Page 58
The Jewish Press
Friday, November 13, 2020
Florida SHELLEY BENVENISTE FLORIDA EDITOR
IT’S MY OPINION
Jewish Voices Heard Witnessing the vacillation of the Palm Beach County School Board has been a truly sobering experience. Last year, the board fired Holocaust denier William Latson from his position as principal of Spanish River High School in Boca Raton. The dismissal was a result of his shocking email exchange with a parent. Latson had written, “I can’t say the Holocaust is a factual, historical event because I am not in a position to do so as a school district employee.” He added, “Not everyone believes the Holocaust happened. You have your thoughts, but we are a public school and not all of our parents have the same beliefs.” The State of Florida mandates that Holocaust education be part of the public school curriculum. Yet in Spanish River High School, the study was optional. Latson never recanted his position, but fought his dismissal. He sued to regain his position. In August, an administrative judge ruled that Latson should have been reprimanded or reassigned, but not fired. Nonetheless, the school board was not legally obligated to heed the recommendation. Despite knowing this, the board voted in a four to three decision to rehire Latson and place him in an administrative position. It also decided that he would receive $152,000 in back pay, topping off his regular six-figure salary. Perhaps the school board wanted to avoid a costly spate of legal proceedings. Perhaps it thought that it was being fiscally responsible. Perhaps, except for the one Jew on the board, no one
really cared about Latson’s appalling views. Latson’s school had many Jewish students. They included children whose grandparents or families were survivors or victims of the attempted genocide. One could only imagine if a principal with a large student body of black or Cuban-American students declared that he or she “could not say that slavery in America was a factual, historical event” or that “Not everyone believes the repressive reign of Fidel Castro really happened.” The school board apparently made its decision because it felt that there would be no real adverse repercussions or reactions. It seems that Jews are viewed as the only minority group in America that can be wronged with no thought of serious consequence. The Palm Beach County School Board received a paltry 150 recorded public comments on its decision to rehire Latson. The board planned its next meeting and apparently never anticipated what would soon follow. Sharona Whisler, Florida Executive Director of ZOA, wrote a scathing piece on the board’s decision that was published as an op-ed in the Miami Herald. However, Whisler went far beyond writing a compelling article. She issued an “action alert” with detailed information on how the public could register their disapproval of the disgraceful reinstatement. She included telephone numbers, email addresses, and the deadline by which these messages needed to be sent in before the next board meeting. She rallied the public to action. The school board received a barrage of over 1,300 public comments, an unprecedented number of responses to any issue that had ever come before it. The members needed a full week to read and listen to the written messages and recorded comments. The board met again last Monday to make its ruling. The deluge of responses overwhelmingly advocated that Latson be fired. The board followed the will of the people. Kol hakavod to the ZOA and its Florida executive director, Sharona Whisler, for their leadership in effective Jewish activism.
Early Childhood Students At Torah Academy Of Boca Raton Learn Alef Beis
Torah Academy student has fun while learning his Hebrew alphabet.
The world of Torah learning is opening up for the pre-kindergarten children at the Torah Academy of Boca Raton, starting with a familiarity with the Hebrew alphabet. Morah Mati’s class recently focused on beis and veis as the letters of the week, using multiple modalities to learn the form and appearance of and distinction between these two letters. As part of the immersive learning experience, the children played in a ball pit while categorizing beis and veis balls. The Torah Academy of Boca Raton is located at 447 Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton. For more information, call 561-4652200.
How much is that old menorah that Bubby bought you worth? Should you sell or hold on to your antique esrog box? Besamim holders, Kiddush cups, coins, etc. Send in pictures of your Judaica, and Jewish Press columnist and certified appraiser Tsadik Kaplan may assess their value.
SUNDAY MORNINGS
Simply email them to tsadik613@gmail.com, and your items may appear in a future column of Antique Judaica Roadshow
9:30 -11:00AM ON WWNN 1470AM & WWNNradio.com
WWW.ShalomSouthFlorida.com
Please note: Due to volume of requests, we cannot guarantee that all items will be assessed. Also, if your items are chosen, all questions will be answered and all assessments made only in The Jewish Press, not by direct correspondence.
Friday, November 13, 2020
The Jewish Press
Page 59
Florida The Holocaust Documentation & Education Center Celebrates A Survivor’s 101st Birthday
Julius Eisenstein (center) displays his key to the city.
Julius Eisenstein celebrates his 101st birthday.
The Holocaust Documentation & Education Center in Dania Beach, Florida honored a beloved local survivor, Julius Eisenstein, with a driveby caravan celebration of his 101st birthday. The event, which took place on October 13, included Broward County Sheriff’s officers and Mayor Joy Cooper, who presented Eisenstein with a key to
the city of Hallandale Beach. The birthday boy was also given balloons and a birthday cake to commemorate the occasion. Eisenstein was born on October 13, 1919 in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland. He was interned in Nazi concentration camps including Auschwitz-Birkenau and Dachau.
CEC’s Pre-K Students Learn About Voting
Calendar of Events WHAT: GET THE STORY BEHIND THE STORIES - Secrets of the Bible: Iconic stories, mystical meanings, and their lessons for life WHERE: Class is available on Zoom and in person at Boca Beach Chabad, 120 NE 1st Ave, Boca Raton. WHEN: 6 consecutive Tuesdays from November 3-December 8, 7:30-9 p.m. COST: $79, includes textbook CONTACT: Please let us know if you will be attending live or on Zoom. Email BocaBeachChabad@gmail.com or Nofar@BocaBeachChabad. org. For more information, call 561-394-9770.
Thornh ll Green 5 bedroom 3 bath pool home. Home s updated and move- n ready. $949,000.00 Palac os PRICE REDUCED! 2bedroom 2 bath w th an amaz ng k tchen plus pool and a den. $649,000.00 Boynton Beach Ind an Spr ng LARGE! Gorgeous br ght 2 bedroom 2 bath condo on gorgeous block – on stunn ng golf course !! Only $179,000.00 Majest c Isles 3 bedroom 2 bath move- n ready home the largest model, 2CG steps to shuls. $399,999.00 Move- n ready 3 bedroom 2 baths t le throughout 2CG. Not to be m ssed! $369,000.00 Royal Lakes 3 bedroom 2 bath spotless move- n ready home 2CG $359,000.00 FOR RENT ON THE CIRCLE Lago Del Mar 3 bedroom 2 bath updated k tchen Remember… For All Your Real Estate Needs We hold the key to your success ELEANOR AGER REALTY, INC. Mitchell Stiel 561-866-4140 Mona Fisher 561-702-6662 Elly Walden 845-304-9468 Visit our Website: www.EleanorAgerRealty.com Shomer Shabbat
Jude Benveniste-Plitt “votes” on election day.
Pre-kindergarten students at The Shul of Bal Harbour’s Child Enrichment Center (CEC) participated in a hands-on voting experience on Election Day, November 3. Morahs Leah and Malkie taught the valuable concept of making an official choice. The ballots were based on a selection of cookies and not candidates, but the lesson was there and the results were delicious! The Shul’s Child Enrichment Center is a Montessori-inspired preschool located at 9540 Collins Avenue in Surfside. For more information, call 786-662-3191