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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 inspector, principal and teacher to understand that in the next two weeks, this is the supreme mission, above all others.” Bennett has called on business owners to allow employees to work from home to fight the Omicron variant. With Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman and Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov, Bennett agreed an assistance package for the tourism industry to aid tour guides and travel agents whose work has been affected. Additional funds are available to hotels to restrictions on entry of tourists to Israel. There is also support for tourism organisers in marketing, retraining personnel and recouping costs. “The tourism industry is a central component in the economy,” he said.
“We are aware of its needs and are coming to the assistance of the workers in the sector.” Liberman commented, “We are not giving up on the tourism sector. The new reality obligates all of us to prepare accordingly.” Razvozov added, “The assistance will maintain vital tourism infrastructures.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not bring in lockdown restrictions before Shabbat with new data revealing the Omicron variant is weaker according to latest studies. But with daily Covid cases exceeding 100,000 the NHS remains in danger of being overstretched. Johnson may update measures anytime from Sunday. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have announced new rules from Boxing Day.
23 DECEMBER 2021
Washington teacher on ‘leave’ over Holocaust re-enactment
AAD closer to No 10 support over antisemitism in sport Following a conversation between Jonathan Metliss, Chairman of AAD and The Jewish Weekly, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Conservative Friends of Israel annual lunch on Monday November 29, AAD has been speaking with the
Jonathan Metliss
Downing Street Policy Unit about its work in fighting racism, including anti-Semitism, in sport and explaining how the Government can provide support for this ongoing initiative. Jonathan Metliss says: “We at AAD are delighted to have been consulted by the Government on this issue after so many years of hard work in this area and trust that the Government will provide the long-awaited support for its activities. This is just what is needed. We will know more in the New Year.”
BY DAVID SAFFER A primary school teacher at Watkins Elementary School in Washington DC has been placed on ‘leave’ after reportedly instructing pupils in her class to re-enact Holocaust scenes. Campaign Against Antisemitism has expressed its shock over the incident involving eight and nine-year-old children reported in The Washington Post last week. Amongst horrific scenes youngsters had to pretend to shoot one another, dig mass graves while the teacher made antisemitic insults at them. A Jewish child also had to play Adolf Hitler then re-enact the Nazi leader’s suicide. A CAA spokesperson said, “The reports of what took place in this class are so shocking as to be unbelievable. Ordering children to re-enact the Holocaust is not merely racist and of no pedagogical value, but is traumatising for the children, professionally derelict for the instructor and potentially abusive.” They added, “It is right that an investigation takes place, and if the reports are borne out, the instructor must be fired and the school board must open its own inquiry.” School Principal Scott Berkowitz e-mailed parents with details of the appalling incident. An investigation is pending. “Students should never be asked to act out or portray any atrocity, especially genocide, war or murder,” commented Berkowitz. The class has since met the school’s mental health response team.
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Watkins Elementary School
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The incident was reported to Washington D.C. Public Schools’ Comprehensive Alternative Resolution and Equity Team. A DCPS spokesperson said, “This was not an approved lesson plan, and we sincerely apologise to our students and families who were subjected to this incident.” This is not the only incident to take place in Washington DC this month as swastikas were reportedly written on a wall at Woodrow Wilson High School. Interim Principal Gregory Bargeman said an investigation has not ascertained who was responsible for the graffiti. “Hate and bigotry have no place in our community,” Bargeman noted. “We are committed to working hard to make certain that Wilson’s environment embodies kindness, equity, diversity and inclusion.” Jewish Student Union leaders are concerned over a lack of Holocaust education at Wilson. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, a hate speech expert at American University, has a child at the school. “It’s important to pursue accountability, but also to express solidarity in a way that immediately makes people feel seen, included and supported,” she said. Miller-Idriss added that it was essential to call out racist and white supremacist extremist language for what it is. Bargeman has reportedly agreed to educate students on the history of hate symbols and hateful language. WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK 02 News 10 Opinion 12 Games 14 Community 22 Features
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