KSHB 41 ActionNews delivered a blockbuster story examining alleged anti-semitism during a skit during a basketball game between Blue Valley Northwest High School and rival Blue Valley North as reported by tonyskansascity.com.
The skit involved a handful of students at BVNW seemingly poking fun at Jewish students at BVN by dancing the hora, singing Hava Nagila, and then lifting one of the other boys up - as if they were dancing at a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or a wedding. Teachers reportedly stopped the skit.
Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff of Temple B’nai Jehudah did an extensive interview (below) with KSHB’s Curtis Jaye about the situation and noted this was not the first incident of its kind. He noted a number of anti-semitic acts and references, but did not mention in some circles Blue Valley North is referred to as “Jew Valley North.”
A side controversy involved some parents reportedly upset that KSHB interviewed their minor children without permission. However, sources close to the situation say reporters clearly identified themselves to students, gave them business cards, and the station has not heard from a single upset parent.
Rabbi Nemitoff sent a memo (below video) to his congregation addressing the issue.

Blue Valley, the Jews, and Anti-Semitism
by Rabbi Arthur P. Nemitoff
Dear Friends,

Many of you are aware of the controversy surrounding a skit performed by students at Blue Valley Northwest a few weeks ago, as the student body was preparing for a “rivalry” basketball game with Blue Valley North. The students performed a skit that had the boys dancing the hora, singing Hava Nagila, and then lifting one of the other boys up - as if they were dancing at a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or a wedding. (If you want to see the video, click HERE.)

The message was clear: They were mocking their rivals (Blue Valley North), which has the district’s largest contingent of Jewish students.

The video was posted to a student-run BVNW web page (I am told that next to the video was a statement by one of the students indicating that it was wrong, and were apologetic for it occurring.) When there were complaints about the video, from my understanding, the administration initially indicated there was little that could be done, because it was a matter of freedom of speech. Eventually, the video was taken down.

When this went public, and a news report was first aired on television, an emotional firestorm erupted. Students - both Jewish and others - at both schools took sides. Some said it wasn’t anti-Semitic. Others maintain that it was. I was proud that many of the students interviewed and allowed their voices to be heard were children of B’nai Jehudah. As our tradition teaches - it is better to speak up regardless of your side, then to not be involved at all. Our children have their beliefs and I support their voices.

But, I wish to offer what I have learned in investigating this issue.

Since the report first aired, other events have come to light. I have been told by multiple sources (but cannot confirm for myself, because I was not there) that some students at BVNW did a Hitler “salute” at a recent game, that some wore Christmas colors long after the holiday when playing against BVN. That students who did speak out about the skit have received text messages and Facebook posts that could be construed to be “hate mail.” Other students who have engaged in conversation on Facebook about this event have been attacked verbally. And in one instance, a student threatened physical violence against those who spoke ill about Jewish students. At one game, some BVN students were called “f-ing Jews.” In one posting, someone asked why the Jewish students were so upset about the Holocaust because “it didn’t affect any of their lives.” The list goes on.
I believe that the skit - as innocent as it may have been intended to be - was at best ill-conceived, ignorant, and naive. And regardless, it exposed the ugly underbelly of a problem in our community.

It seems our community lacks sensitivity to cultural and religious diversity. No, not always. No, not everyone. But, having lived in this community for almost 9 years, each year I have seen and heard of events/comments that are - at best - ignorant. And - at worst - anti-Semitic. (To view the comments I made on air during NBC 41′s Mid-day Report today, click HERE.)

Just this year, two parents approached me about separate incidents. In one, a child told his parent that they were singing Christmas songs in school. (The child said, “Jesus songs”.) When the parent asked the principal, the parent was referred to the teacher. The teacher was indignant and asked why the parent was against Christians? In the second incident, two children were talking about Christmas and one student told the other, “You are a dirty Jew and don’t deserve to live.” When the parent raised the matter with the school principal - it happened during school - the principal indicated that “kids will be kids” and no one should get upset about it.

More than a score of parents have - over the years - spoken with me and cried over what was happening in their schools regarding acts that are (hopefully) ignorance or (painfully) anti-Semitism. None of them would go to the school or teacher for fear of retribution by the teachers against their child for “making trouble.”
I wish to be clear: this is NOT about BVNW or BVN. It is about our community and how we treat and talk with one another.

The time has come to stand up and say: NO MORE. I do not believe that anti-Semitism is running rampant in Johnson or Jackson County. However, these issues exist because there is a lack of sensitivity and understanding within the community - whether children, parents, teachers, administration, or others. Some have dismissed the video as “merely” trash talk. However, trash talk is equivalent to trashing someone’s personal faith or culture….and we would hope that no one would approve of that.

All this said, I believe that our school districts receive their own mixed messages from the Jewish community. Plenty of Jewish students have said this is no big deal. Some have said that they talk that way about themselves so why shouldn’t others. On the other side, some students have been very upset and feel that they themselves have been attacked. So, part of the responsibility lies with us, ourselves.

I write to encourage each member of our congregation to:
• commit to three values: Open Hearts, Kedusha (Holiness), and Derech Eretz (Common Decency). May each of us model these values for others, and not engage in “trash talk” about ourselves or about others.
• communicate respectfully and clearly with school administration whenever someone “talks trash” about any individual and/or their unique culture or faith.
• be understandably proud of one’s own culture and faith.
• and finally, support one’s school and rivalries that promote healthy, friendly competition. But, to take care to recognize that words and actions hurt in ways that are often difficult to reverse.
We all know the story of the rabbi who has the tale-bearer take a feather pillow and let the feathers inside float off into the wind. When the rabbi asks the tale-bearer to gather the feathers, he cannot. The feathers are gone.

Our words and actions are like those feathers. Once released, they are difficult to retrieve. May we be careful with our words and our deeds. May we not cause harm to others or to ourselves. And in so doing, we avoid any hints of anti-anything. If we can accomplish this, our community can prosper.

Shabbat shalom.