A yearbook scandal has shocked a New Jersey high school after the names of those in a Jewish student group were deleted, and their group picture was swapped with one showing Muslim students.
The controversy first emerged on Tuesday, when about 375 yearbooks were distributed at East Brunswick High.
In the yearbook, the section for the Jewish Student Union was completely cut out, with the names of the members removed also.
The picture of the group that should have stood place had been swapped for one of a group of Muslim students, unassociated with the club.
Although the superintendent of the East Brunswick school system, Victor Valeski, said it could be a ‘legitimate mistake,’ others were quick to decry the act as an unmistakable instance of anti-Semitism.
A yearbook scandal has shocked a New Jersey high school after the names of those in a Jewish Student were deleted and their group picture was swapped with one showing Muslim students
In the yearbook, the section for the Jewish Student Union fell between the Tenor Bass group and the Key Service Organization, both of which have names listed next to their photos. For the Jewish Student Union, however, there is no text- only a blank space
In a statement, East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen called it a ‘blatant Anti-Semitic act.’
Superintendent Valeski, after apologizing to both Jewish and Muslim students, urged the community not to jump to conclusions.
‘I sent a message out to the community today saying that we’re investigating- and I wished people would give us time to investigate, not rush to judgment,’ he told NBC4.
He speculated that the error could have been innocent, and one without anti-Semitic motives.
‘I’m gonna wait to find out what the investigation finds because it could be a legitimate mistake.’ He added: ‘I don’t want to call it antisemitism yet.’
Mayor Cohen, however, appears to feel that there is no other tenable explanation.
Of the yearbook scandal, he said: ‘It sparked a lot of outrage in the community because it’s hard for most people to fathom how this happened ‘by accident.’
If the textbook incident was the product of anti-Semitism, Mayor Cohen has wondered whether or not it should be considered a hate crime.
Mayor Cohen, however, appears to feel that there is no other tenable explanation.
Superintendent Valeski, after apologizing to both Jewish and Muslim students, urged the community not to jump to conclusions. He speculated that the error could have been innocent, and one without anti-Semitic motives
In a statement, East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen called it a ‘blatant Anti-Semitic act’
‘I think the community- both the Jewish community and community at-large- deserve an answer quickly,’ Cohen said.
The mayor proceeded to rail against those who had reservations about labelling the act a piece of Jewish hate.
‘It’s downright upsetting and outrageous for you not to call it out for what it is: It is an anti-Semitic act.’
Once the issue in the yearbook was detected, the members of the Jewish Student Union reconvened to take a new photo, which will be included, along with their names, in amended versions.
The school district has also engaged an outside law firm to launch a probe into the matter and get to the bottom of it.
‘Hate has no place in East Brunswick and Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated,’ Mayor Cohen said.
Once the issue in the yearbook was detected, the members of the Jewish Student Union reconvened to take a new photo, which will be included, along with their names, in amended versions
School buses drive from the campus of East Brunswick High School after the school day on February 22, 2018
Meanwhile, the New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called for a ‘transparent and fair investigation.’
The yearbook incident ‘has triggered heinous backlash against some Muslim students who had no knowledge on their photo being misused,’ spokesperson Aya Elamroussi said in a statement.
Tensions have flared across college and school campuses following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
On Saturday, Israel managed to rescue four people in a hostage rescue operation in the heart of Nuseirat.
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