US EditionNYC Principal Denies Holocaust Survivor Talk Over Israel-Palestine Content
Principal Arin Rusch declined a Holocaust survivor's talk due to Israel-Palestine content; DOE emphasizes political neutrality for speakers in public schools.
- On Nov. 18, Arin Rusch, principal of MS 447, rejected a parent's request to host Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann and said she would `love to explore other speakers` for Holocaust education.
- The New York City Department of Education says it evaluates every classroom speaker to ensure political neutrality, while Rusch said she objected to material on Sami Steigmann’s website and his messages around Israel and Palestine.
- His PowerPoint shows an Israeli flag backdrop, a `Zionism` slide, and a video urging students to intern with StandWithUs, while his Instagram reposts commentary on Israel and antisemitism.
- The Blue Card and other groups responded by saying the rejection was outrageous, Moshe Spern and United Jewish Teachers demanded remedy in a Nov. 26 email to Superintendent Rafael Alvarez, and Mayor Eric Adams' office said Steigmann wasn’t the right fit but pledged continued survivor visits.
- Advocates urged Chancellor Melissa Aviles‑Ramos to condemn the decision and open an investigation, while Steigmann told The Post he avoids Middle East politics and said Rusch never called him; media outlets seeking comment received no responses.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
The ForwardNYC principal turns down Holocaust survivor’s talk over his ‘messages around Israel and Palestine’
A New York City public school principal turned down a parent’s request to host a talk by Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann, citing content in his presentation that related to “Israel and Palestine.” In an email to the parent on Nov. 18, the principal of the Brooklyn middle school MS 447, Arin Rusch, said that she believed that hosting Steigman’s presentation was not “right” for the school. “In looking at his website material, I also don’t think…
NYC Principal Blocks Holocaust Survivor From Speaking at School
NEW YORK — A Brooklyn middle school principal has come under fire after declining a request for Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann to address students, a decision that has drawn criticism from Jewish educators, community leaders, and elected officials, according to a report in the New York Post. Join our WhatsApp group Subscribe to our Daily […]
MichaelSavage.com – NYC principal denies request for Holocaust survivor to speak at school: ‘Given his messages’
A Brooklyn middle school principal denied a parent’s request to have a Holocaust survivor speak to students about antisemitism — saying the victim’s pro-Israel views are not appropriate for a public school. MS 447 Principal Arin Rusch wrote to the parent Nov. 18 claiming Nazi labor camp survivor Sami Steigmann’s opinions would not be “right”…
NY school principal refuses to let Nazi labor-camp survivor speak to students, 'given his message' · American Wire News
A Holocaust survivor was denied the opportunity to speak to middle-school students about antisemitism because of his support for Israel. When a Brooklyn middle-school parent asked the principal of The Math & Science Exploratory School, Public School 447, whether Nazi labor-camp survivor Sami Steigmann could speak to students, they were told no. “In looking at his website material, I also don’t think that Sami’s presentation is right for our publ…
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