Light, Love, Peace and Hope

December 8, 2022

Dear LREI Families,

As we hurtle headlong towards Winter Break, in addition to all of the work going on in our classrooms and labs, gyms and studios, on trips and at home, there are a variety of special events that will fill our days and evenings. There is this weekend’s middle school play and quite a few concerts and, of course, next Friday’s all-school winter assembly, a return to gathering as a full community, in person, a tradition that has been sorely missed. (Students only, apologies.)  

We like to celebrate the end of the term as a community, students joining with their buddies and classmates and all of the adults in the school to take a deep breath, to enjoy each other’s company, and to celebrate the essential aspects of life that so many traditions, religious and otherwise, share at this time of the year – light, love, peace, and hope.  

As we approach the literal darkest day, the winter solstice –  December 21, our shared mission brings us together, for one and all.  We rely on our community, those people for whom we are responsible, whether we know them or not, to help insulate us from the hate and challenges that come our way and to offer others the same. At the moment of quiet reflection with which we end our assembly, that one moment before the students return to their days and then leave for a well deserved break, at that one moment we all feel held by each other and do our part in holding the community, in return. 

As our Jewish community-mates prepare to celebrate their festival of lights they need all of us to offer our thoughts of love and light and peace and hope in the face of the increase in antisemitic acts and expressions. We need to respond to and push back on the onslaught of antisemitic statements, imagery, and stereotypes that we see and hear on social media and in the less-than-mainstream press. The denial of the Holocaust, praising Hitler, the re-surfacing of historically antisemitic accusations and assumptions is bigoted, biased, and dangerous, and has led to an increase in violent threats against members of the Jewish community.

What can LREI do?  We can talk about antisemitism during the school day in addition to the ways it is already part of our curriculum. We can continue and sharpen our conversations about other types of hate and bias as discussions about any bias are conversations about all biases and intolerance. We can talk about misinformation and the dangers of getting “news” from unknown and unreliable sources. Being good digital citizens and sophisticated consumers of information is an essential conversation for our older middle school and high school students.  

What can you do at home?  Have these same discussions, look for ways in which to enter the conversation by using the headlines and your child’s social media consumption, for example. Let your children see your indignation and anger and support of others. Need support yourself?  See the resources below and be in touch as we can help you.

This is a scary topic in scary times. When instances of hate occur, they demand a response.  When we respond together, when we learn together, when we combine learning and hope and love and peace and light, we can beat back the hatred. We can join other communities in demonstrating the power of togetherness, of education and its role in creating a brighter future. This is a lifelong effort, it is central to our work as a school, and we are grateful for your partnership.  

With peace and hope and light and love,

• Facing History and Ourselves – Holocaust Education Amid rising Antisemitism.  
• Parents – How to Talk to Kids About Antisemitism and Why it’s Important. 
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial 
• Talk and Take Action: Guides to Countering Antisemitism
• How to Teach Kids Media Literacy
• How to Raise Media-Savvy Kids in the Digital Age
• Nickhelps Guide to Understanding Media and Why it Matters