August 18, 2023

Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Education to End Hate: Countering Antisemitism

I invite you and your teachers to join us for a very important virtual roundtable discussion, Education to End Hate: Countering Antisemitism, on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at 10 a.m. with three influential leaders who work to counter the recent rise in antisemitism.

We will explore the topics of understanding Jewish identity, addressing antisemitism, the importance of solidarity among communities targeted by hate groups, and the role that public education can play in combatting hate.

The panelists joining me in this conversation include:

• Dr. Anita Friedman, Executive Director, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Marin and Sonoma Counties
• Sarah Levin, Executive Director, JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa)
• Rabbi Meyer May, Executive Director, Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museums of Tolerance

I have pledged that the California Department of Education (CDE) will intervene whenever we learn about an antisemitic act or other forms of hate at a California public school. We will work side by side with school and district leaders to ensure that teachers have the resources and partnerships needed to address both the immediate crisis and the long-term educational implications. My priority is to empower educators and students to confront the hate, bigotry, and racism rising against several communities in the state and the nation. That is what the Education to End Hate series is all about, and it is critical that we start by addressing antisemitism.

We will then discuss how education—and, specifically, public education—plays a critical role in combating hate, and we will share resources that are available to educators so that accurate history and learning can help address this growing crisis. To learn more about the Education to End Hate initiative, please see the CDE news release at

https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr20/yr20rel77.asp

The roundtable will be livestreamed, and the video will be archived on the CDE Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CAEducation. I encourage you to consider livestreaming the event at your individual sites or to play the recording of the event for your middle or high school students.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction