JCRC Statement
May 5, 2026
The following is a statement from Guila Franklin Siegel, chief operating officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
“Over the past few months, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has experienced a deeply troubling pattern of antisemitic and/or anti-Zionist incidents. These include anti-Jewish and anti-Israel graffiti on school walls, most recently at Greenwood Elementary School this weekend; inflammatory anti-Israel messaging at Olney Elementary School’s recent culture night; “Heil Hitler” gestures and speech occurring at middle school events; and, most worryingly, physical threats and harassment directed toward Jewish students at multiple schools.
“The number of reports JCRC has received about antisemitism at MCPS is significantly higher than other school districts across our region. They come at a time when antisemitism is becoming more dangerous and violent throughout our country and internationally. And since many instances of antisemitism and other forms of hatred go unreported, we know that the reports we receive are likely just the tip of the iceberg.
“While the details vary, these incidents reveal a harsh truth: too many Jewish students and educators at too many MCPS schools continue to face too many threats.
“Following JCRC’s recent town hall meeting with MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor, we met with Dr. Taylor and his senior management team yesterday to discuss progress on the steps MCPS needs to take to protect Jewish students, educators, and staff. Our messages were simple: MCPS must establish a zero-tolerance policy on antisemitism and other forms of hatred and bias; train and empower administrators and teachers to correctly identify and respond to antisemitism; and rigorously enforce disciplinary codes, making it clear that anyone who engages in antisemitic or other hateful behavior will face meaningful consequences.
“MCPS reports that beginning this August, the school district will be in compliance with recently adopted state law requiring anti-bias training for school educators and staff. That is a welcome development, but must be the floor, not the ceiling. MCPS should follow the lead of other schools in our area by incorporating specific antisemitism training as well. For that reason, we also welcome MCPS’ commitment to improve school participation rates in JCRC’s gold-standard Student to Student and Holocaust speakers' programs, which educate thousands of children across our region about Jewish identity and culture, the Holocaust and modern antisemitism. Similarly, we are pleased that the school district is drafting specific guidelines for culture and international nights. The district must ensure these events are safe and educational for all students and families, not political battlefields.
“Taken together, these initiatives would meaningfully contribute to nurturing school cultures where Jewish students and faculty feel respected, understood, and safe.
“But MCPS should not stop there. More lessons about Jewish history beyond antisemitism and the Holocaust should be included in its curricula. And given that bias incidents are so often connected to the proliferation of hate speech online, MCPS also needs to discipline students who harass and bully Jewish students on social media accounts, even when those accounts are not formally affiliated with schools. The district has that authority, and principals must enforce it.
“We are pleased to work every day with MCPS administrators like Dr. Taylor who share JCRC’s commitment to ensuring a safe and welcoming school environment for Jewish and non-Jewish students alike. We will continue to partner with them and hold the district accountable. Families throughout Montgomery County expect the best for our children, and we will do our part to deliver on that promise.”