe that the incident is deeply rooted in anti-Semitism. I’m not calling it a hate crime either. But come on. What better way for children to learn that it is ignorant and inappropriate to single others out based on religion then calling them out on it. Let them feel embarrassed and stupid for what they did. And maybe, just maybe, they won’t do it again.

I know some people are saying…

credit: incentraleurope.radio.cz

In 1989, just before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Council on World Affairs, St. Louis Chapter, planned a May, 1990 tour of Poland, Hungary and the then-Czechoslovakia. By the time the invitations were sent out, the wall — and much else — had fallen and those of us keen on the tour knew we had no time to waste. Within hours the trip was entirely booked.

The tour had a tight schedule, so I was gratified to learn that our Austrian guide agreed to add a visit to the Warsaw grave of Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko, the Solidarity priest who had been kidnapped, tortured and killed in 1984. An estimated 250,000 had attended his funeral.

Father’s grave impressed us all, including the Jews among us who had been expecting signs of anti-Semitism along the way. It is a solemn yet cheerful site, on the grounds of St. Stanislaus Kostka  church, awash in…

The Anti-Defamation League said in a statement Thursday afternoon that it would meet with Parkway West Middle School officials”to discuss a broad, structured program of anti-bias education and response.”

The response in question comes after news Wednesday that Parkway would discipline a handful of sixth-graders who had organized “Hit a Jew Day” at the school.

From Post-Dispatch education reporter David Hunn on the newspapers “The Grade” blog:

According to a Parkway School District representative, the students started with “Hug A Friend Day,” moved to “High Five Day,” “Hit A Tall Person Day,” and then, finally, this Monday, to “Hit A Jew Day.”

The ADL said the family of a Jewish student who had been hit contacted the organization, which in turn contacted school officials. The news “comes at a time when the regional office is seeing increased reports of anti-Semitic bias incidents against the Jewish community,” according to the ADL statement.

…