The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s Annual Meeting will be held this coming Thursday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m. at Congregation Neveh Shalom. Please join us for a very special evening by registering here.

Tomorrow is my 30-year anniversary in the Jewish Federation system. Hard for me to believe it has now been three decades -- and I have loved every day on the job.

Sadly, these days are both the most challenging and invigorating in my career. The horrific rise of Jew hatred and anti-Israel sentiments make our work harder, but also make us work harder on behalf of the Jewish community.

With this as a backdrop, I want to share what I consider deeply disturbing issues with the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT), which represents over 4,500 educators in the Portland Public School system. They have partnered with a group called Oregon Educators for Palestine – check out their Instagram page here -- not only to create curriculum to be used in our local Portland public schools, but also to assist teachers in their efforts.

On Tuesday night, the PAT, in partnership with Oregon Educators for Palestine, held a program focused on “learning one’s rights to teach and advocate for Palestine within Portland Public Schools.” Here is how they publicized it: “Open to ALL education workers regardless of union affiliation or school district! Leave with resources on Know Your Rights and curriculum to Teach Palestine by grade level and subject, including a comprehensive 32-page Know Your Rights guide and an abbreviated one-pager, both specifically made for PPS (and Oregon) Educators!”

Below are several pages from the guide to give you an understanding of what they are sharing with PPS teachers. 



Look below at how this group feels censored by the PPS District Office, especially the 6th, 7th, and last bullets. It bothers me greatly how the word "Zionist" is used in such a disparaging way. Why are those who support Israel's right to exist so abhorrent to the PAT? And, they cannot acknowledge that the phrase, "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free," which in their own materials is a "call for land back, referring directly to the full geography of Palestine prior to Zionist colonization" is hurtful and sends a clear message to many Jews about its intent.



And here is how they refer to Zionism below...



Zionism is the belief in the Jews’ right to national self-determination in our ancestral homeland. It is baffling to me that people who vehemently support the Palestinian right to self-determination are so quick to reject the Jewish right to self-determination.

Moreover, Zionism does not mean "white settler colonialism." And no, Zionism does not mean "apartheid" and "genocide," which we hear far too often. These are dangerous misconceptions that have been spread with the intention of demonizing the Jewish state. 

Below they refer to anti-Zionism as "the rejection of Jewish separatism and nationalism." But they claim to refuse to conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism. How is that possible when they are talking specifically about Jews?

What is most disturbing and angering is the PAT wants to push a certain curriculum in our schools. Remember, this is for children. You must read it for yourself -- please click on this link and scroll through! 

I am only sharing two slides, but if you look at the curriculum, they sure have their one-sided view of Israel and the United States.



This next slide is a class project for grades K-1. It is a color by number "Map of Palestine." Note, when you color it in, the entire area becomes the Palestinian flag -- as if there is no Israel.



These are just a few examples of what the Portland Association of Teachers wants to teach our children.

No other context. No other lens.

In addition, at their meeting, handouts (see below) were distributed that included a characterization of the October 7 Hamas massacre and rape of Israelis as justified “resistance;” an absurd accusation of Israel “drawing upon radicalized homophobia and transphobia in its abuse of Palestinians;” and an outlandish claim that Israelis are infecting Palestinians in Gaza with COVID and killing them.

The PAT has their narrow agenda. If they really cared about the people of Gaza, they would have been protesting against Hamas's horrific rule years ago. The only reason they are yelling for the Palestinians now is that this is their opportunity to condemn Israel.

I ask the PAT – Why is this your focus? Aren’t there other issues in PPS for you to address? How do you think many Jewish students and teachers will respond to this narrative, especially being told that they are settler colonialists focused on hurting Palestinians? What will you do when parents and teachers demand classes on Zionism and the history of the State of Israel? I have heard too many times from the PAT – teachers want to teach “the truth” about Palestine.

Is this the “truth” you are proposing?

This is an effort by the teachers’ union to promote what many feel is a biased and historically revisionist curriculum. The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland received numerous complaints from Jewish PPS teachers, parents, and even elected officials about the meeting and the materials. Sadly, the PAT continues to engage in and lead anti-Israel activism.

We need to make our voices heard!

Send an email to PAT President Angela Bonilla

and share your thoughts!

Last week, the Jewish Federation held a webinar with the Brandeis Center for K-12 parents to better understand antisemitism and these types of curricular concerns in our schools. In many ways it was a response to the PAT actions.

As a follow-up, we are creating K-12 parent advocacy groups. There will be a launch meeting on Monday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Congregation Neveh Shalom. Hear from our JCRC team as they share how they respond to incidents in schools and advocate on behalf of the Jewish community at the district level. Attendees will divide into district-specific networks to brainstorm and discuss the best ways to advocate and respond in our individual communities. Register here.

Finally, earlier this week, Harvard University announced that the school will refrain from taking official positions on controversial public policy issues. (Maybe a little late?) The University’s new stance followed a report produced from a faculty-led “Institutional Voice” working group, which advised leadership not to “issue official statements about public matters that do not directly affect the university’s core function.” 

Why can’t groups like the PAT, Oregon Food Bank, and so many others follow Harvard’s lead and focus solely on their core mission and work?

Shabbat shalom and contact the PAT.