Letter: Renewed Commitment to Addressing Antisemitism
To the Editor:
As a new school year and a new Jewish year begins, Mothers in Blue extends a heartfelt welcome back to students, families, educators, and administrators.
Mothers in Blue is a group of nine Jewish moms in Weston who mobilized in 2024 in response to a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents in our schools. Our mission is simple but urgent: to foster a school culture where every student feels safe, valued, and truly a part of the community.
We are not a political organization. We are mothers, neighbors, and advocates. Our work is about ensuring that here in Weston, Jewish students and all students are seen, supported, and protected.
Over the past year, we have been privileged to work closely with Weston Public School leadership: Interim Superintendent Deborah Low, Assistant Superintendent Tina Henckel, Superintendent Erica Forti, Director of Pupil Services Tracey Edwards, and Principals Meghan Conetta, Jason Bluestein and Jennifer D’Amico. Together, we have engaged in meaningful, collaborative work to ensure antisemitism is addressed at every level, from culture to curriculum.
We’re especially proud to support the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) No Place for Hate program, launched this year at Weston Middle School. This student-led initiative is an important step toward creating a climate where identity is embraced, bias is confronted, and differences are celebrated. We are also grateful to have contributed to the District’s Accountability Committee and now the Curriculum Review Committee, critical work that shapes how students experience belonging every day.
In recent weeks, two additional swastikas were discovered at our Middle School. Hate symbols have no place in Weston. We remain committed to partnering with educators and administrators to make Weston a community where kindness, empathy, and respect are woven into the fabric of our school and our kids.
For the year ahead, our priorities include:
- Successful implementation of No Place for Hate at Weston Middle School and expansion to Weston Intermediate School.
- District-wide professional development to help educators recognize and respond to antisemitism with confidence and support.
- Comprehensive curriculum review to ensure accurate representation of Jewish identity and deeper understanding of historical and contemporary hate.
- Clear, timely communication with families when incidents of antisemitism occur.
- Creation of a dedicated district role to oversee inclusive programming, track progress, and ensure accountability.
Hate harms everyone. That is why we are here: listening, speaking up, and committed to partnering with our schools so every child in Weston can feel safe, supported, and truly belong.
If you’d like to connect with us, please reach out at mothersinbluewestonct@gmail.com.
— Mothers in Blue: Keri Ben-Zvi, Stephanie Shemin Feingold, Hilary Felton, Shara Kolodney, Joelle Levit, Judy Meadows (Krichavsky), Lory Rosenberger, Jennifer Rubin, Suzy Wolfson.
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