We are residents of Concord, Carlisle and neighboring communities — Jewish and non-Jewish — united in our commitment to confronting antisemitism and building a more inclusive, informed, and compassionate community. As parents, students, neighbors, and allies, we stand together to ensure that Concord and Carlisle are places where Jewish families feel safe, seen, and supported.

We want Jewish students to feel safe, seen, and supported in their schools. We want teachers and other school personnel who understand the weight of their words. We want schools to respond to antisemitism with the same urgency and transparency they would apply to any form of hate. And we want town leaders to speak up - not only after harm occurs, but when warning signs appear. This is a Concord and Carlisle-wide issue, and we want a Concord and Carlisle-wide response.

Accountability means transparency. It means timely communication when harm occurs — not silence, deflection, or weeks of delay. It means naming antisemitism when it happens, not just after pressure builds. It means consequences when policies and processes aren’t followed or when individuals — whether students, school personnel, or town officials — fail in their responsibilities.

Antisemitism is hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews as individuals or as a group. It can be overt, such as swastikas, slurs, or threats, or more subtle, including stereotypes, exclusion, or holding Jewish people collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government. Antisemitism shows up in words, behaviors, and systems that make Jewish students feel unsafe, unwelcome, targeted, or erased. It is not defined solely by intent, but by impact and by the patterns that allow it to persist unchallenged.

1. Ensuring students feel physically and emotionally safe in school settings
2. Prompt, transparent communication and reporting from schools and town leaders
3. Training for teachers and other personnel on antisemitism and unconscious bias
4. Curriculum review that includes Jewish perspectives
5. A clear and timely process for responding to hate incidents, even if they fall between regularly scheduled Select Board, DEI Commission, and school committee meetings
6. A public, town-wide commitment to protecting all marginalized communities

Absolutely. Concord and Carlisle are great towns, one with proud histories, a welcoming spirit, and a community that values inclusion and belonging. But like many towns, antisemitism has simmered below the surface for years. It’s time we bring it to light and work together to respond more directly, more compassionately, and more effectively. Calling out antisemitism doesn’t mean condemning our town - it means believing in its ability to be better.

Antisemitism has gone unacknowledged and unaddressed in Concord and Carlisle for too long. A federal civil rights complaint filed in June 2025 documented years of antisemitic bullying in our schools. But even beyond that, parents and students have reported many more incidents that show a pattern of harm and long lasting emotional impact. We are here to say clearly: this cannot continue.

No. We are not here to engage in politics—we are here to protect people. Jewish students are being harassed, marginalized, and made to feel unsafe. You can support Palestinian rights and still stand firmly against antisemitism. We are not debating global conflicts. We are demanding local accountability and safety.

No. While the schools are a major focus, we believe what happens in classrooms often reflects what’s happening in the wider community. Students bring messages they hear at home into school. Institutions — from town government to DEI bodies — have a role to play. Concord and Carlisle must not be places where people hide behind procedure while hate festers. We need leaders with foresight, a willingness to listen deeply, to question their personal assumptions, and to take a stand even when it’s uncomfortable, not just those who react after the damage is done.

We’ve met directly with school superintendents in both Concord and Carlisle and school officials, and are participating in public meetings with the School Committee, Select Board, and Diversity Committee. We believe in constructive dialogue. We’re offering ideas, resources, and pathways forward. Our hope is to be partners in the solution; we will not be passive observers to inaction.

Speak up. Show up. Ask questions. And join us.

You don’t have to be Jewish to stand against antisemitism. You just have to believe that every child deserves a safe and respectful education, and that Concord and Carlisle can and must do better.

Absolutely. This is not a zero-sum conversation. The Jewish community has long stood with other marginalized groups—and we welcome their support now. Fighting antisemitism does not mean overlooking other struggles. It means building a community where no one faces hate alone. Solidarity makes us all stronger.