At the Livingston Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, February 27, the Heritage Middle School cafeteria was filled with concerned parents and residents. Many were there to voice their support or opposition to a planned after-school event held Wednesday, February 28, in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of MetroWestNJ. The event aims to allow survivors of the October 7 terrorist attacks to share their first hand testimonies of what they witnessed.
Superintendent of schools Matthew Block discussed his recent trip to Israel. As a former history and social studies teacher, Block said that he saw the invitation to travel to the country as an opportunity to seek understanding. During his 40 hours on the ground, he visited Hostage Square in Tel Aviv and went to different schools. He drove through demolished communities he described as “frozen in time,” and went to the southern border. Block described viewing the decimated Gaza through binoculars. “There is no doubt there are people suffering in Gaza,” Block said.
He visited a destroyed Gaza/Israel checkpoint andnotedhis surprise that so many people commuted between the two nations.
“In doing some of my own research, what you may not know is 1.8 million Israeli citizens are Muslim; that’s about 20 percent of the population,” Block said.
Block visited the Hand in Hand school in Jerusalem, a Jewish/ Palestinian school that has Muslim teachers and Jewish teachers in every classroom.
“If the Hand in Hand school in Jerusalem and the surrounding area can figure out a way to live together while to unthinkable is going on and has happened, maybe we can take some lessons from that,” Block said.
He concluded his presentation by speaking about the tragedies on both sides of the war. At his conclusion, a large portion of the audience leapt to its feet with applause.
The public comment section of the meeting lasted for nearly two hours, with various people sharing their opinions in support or in opposition to Block’s trip.
James Proops, rabbi at the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, spoke of gratitude for the Livingston Police Department’s presence at the meeting and keeping everyone orderly and safe. “I hope the Board of Education sees all these people behind me and those who have left already to show you, our beloved Livingston schools, that you all have our support.”
Livingston resident Stuart Wainberg spoke about the “unprovoked brutality and barbaric” brutality of October 7. “We must educate ourselves, educate our children, educate our grandchildren, and never ever forget,” he said.
Lev Kruglyakov of Livingston echoed these statements, adding, “Those objecting to the presentation tomorrow are nothing but anti-Semites in hiding.”
Livingston resident Leor Kalpan addressed the board, saying that, “Nothing said by parents, by folks who are here to speak their mind, is going to have any impact on the Israel Hamas war.”
“What is taught in this school, what is taught in every Livingston public school, will have a tremendous impact on our futures, our children’s futures, and our grandchildren’s futures,” Kaplan said, concluding by referencing the outpouring of support by the Jewish community in attendance at the meeting. “Today is the proudest moment I’ve had as a Livingston resident.”
Benny Schwartz, a Livingston resident, spoke of his experiences hanging Israeli hostage posters since the October 7 attacks. As time elapsed, he noticed an increasing number of the posters were being ripped down.
“The only town that you continue to drive through where all the posters are still up is here in Livingston,” Schwartz said. “So with tomorrow’s event taking place, let’s continue to be that town that doesn’t rip down the posters.”
While the majority of the public comment section was made up of those in support of Block’s trip to Israel and the February 28 after school event, some people took to the microphone in opposition.
After speaking on behalf of a resident, Naomi of Newark (who did not state her last name) urged the Board and everyone in attendance to “Please read about anti-Palestinian racism.”
She wasn’t the only person speaking for a frightened resident.
A pro-Palestinian member of the audience, who did not give her name, took to the microphone, saying, “I’m here tonight because your own residents are scared to speak to the Board. They’ve sent us to speak on their behalf.” She continued, “You talk about teaching our children love, but the children behind me intimidated me for my faith, so I’m not sure this is the love we’re teaching our children.”
Jasmine Naidu of Livingston rspoke against Block’s trip and the forthcoming event.
“The trip’s optics are problematic,” Naidu said. “By only seeking one perspective, you’ve chosen to turn a blind eye to the complexities of this issue.”
Livingston resident Noreen Akhter told the Board that, “Kids are being called terrorists and bullied for sympathizing with innocent Palestinians. It’s not easy being a minority in this town.”
Amotion to end the public comment portion of the meeting at 11:15 p.m. was raised and passed by the Board. The Board also approved the February 28 after-school event.
