JCRC Statement
November 18, 2025
The following is a statement from Guila Franklin Siegel, chief operating officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
“We welcome today’s announcement from the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law that a settlement has been reached with the Nysmith School for its egregious handling of a case of antisemitic bullying and harassment. We hope this settlement provides long-overdue comfort for the Vazquez/Roy family whose children were subjected to severe mistreatment while school administrators responded first with silence and then with retribution. We also hope it reminds school officials everywhere that antisemitism must never be tolerated or encouraged.
“To call the facts of this case an outrage would be an understatement. Several months ago, the Vazquez/Roy family reported that their 11-year old daughter was experiencing unrelenting antisemitism from peers at Nysmith, including taunts that Jews were “baby killers” who deserved to die. After refusing repeated requests to put an end to this insidious behavior, school officials then expelled the family’s three children from the school.
“With this settlement, Nysmith School administrators have finally accepted responsibility for their callous disregard of student safety and health. After working closely with the Vazquez/Roy family since before their initial complaint was filed, JCRC will be leading all training sessions and programs provided by Nysmith School under the terms of this agreement, including annual mandatory antisemitism training for administrators, faculty and staff for at least five years. We are committed to ensuring that the Nysmith School lives up to its pledge to create a warm and nurturing environment for every child.
“We sincerely thank our colleagues at the Brandeis Center, as well as Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, for their steadfast commitment to addressing antisemitism whenever and wherever it strikes. We also honor the courage and determination of the Vazquez/Roy family and their children for speaking up against the evils of antisemitism. No family should ever encounter such vile hatred, but every family should be inspired by the example they set.
“As antisemitism continues to surge in the United States, we must all do our part to fight back. Every school should offer an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and free from hate. This agreement provides a roadmap toward the better future that Jewish families need more than ever, and that all of our children deserve.”