…but its momentum depends on legislative support and our community’s outreach

By Dara Kaufman / Executive Director, Jewish Federation of the Berkshires

As we approach the High Holy Days, a time for reflection and renewal, I want to share an exciting update on efforts to combat antisemitism in our Massachusetts schools, and also highlight two opportunities for you to make a meaningful impact in our community.

On August 7, the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism held its most significant meeting in a series of hearings that have drawn on public input, expert testimony, and months of rigorous discussions. After careful deliberations and feedback, the Commission formally approved final recommendations on combating antisemitism in K–12 education.

The commission members, representing members of the legislature, Jewish communal representatives and professionals from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Commission of Higher Education, the Mass. Superintendents Association, the Attorney General’s Office, the Mass. Commission Against Discrimination, the Mass. Municipal Association, and the associations of Police Chiefs and District, voted 18-0 to endorse systemic changes that will help combat antisemitism, bias, and hate in our schools.

This vote is a critical step toward establishing standardized protocols for preventing and responding to antisemitic incidents. It lays a foundation for ongoing collaboration and accountability between state agencies, schools, and the community partners who will need to implement them.

One of the most encouraging signs of this progress was the support from Massachusetts’ new Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Pedro Martinez, who expressed appreciation for these recommendations when he spoke to the commission prior to the vote. He highlighted DESE’s commitment to allocating additional resources to combat antisemitism and societal bias, including at least one dedicated staff position to oversee this work.

The Commission also heard impactful testimony regarding the experiences of Jewish students on college campuses. Experts such as Dr. Eitan Hersh from Tufts University, Dr. Rachel Fish from Boundless, and Dr. Leonard Saxe from the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University, provided valuable perspectives on issues related to student life, diverse viewpoints, faculty interactions, administrative obstacles, donor relations, and the role of federal involvement in addressing these concerns. They also explored how the state could contribute to resolving these challenges.

Particularly powerful were the testimonies from Rabbi Aaron Fine, executive director of UMass Hillel, and student leader Skye Landau.

They spoke courageously about incidents where Jewish students were actively excluded from campus discourse, praised the support they have received from university leadership, and expressed concern about aspects of the federal government’s response. They highlighted the mental health toll, the difficulty of reporting disturbing but non-criminal incidents, and the need for resources to facilitate healthy, inclusive campus dialogue.

The Commission’s work continues, but our momentum depends on legislative awareness and support. It is vital that your elected representatives hear from you to know that their constituents value these recommendations and expect follow-through. To that end, I urge you to reach out to our legislators and let them know you support the Commission’s recommendations and want them to do the same.

I invite everyone to a Statewide Gathering - Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism on Tuesday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m., via Zoom. Join co-chairs Rep. Simon Cataldo and State Sen. John Velis, who will discuss the Commission's important work on a panel with State Sen. Cynthia Creem. Presented by the Lappin Foundation and Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA). Register here.

Here in the Berkshires, Jewish Federation is rising to meet these demands with purpose and determination, offering programs, partnerships, and leadership that strengthen Jewish life from the ground up.

This essential work would not be possible without the generous support of our community. Thanks to donors like you, we’ve already raised more than $1,065,000 toward our $1.3 million goal for the 2025 Annual Campaign. Your generosity has made a real difference and we are deeply grateful.

But as needs continue to grow, so too must our response.

That’s why we’re excited to share an extraordinary opportunity to double your impact. A generous group of community supporters has created a $50,000 Tzedakah Challenge Grant. Every donation made by October 15 will be matched dollar for dollar, helping us close the gap and extend our reach even further.

As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, we are reminded that none of us faces these challenges alone. We draw on the strength of generations, the resilience of the Jewish people, and a sacred responsibility to care for one another.

Let’s meet this moment together.

Your support today will help ensure that the Federation’s vital work continues into the New Year and beyond. This is your opportunity to double your impact and double the good we can do.

On behalf of all of us at Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, I wish you and your loved ones a sweet, peaceful, and meaningful Rosh Hashanah. As we enter this sacred season, we pray for the safe return of the hostages and hold close in our hearts all those affected by violence and war.

May 5786 be a year of peace, healing, and renewal for Israel, for Gaza, and for all who suffer. And may it bring strength, hope and wholeness to you, your family, and our community as we strive to build a more compassionate and just world together.

MA Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism Votes to Adopt Preliminary K-12 Findings and Recommendations

BOSTON – Ahead of the 2025-2026 school year, the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism voted on August 7 to adopt its “Preliminary K-12 Education Findings and Recommendations” to guide state agencies and local school districts in the prevention of and response to incidents of antisemitism.

During the meeting, Special Commission co-chairs Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) and Representative Simon J. Cataldo (D-Concord) expressed their profound gratitude to the many community members who courageously shared their experiences with antisemitism in local schools— contributions that played a vital role in shaping the Commission’s report. They also acknowledged the widespread support the preliminary report received from officials across the state.

The preliminary recommendations come at a time where the Commonwealth continues to see an alarming number of antisemitic hates crimes, rising by 20 percent in 2024 alone. This preliminary report which will be included in the final report that is due for submission to the House and Senate Clerks by November 30.

The Co-chairs decided to issue a preliminary report on K-12 education prior to the school year to meet the urgency of the issue. The decision was based on stakeholder input, encouragement from the Legislature and Governor Healey, and the deeply concerning rise in antisemitic incidents that has been occurring in K-12 settings across the Commonwealth in recent years. This report is the result of 10 public meetings involving over 35 hours of testimony and discussion by the 19-member Special Commission. Jewish Federation of the Berkshires’ Executive Director Dara Kaufman is a member of the Special Commission.

“Back in 2024, I met with a Jewish mother from my district who had shared how truly terrified her young daughter was to share that she was Jewish with her friends, especially when she was at school. This conversation truthfully became the genesis of why I sought to create the Special Commission and why I am so proud to have this Preliminary Report released ahead of the new school year, so Jewish students like this young girl may no longer have to fear bullying and persecution for who they are,” shared Special

The preliminary report seeks to clarify the current situation and propose both proactive and reactive measures to address and eliminate antisemitic hate in the Commonwealth’s schools. It outlines recommended actions that state agencies and local school districts can take to prevent and respond to antisemitism, including:

• Teaching about antisemitic tropes and myths which are prevalent online when instructing on digital literacy
• Implementing programming and lessons for Jewish American Heritage Month to promote Jewish contributions to America
• Instituting mandatory anti-bias training which specifically addresses antisemitism
• Providing guidance to officials on how to address and communicate effectively when antisemitic incidents occur
• Expanding access to Kosher and Halal foods in schools
• Promoting after school programs to encourage cross-communal bonding
• Encouraging the state to review existing curriculum and make changes to provide age appropriate, balanced classroom resources to teach about Ancient Israel, Palestine, modern Israel, and Middle East conflicts in alignment with state history and social science standards
• Creating a statewide bias reporting system that includes antisemitism as a form of bias.

From Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey: “Antisemitism in any form is unacceptable. As a state, Massachusetts is committed to doing everything we can to address antisemitism. That starts in our schools. If we want to combat antisemitism and protect the members of our Jewish community, it starts with educating our children, building a better understanding of the Jewish experience, and making it clear that antisemitism has no place in Massachusetts.”