ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

NEWS RELEASE

Greater Philadelphia ZOA Mobilizes Dozens to Speak at School Board Mtg. Against Anti-Jewish Display

Zionist Organization of America Greater Philadelphia Director Steven Feldman released the following statement: 

Residents of Lower Merion Township (suburb of Philadelphia) who are advocates for truth about the Middle East and for Israel – including many ZOA supporters – made their presence known and their voices heard at a Lower Merion School Board meeting on Monday, May 15, following a Greater Philadelphia ZOA Chapter Action Alert encouraging attendance and outcry in response to an anti-Jewish display filled with lies in a school there.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein was among the speakers from the community, as were many ZOA members and others who addressed the board in protest of the egregious “Palestine” display. ZOA speakers demanded the board act to halt Jew-hatred in its schools, to apologize for and retract what school officials already permitted and to include ZOA participation in remedying the problem. 

“We are heartened and inspired by the large turnout at the school board meeting, and the concern and passion for Israel and the well-being of the Jewish community expressed by residents and ZOA members, said Steve Feldman, executive director of Greater Philadelphia ZOA. “We are especially grateful for the expression of support for ZOA by the residents who spoke – many of whom demanded that ZOA have a role in educating school faculty and staff about anti-Jewish activity as well as the real facts about events in the Middle East, the history of the region and the Palestinian Arab war against the Jewish State and Jewish People.” 

In late March at the Gladwyne Elementary School, a family created a “Palestine” exhibit that school officials allowed the family to display at the school’s “Cultural Heritage Night.” It featured PLO flags, and posters asserting Jerusalem is the capital of “Palestine,” that “Palestine” is a country; and that the Israeli town of Rameh (about 20 miles west of the Kinneret) is in “Palestine.”

Of course there is no country called “Palestine;” Jerusalem is the capital of Israel as per United States law, and Rameh very clearly is in Israel in an area of the country that is uncontested by any decent person. 

In addition, the “Palestine” display highlighted an Arab singer whose songs include praising murderers of Jewish people and advocating for the destruction of Israel. There was also a poster highlighting the cartoon character “Handala” that is synonymous with the BDS movement and the so-called “Palestinian” “Resistance” – a euphemism for the destruction of Israel and the slaughtering of Jews. 

Lower Merion Township is an upper middle-class suburb just outside of Philadelphia. Lower Merion has a sizeable Jewish population including multiple Orthodox, Conservative and Reform congregations. 

When Greater Philadelphia ZOA learned about the exhibit we immediately wrote to the principal of the school, the acting superintendent of the school district and the nine members of the school board. In our letter we wrote in part: “We call on officials of Gladwyne Elementary School and the Lower Merion School District to disclaim their endorsement of the “Palestine” exhibit – which is implied since it took place in the school and was part of an official school event. 

“We further call on school and school district officials to invite ZOA to offer sensitivity training and corrective information to staff about Israel, Zionism and the Palestinian Arab war against the Jewish People – and the consequences of that war on the Jewish People. 

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Founded in 1897, ZOA played a key role in the Jewish State's re-establishment. Today, ZOA is the leading major American Jewish organization courageously defending Israel and the Jewish people; fighting against all forms of antisemitism, including anti-Jewish boycotts; and promoting the Jewish people's lawful right to live in and settle historic Jewish lands. ZOA exposes that a Palestinian state would endanger Israel's existence; presents the facts about the Arab/Islamic war against Israel; and combats the anti-Israel lie that Israel is an "occupier" of her own land. ZOA spearheaded long battles to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and apply civil rights protections to Jewish students. ZOA provides free legal assistance and programs to pro-Israel students at numerous college campuses. ZOA's bold, unapologetic voice has a significant impact on public discourse and policy.

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