A Call To Action: Don’t Shutter Our Schools

The following is an article that I wrote for the Philadelphia Jewish Link on November 13, 2020 about Montgomery County’s decision to halt in-person learning at all schools located within its borders:

The decision by the Montgomery County Board of Health requiring all schools to halt in-person instruction is short-sighted and smacks of a political expediency that belies their underlying mission.

500 people participated in the board’s Zoom meeting to discuss the possible closure, and despite vociferous opposition from numerous parents and a dearth of data to support the determination that all K-12 students in schools – public and non-public alike – must learn virtually from November 23rd to December 6th, with a possible expansion beyond that date, the board forged ahead with a mandate that forces our children to do their studies at home, using a computer as their conduit to learning, as opposed to a classroom.

While we should all be fully supportive of measures intended to curb the spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks and engaging in social distancing, I cannot in good conscience endorse a nonsensical directive that unnecessarily and unjustly impacts my children in an adverse fashion. If Montgomery County wishes to shut down their public schools, that is their prerogative. However, they have no business requiring non-public schools, including Jewish day schools, to close their doors.

In her remarks about the school closures, Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, noted that students and teachers coming back to school after Thanksgiving “could trigger a very substantial outbreak within our schools.” Moreover, Michel Masters, division director of communicable disease control and prevention for Montgomery County’s Office of Public Health, cited “the increase of social gatherings surrounding the holiday” as one of the issues that led to the school closures.

That is utter nonsense. While Thanksgiving may be the first instance of the 2020-21 academic year for public schools where people will possibly interact with others over the course of a holiday, Jewish day schools have already gone through this several times this fall, having enjoyed a successful return to the classroom after the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot. Our schools instituted clear guidelines that enumerated the steps families were asked to take over the holiday breaks in an effort to pave the way for a smooth school reopening at the conclusion of each holiday, and we assiduously adhered to those standards. Jewish day schools already proved that this could be done, and therefore this nebulous concern about “a very substantial outbreak within our schools” related to Thanksgiving is unfounded.

In addition, while we all recognize that the number of positive cases in Montgomery County is rising, the data concerning children and schools does not warrant the cancellation of in-person learning. Epidemiologists and public health professionals across the United States have acknowledged that young children do not spread the virus easily and maintain that it is safe for them to learn in school during the pandemic. Certainly, schools need to institute social distancing protocols to ensure that in-person learning environments are safe, but our local Jewish day schools have done that, with great success. 

Could there be positive cases in our schools despite the precautions they have taken? Of course. However, schools are not super spreaders, COVID-19 outbreaks in schools are rare, and the infection rates in schools nationwide have been incredibly low.

The Montgomery County Board of Health should not have painted all schools with the same brush. A more prudent course of action would be to assess schools on a case-by-case basis and order a particular school to close only when there is a medically proven reason to do so. Closing schools should not be a one-size-fits-all approach.

The religious instruction our schools provide, as well as the rigorous secular academic curriculum they offer, are vital to our children’s continued growth. The intellectual stimulation and social interaction our children enjoy in school are core components of their development, and while our Jewish day schools did a yeoman’s job in the spring when the pandemic was raging and they had to transition to distance learning, there is no way to truly replicate the classroom experience that our children have had during the current school year thus far.

Furthermore, it is quite curious that the board solely targeted schools with what seems to be an arbitrary directive, yet entities such as bars, restaurants and gyms were not referenced, nor were residential gatherings within the county. It appears that schools were an easy mark for the board to impose its will and our students and schools will sadly suffer the consequences of this misguided mandate.

It is unfortunate that the Montgomery County Board of Health views our schools as coronavirus hotspots rather than the safe spaces for our children that they are. With a lack of data and a lack of foresight, the board’s decision to close our schools regrettably has terrible implications for our children and our community.

This is a time when we need to advocate for ourselves, our children, and our community. For those of us who are disappointed with the decision to close our schools, we should make our voices heard and express our displeasure to the county in a courteous, yet compelling way.

Email the Montgomery County Board of Health at publichealth@montcopa.org and let them know that you respectfully disagree with their determination. Urge them to permit individual schools to apply for an exemption from the school closure order based on a metric that sets forth specific criteria for a possible reopening, including the COVID-19 precautions taken by the school and the number of positive cases in the school.

Consider this a clarion call to action, in which we come together as a community to tell the county that they should not shutter our schools. Our children deserve nothing less.

Cover-up: Doing our part to combat COVID-19

The following is an op-ed that I wrote, which appeared in The Jerusalem Post on September 30, 2020, regarding the need for the Orthodox Jewish community to do its part to combat COVID-19:

Cover-up: Doing our part to combat COVID-19

Masks save lives. As we attempt to go about our daily routine amid a pandemic, we should keep those three words foremost in our minds. After more than 230,000 confirmed cases in Israel and 200,000 deaths and more than 7,000,000 positive cases in the US, you would think more people would understand the importance of wearing masks to combat COVID-19. However, as we see all too often, countless individuals apparently did not get the memo.

While a political and ideological debate rages regarding mask-wearing mandates, it seems quite clear the science suggests that regularly wearing a face covering over one’s nose and mouth is an effective way to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

The efficacy of wearing a mask is rooted in both research and common sense. Take a moment and ponder how the virus spreads. When people talk, sneeze or cough, respiratory droplets are released into the air, which then linger in the form of fine particles. Masks significantly minimize the dissemination of these particles into the atmosphere, thereby lessening the risk of propagation. Furthermore, considering that many people infected with the coronavirus are asymptomatic and therefore may not even realize they are sick, regularly wearing a mask while around other people is critical to curtailing the transmission of the virus.

Masks protect you and masks protect me, and the refusal to wear a face covering is irresponsible and ill-advised. Simply put, the selfish decision to interact with other people sans a mask is unnecessarily jeopardizing their health and safety.

With a frightening uptick in COVID-19 cases in the Orthodox Jewish community, there has been much discussion about the lack of mask wearers in large pockets of our respective neighborhoods.

It has been distressing to see how lax certain communities are when it comes to wearing masks. The “masks are required for entry” signs on stores are regrettably ignored by far too many people, who inexplicably view them as mere suggestions rather than mandatory directives. It is also troubling to see so many people flippantly flouting the mask-wearing rules by wearing their mask down on their chin, thereby leaving their nose and mouth completely exposed.

In addition, it has been extremely disturbing to see photos and videos of large groups of people neglecting to wear face coverings as they engage in their daily activities, seemingly oblivious to the grave danger posed by their imprudent conduct and in a clear contravention of the regulations.

Whether it is a lack of caring, the belief that they are immune, or a dearth of education about the threats posed by the pandemic, the optics of Orthodox Jews walking around without masks are not good. At a time when antisemitism is on the rise and Orthodox Jews are being subjected to vilification and violence by hate-filled bigots, we can ill afford to be painted in a negative light with a broad brush.

There is another aspect of this problem that warrants consideration. The preservation of human life and safeguarding our well-being is one of the paramount precepts in Judaism and endangering the life of another human being is a violation of Jewish law. Moreover, it is well known that we must take the necessary steps to protect a fellow Jew from a life-threatening situation. With the tremendous value placed on human life and protecting ourselves and others from bodily harm, it is therefore extraordinarily difficult to comprehend how some Orthodox Jews could justify compromising public health in such a cavalier and callous manner by their steadfast refusal to don a mask.

My fellow Orthodox Jews, I respectfully urge you to do better and take the pandemic more seriously. The ramifications of ignoring the virus as they relate to both our community and other communities are indeed dire, and we certainly do not want to bear responsibility for exacerbating a public health crisis of this magnitude. Wearing a mask may not be comfortable, but it is critical. We need to stop pretending as if it is business as usual and endeavor to be more mindful of doing our part to contain the virus.

On Yom Kippur, while wearing a mask and sitting six feet away from my fellow congregants, I recited the “Avinu Malkeinu” prayer. As I uttered the verse “Our Father, our King, withhold the plague from your heritage,” with as much mindfulness and intention as I could muster, the enormity of the present situation struck me. I could not help but wonder how people can justify merely saying those powerful words without feeling compelled to back them up with a simple action, such as wearing a mask, to demonstrate that we are serious about suppressing the COVID-19 plague.

Masks save lives. It is time for each of us to do our part and wear one. Our community – our friends, neighbors and loved ones – will all be better off for it.

The writer is the principal of Red Apple Strategies, LLC, a public relations and strategic communications firm, and has extensive experience in the Jewish nonprofit world. Follow him on Twitter @troodler

My letter in the Philadelphia Inquirer about the NAACP’s decision to name a new Philadelphia chapter president

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, regarding the NAACP’s decision to replace Rodney Muhammad as its Philadelphia chapter president following his anti-Semitic social media post:

August 30, 2020

NAACP Needs A Leader Who Will Build Bridges

To the Editor:

Regarding, “NAACP takes control over Philly chapter after its president’s anti-Semitic Facebook post, backlash” (Aug. 26,) with the NAACP’s effectiveness in Philadelphia compromised following Rodney Muhammad’s anti-Semitic post and the ensuing controversy, the decision to finally take action is a crucial step toward repairing a bridge between two communities that has regrettably been damaged. In a diverse city like Philadelphia, which has both a large and active Black community and a sizable and vibrant Jewish community, the need for a stronger bond between these two communities is a moral imperative that has been severely impaired by the presence of Muhammad at the helm of the Philadelphia NAACP. Our communities must make a concerted effort to forge new relationships with one another and work collaboratively to counter racism and curb the rise of anti-Semitism. Cultivating cross-cultural initiatives and engaging in a candid conversation about race is a critical exercise that should begin immediately. The NAACP must name a new local leader who is committed to building bridges, not tearing them down.

N. Aaron Troodler

Bala Cynwyd

My letter in The New York Times about the Israel-U.A.E. Accord

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote regarding the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations, which appeared in The New York Times:

August 15, 2020

To the Editor:

Re “Israelis and U.A.E. Agree to Full Ties in Landmark Deal” (front page, Aug. 14):

The accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize diplomatic relations is a seismic shift in a region that is typically besieged by strife.

By engaging in a forward-looking approach and gazing through a lens of opportunity and optimism, this landmark agreement facilitated by the United States has the potential to create new economic partnerships and develop security alliances that can help stabilize the Middle East. It can also foster collaboration between Israel and its Arab neighbors to inhibit Iran’s enduring efforts to create chaos in the region, which has seen far too much bloodshed.

Furthermore, this historic agreement is a reminder that to achieve a degree of peace, one must be prepared to offer difficult concessions, a lesson that the Palestinian Authority, which sharply criticized the Israel-U.A.E. deal, will hopefully heed. Focusing on the future and making bold and difficult decisions with an eye toward reconciliation is far more effective than a steadfast refusal to compromise in the pursuit of peace.

Let us hope that the tremors from this geopolitical earthquake reverberate throughout the region and create aftershocks that will bring about additional rapprochements.

N. Aaron Troodler

Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

Philly NAACP President Faces Backlash After Anti-Semitic Facebook Post

The following is an article that I wrote for the Philadelphia Jewish Link on July 29, 2020 about an anti-Semitic Facebook post by Rodney Muhammad, the president of the Philadelphia NAACP, which caused an immediate controversy and has civic leaders and elected officials calling for his resignation:

Philly NAACP President Faces Backlash After Anti-Semitic Facebook Post

When Minister Rodney Muhammad, the President of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), posted an anti-Semitic meme on his Facebook page on Thursday, July 23rd, it immediately ignited a widespread controversy.

The response was swift, as an array of Jewish organizations and elected officials promptly weighed in on what transpired, with some demanding an apology, and others calling for Muhammad’s resignation or termination from his position at the NAACP.

The image, which Muhammad deleted after he was contacted by a reporter, contained photos of three celebrities who recently found themselves mired in their own controversies following anti-Semitic posts on social media and anti-Semitic rhetoric – the rapper and actor Ice Cube, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, and TV host, producer, and actor Nick Cannon. Beneath the photos was a cartoon that depicted a Jewish man wearing a kippah pressing down on a group of people with a large, ring adorned hand. To the left of the offensive image was a quote that was attributed to the French philosopher Voltaire, but which is actually ascribed to Kevin Strom, a white supremacist and neo-Nazi who is a known Holocaust denier. “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize,” the quote said.

Muhammad, who took the reins of the NAACP’s Philadelphia chapter in 2014, is a staunch supporter and devout follower of Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan, having served as Chief Financial Officer for the Nation of Islam’s National Mosque in Chicago, and currently acting as the Minister of the Nation of Islam’s Muhammad Mosque #12 in Philadelphia. Farrakhan, who Muhammad praises regularly, has a long history of railing against Jews and making vehemently anti-Semitic comments, including referring to Jews as “bloodsuckers” and “termites.”

WHYY, a local PBS affiliate, reported that Muhammad initially maintained he did not remember posting the meme when a reporter asked him about it, but that he ultimately conceded that he posted the image and noted that he did not realize it was anti-Semitic. “To be real honest with you, I didn’t even pay attention to the picture,” Muhammad said, while neglecting to apologize.

Muhammad’s recent post was not the first time he has exhibited shades of anti-Semitism. For example, he made several disturbing comments in a July 2008 article on CNSNews.com, in which he employed the anti-Semitic accusation of dual loyalty against then-Vice-Presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew who was selected by Al Gore to be his running mate. In addressing a question raised by Louis Farrakhan about whether Lieberman would be more loyal to the state of Israel than to the United States, Muhammad made comments that were equally as repugnant as Farrakhan’s remarks and smacked of anti-Semitism.

Claiming that Farrakhan’s past statements about the Jewish people were frequently misconstrued, Muhammad also validated Farrakhan’s dual loyalty charge. “Given America’s unwavering support for Israel, despite what administration is in, Minister Farrakhan questioned if Lieberman would have more loyalty to Israel than to the Constitution of the United States,”  Muhammad was quoted as saying.

Muhammad reportedly also endorsed Farrakhan’s history of making divisive comments about Jews. “The comments Minister Farrakhan has made, many have felt the same way but feared that cry of anti-Semitism would come out,” he said. “Mr. Farrakhan has withstood the torpedoes of this anti-Semitic cry and has thrived and continued to make progress.”

In a strongly worded statement on July 24th, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia said that Muhammad “intentionally initiated the spread of anti-Semitism on his Facebook page” and called for him to be fired from his post as President of the NAACP’s Philadelphia chapter.

“This vile behavior from a civic leader is incredibly dangerous for Jewish communities across the world,” the statement said. “The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia deplores Mr. Muhammad’s actions, and calls on the NAACP to remove him from his position immediately. Hate speech and the repulsive, purposeful spread of anti-Semitic imagery and messages can never be tolerated. It is important, now more than ever, for Jewish and Black communities to unite and work together to combat racism and bigotry in all their forms.”

On July 27th, Muhammad issued a written statement addressing his controversial Facebook post. “Earlier this week, I shared a post on social media in an attempt to start a dialogue around criticism and understanding,” the statement said. “I later learned that not only was the quote I used misattributed to the philosopher Francois Voltaire, but in fact, the quote and image had been used previously by white supremacists. I immediately removed both the quote and the offensive images. It was never my intention to offend anyone or cause any hurt. The NAACP strongly condemns any offensive language or imagery and stands against all forms of hate speech and anti-Semitism. I stand with all members of the Jewish faith in the fight for social justice, and I intend to use this opportunity for thoughtful conversations with both the Black and Jewish communities.”

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia took umbrage with Muhammad’s statement, noting that it lacked an apology that was clearly warranted under the circumstances.

“Mr. Muhammad’s statement regarding his anti-Semitic Facebook post is utterly insufficient,” the Jewish Federation said in a second statement issued on July 28th. “Given the chance to apologize for his actions, he declined to do so. It is clear that Mr. Muhammad has no remorse for the pain he caused our Jewish community and all those who stand opposed to bigotry and discrimination. However, we will not allow this incident to prevent us from continuing our work to unite Philadelphia’s Black and Jewish communities in our common pursuit of racial equality and religious tolerance and understanding.”

On July 28th, the Jewish Federation convened a press conference via Zoom with Black political and civic leaders, together with representatives of the Jewish community, to discuss the anti-Semitic meme posted by Muhammad, and to engage in a dialogue about the need for a strong response to this serious matter.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also condemned the incident. “We denounce the antisemitic meme posted by Rodney Muhammad in the strongest possible terms,” said Shira J. Goodman, the ADL’s Philadelphia Regional Director. “It is inconceivable that a person who theoretically works to uphold civil rights would engage in such blatant hate. To defend the antisemitic rhetoric of others is bad enough, but to post virulently anti-Jewish symbols and conspiracy theories is simply unacceptable.”

Abraham Foxman, the Director Emeritus of the ADL, tweeted, “The anti-Semitic Facebook post by Philadelphia NAACP President Rodney Muhammad is vile and reprehensible. His excuse and explanations are insulting. Where is the outrage of the NAACP?”

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and its Greater Philadelphia Chapter called for the NAACP to remove Muhammad as its President, saying in a statement that, “his Facebook timeline has been laced with examples of vile Jew-hatred, false accusations against the Jewish People, and endorsements of leading anti-Jewish figures and their speeches.”

“Farrakhan and others who Rodney Muhammad promotes disseminate inflammatory and false conspiracy theories and try to delegitimize the Jewish People’s very identity and to call into question the Jewish religion and ethnicity – Jews’ very sense of peoplehood,” said the ZOA.

“Antisemitism is a form of racism that is all too prevalent in our society today,” the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation said in a written statement. “Rodney Muhammad’s post mirrored this bigoted ideology, portraying Jews as having a sinister influence in public matters and leading a coordinated effort to oppress others to benefit themselves. It is time to put an end to this conspiracy theory, which is both hateful and damaging.”

“The NAACP and our organization, the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, share many core values: the dismantling of needless prejudice and the promotion of tolerance,” the statement continued. “Both of our communities have been victims of prejudice and persecution for far too long. Mr. Muhammad, and all of those perpetuating antisemitic beliefs, must be held accountable for deliberately spreading imagery that violates his organization’s own mission and only serves as a distraction from the critically important racial justice movement. We therefore encourage NAACP to install leadership that will bring our communities together rather than divide us.”

Although several requests from the Philadelphia Jewish Link to the NAACP’s national office for a comment went unanswered, Kenneth Huston, the President of the NAACP’s Pennsylvania state chapter, condemned Muhammad’s Facebook post, although he noted that it is the national office, not the state office, that administers the local municipal NAACP chapters. Huston, who participated in the Jewish Federation’s press conference, said that, “the vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination…Make no mistake about it. The NAACP Pennsylvania State conference directly does not support any kind of hateful names or anything of that nature at all.”

Rev. Cornell William Brooks, a former President and CEO of the NAACP who is a civil rights attorney and a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, took to Twitter in the aftermath of Muhammad’s post to express his displeasure and dismay.

“To be clear, I oppose all forms of #Antisemitism – as caricature, as  trope, as hate crime, as policy, and as the oldest form of hate…This #Antisemitic cartoon of #Jews  is the moral equivalent of the #racist film Birth of a Nation – same message: Jews, like Blacks, must be feared, & justifiably hated…WHY, when #racism and #Antisemitism are infecting hearts and minds like #Covid_19 , is this digital trash of a meme being circulated?”

While civic leaders and civil rights activists expressed their outrage at Muhammad’s post, political leaders denounced it as well, with some calling for his resignation.

“The anti-Semitic meme shared by Philadelphia NAACP president Minister Rodney Muhammad is vile,” Governor Tom Wolf wrote on Twitter. “Sharing this type of racist content is unacceptable – especially from a civic leader. I’m joining the call for Minister Muhammad to resign. Hate has no place in Pennsylvania.”

“As soon I learned about Rodney Muhammad’s post I reached out to him directly to understand what happened and ask for a sincere apology,” wrote Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “His response to me was offensive and we are all still waiting for that apology. He has undermined the progress we need to make together to combat anti-semitism and structural racism that has been baked into our society through generations. That is just one reason why I join so many Black leaders in calling on Rodney Muhammad to resign as President of the Philadelphia NAACP. The NAACP is a crucial civil rights organization that deserves better than Rodney Muhammad.”

“I share the outrage of Philadelphia’s Jewish community to this offensive message, and I am extremely disappointed that Minister Muhammad saw fit to post it,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in an emailed statement to the Philadelphia Jewish Link. “It perpetuates vile anti-Semitic rhetoric, and it compounds the hurt caused by DeSean Jackson’s earlier post, for which Jackson has appropriately apologized. Our city and nation need healing and unity now, not the sort of division and hatred that this post creates. I call on Minister Muhammad to apologize to our Jewish community and to all those who fight every day for religious and racial tolerance. I know Minister Muhammad to be a bridge builder, and I hope he is up to the task of rebuilding the bridges that his unfortunate post has now damaged.”

Mayor Kenney’s statement is noteworthy, in that it appears to indicate a significant shift in his relationship with Muhammad, which is pecuniary in nature. From 2017-2019, the Mayor’s political committee, “Kenney for Philadelphia,” paid a total of $75,000 to “Rodney Carpenter,” who is actually Rodney Muhammad (Rodney Carpenter is his birth name), for “consulting services.” Muhammad also benefited financially from Mayor Kenney’s well-known effort to institute a soda tax, which was disclosed in July 2018 when the Philadelphia Ethics board levied fines against an advocacy group named “Philadelphians for a Fair Future” and the firms that performed lobbying work on its behalf. The Settlement Agreement noted that, “Bellevue Communications Group also paid Rodney Muhammad more than $2,500 in the second quarter of 2016 to support Bellevue Communications Group’s work for PFF, but PFF failed to list Mr. Muhammad in its April 29, 2016 registration statement.”

In response to an email inquiry from the Philadelphia Jewish Link to the Mayor’s campaign about his political and financial link with Muhammad, a campaign spokesperson simply stated that, “Minister Muhammad provided consulting services to the campaign. He stopped working for the campaign in February 2020.” The spokesperson then referred to the foregoing statement that was issued by the Mayor’s office.

In addition to the Mayor, a number of members of the Philadelphia City Council expressed their indignation at Muhammad’s anti-Semitic post.

“I have seen the meme posted on social media,” tweeted Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke. “I oppose offensive speech of any kind directed at any ethnic, racial or religious group. We must come together as a people to solve the many issues magnified by #COVID19 and the unrest over systemic racism in our country.”

“I am sickened by the anti-Semitic meme that Minister Rodney Muhammad shared on social media this afternoon,” Councilmember Jamie Gauthier wrote in a statement that she posted on Twitter. “ Minister Muhammad has been an asset to our city, and for years has championed issues that matter to the Black community. But this incident calls into question his competence for such a prominent role, and his fitness for leadership in an organization that it, at is core, focused on achieving racial justice.”

“I’m gravely disappointed and saddened by the recent incident involving the anti-Semitic social media post,” said Councilmember Allan Domb. “There is no place for the spreading of hate in this City or anywhere in today’s world.

“Whether it was by way of ignorance, or blatant disregard for our Jewish history, words and actions matter to me and to the people who have been hurt by these images,” Domb continued. “This incident only further proves our need to create larger platforms to discuss and understand our diverse cultural and spiritual beliefs in Philadelphia. We cannot move forward as a city if we continue down a path of ignorance and hate. We must make every effort to heal and grow together from here forward.”

“Hate is hate – it’s wrong in all forms,” tweeted Councilmember Isaiah Thomas.

Local congressional members also took to Twitter to issue a reproach. “I am appalled at Minister Rodney Muhammad’s sharing of a clearly anti-Semitic meme,” Rep. Dwight Evans wrote. “He was wrong and he should apologize.”

“As a Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, I strongly condemn the extremely anti-Semitic meme shared by Minister Rodney Muhammad,” tweeted Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. “Hate and intolerance have no home in our community.”

In an emotional thread on his Twitter feed, State Senator Anthony Williams talked about his relationship with the Jewish community, noting that he has “never been asked by any of my friends of different ethnic origins to compromise my demand of being equal in this country.”

“The meme that was posted to Facebook and attributed to Mr. Muhammad speaks to some of the vilest stereotypes that Jews have endured for generations,” Williams wrote. “There is no way of explaining it or excusing it under any set of conditions. Regardless of someone suggesting that they do not understand the history or context, the image of a hand on top of Black people during this time is grossly insensitive to the backdrop of the fight for social justice. I can only state how vehemently lost this country will continue to be if we support arguments of supremacy based on the suppression and oppression of any group. If we are all equal before the eyes of God regardless of our religious affiliations or orientation, then there is no manner of human dignity that would support that illustration.”

“I, for one, will continue my work in my community to support removing obstacles and any form of oppression that faces African Americans,” Williams continued. “While I march steadfast forward to knock down those barriers, I don’t want to be distracted or associated with any person – Black, Jewish, Polish, Irish, Asian, Latino, or any ethnic group that would suggest it’s okay to stand quietly by and witness the bigotry of any other group.”

“Minister Muhammad’s statement today offered no apology for the antisemitic image or language he posted last week,” tweeted Senator Vincent Hughes. “He should step away from the NAACP.”

“The anti-Semitic meme share by Philadelphia NAACP president Rodney Muhammad was unacceptable, and I join many others in calling for his resignation,” tweeted Senator Tim Kearney. “His actions betray the mission of the NAACP, a civil rights organization dedicated to the equality of all citizens.”

As of this writing, Muhammad still has not properly apologized by uttering the words “I’m sorry,” and he continues to maintain his post at the NAACP despite the growing calls for his resignation or dismissal.

The Publisher’s Perspective – 4/2/20

The following is my piece in the April 2, 2020 online edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link:

As we prepare to celebrate the holiday of Pesach and spend time recounting the tale of the Exodus from Egypt, there’s a pressing question (à la Ma Nishtana) that we really ought to consider: Why is this year different from all other years?

Ordinarily, our Sedarim are consumed with drawing distinctions between the bondage experienced by the Jews in Mitzrayim and the freedom that subsequent generations of Jews have been so fortunate to enjoy. The question is, are we truly free this year? It doesn’t really seem like we are, being that we’re essentially confined to our homes and are taking great care to ensure that we don’t engage in “non-essential” activities in this era of social distancing and relative isolation.

There’s no question that we feel restricted and sequestered in our respective houses. Children are prohibited from having playdates, teenagers can’t hang out with their friends, and many adults are compelled to work from home. Travel is restricted, stores are closed, and good luck to you if you’re in the market for more toilet paper or hand sanitizer. If you were asked to describe your current state due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I can’t imagine that “freedom” would be anywhere on that list.

However, if we can get past the inconveniences caused by the precautionary measures that we’re all engaging in, the fact is that we are indeed “free.” At the end of the day, we live in a nation where we can proudly wear our Judaism on our sleeve. Yes, anti-Semitism is on the rise, but that doesn’t change the fact that the United States Constitution mandates the free exercise of religion, which the Jewish community benefits from each and every day. With shuls closed due to the present situation, our “biggest dilemma” when we daven in our homes is should we daven in the living room or dining room? What about the den? Should we go outside to our yard and daven there? We should never lose sight of the fact that we are always free to daven. Whether it’s in shul or in our home, we can engage in tefillah whenever we want.

We are undeniably “free.” When we need food and groceries, we can still get them despite the restrictions related to COVID-19, whether we order them online or venture out to the store while exercising the requisite degree of caution.

We are unquestionably “free.” When the weather is nice, and we want to venture outside and get some fresh air after being cooped up inside for what seems like forever, we can do so. We’re at liberty to go for a walk or a run, enjoy a bike ride, or play basketball and enjoy the great outdoors.

Back to my original question: Why is this year different from all other years? It’s because we’re dealing with a global health crisis that has adversely impacted the lives of so many of us in one way or another. We know people who are ill, and we unfortunately know people who lost their lives as a result of COVID-19. We know families that will be sitting at their Pesach Seder this year having just lost a loved one, such as a parent, a child, or a sibling.

As we sit around the table during the Seder, albeit with a smaller crowd than we may be accustomed to, we can never forget the freedom that we are so fortunate to enjoy and the many blessings that Hashem has bestowed upon us. Whether it’s having a roof over our head, food to eat, a job that helps pay the bills, or a family that we love dearly, we must cherish every bit of it and never lose sight of how blessed we are.

This year may be different from all other years, but the fact remains that we are free and we are blessed, and there is no better time than the present to acknowledge it accordingly and thank God for all that He has given us.

May we all stay safe and healthy during these incredibly turbulent times. Wishing everyone a Chag Kasher V’Sameach.

My letter in The New York Times about Kohelet Yeshiva’s response to Covid-19

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote regarding Kohelet Yeshiva’s incredible initiative to help medical professionals who are on the front lines battling Covid-19, which appeared in The New York Times:

Coronavirus in America: A Highlight Reel

April 5, 2020

To the Editor:

Amid a global pandemic that is wreaking havoc on all of us, it was heartwarming to see that my children’s high school found a way to answer the frantic call for help. Kohelet Yeshiva High School, a Modern Orthodox Jewish school in Merion Station, Pa., is using the 3-D printers and laser cutter in its fabrication laboratory to produce special protective face shields for medical professionals who are on the front lines battling Covid-19.

The local community is partnering with the school by donating the necessary supplies and funds to help with production costs, and the school has delivered its medically approved face shields to hospitals, our community ambulance corps and local doctors.

Even in the darkest of days, it behooves all of us to go above and beyond the call of duty to help the greater community, and the school’s magnanimity in the midst of a crisis is laudable and uplifting.

N. Aaron Troodler

Bala Cynwyd, Pa.