JCRC Statement
September 10, 2025
The following is a statement from Ron Halber and Guila Franklin Siegel, who respectively serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the JCRC of Greater Washington.
“JCRC believes every child deserves to attend schools that are free from hatred or bias. We have a zero tolerance policy for antisemitism, and we work closely with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and other districts throughout the DMV to help ensure that Jewish students feel safe and are treated properly in their classrooms.
In recent days, some Jewish MCPS parents have raised concerns about a Palestinian folktale called “Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur!” that is taught in some first grade classrooms. We take parental concerns seriously — particularly when they are related to antisemitism or anti-Zionism generally, or more specifically October 7 and the ongoing war in Gaza.
The book’s text and illustrations do not reference the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or Jews at all. Nevertheless, we spoke directly with the author, which confirmed our own professional analysis: We believe that this children’s story is appropriate and beneficial for all students.
This story is not, as some have argued, a metaphor for accusations that Israel has stolen Palestinian land. As the author explained to the MCPS Board of Education, this folktale long predates the founding of the State of Israel and exists in various forms throughout the world.
We also disagree with those who say the story’s reference to Allah is inappropriate in a public school classroom. The book does not proselytize or endorse a religion. It merely illustrates one community’s faith — no different than a Jewish story including a reference to Hashem.
Finally, to those who say MCPS’ curriculum is unbalanced: In this quarter alone, MCPS has listed five books on Jewish themes for children in grades preK-8. More generally, JCRC collaboration with MCPS over the last several years has resulted in greatly enhanced educational offerings related to Jews, Judaism, antisemitism and Israel. And thanks in part to persistent advocacy from our community, Maryland recently updated its social studies curriculum to better address rising antisemitism since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack.
Children deserve an education that reflects the rich diversity of Montgomery County itself as well as the world they live in. That means learning not only about Jewish stories and traditions, but also about Palestinian, Muslim, African, Asian, and others. Teaching children about various cultures helps foster tolerance, respect, and understanding. It is also one of the most important and effective ways to address antisemitism.
To that end, we sincerely hope that Jewish parents will not opt their children out of lessons that utilize “Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur!” By the same token, we hope non-Jewish parents will not opt their children out of lessons meant to foster greater understanding of Jews and Israel.
Let us be clear: MCPS’ record on antisemitism and supporting Jewish students, educators, and families is far from perfect. With the new school year underway, JCRC will continue to hold MCPS accountable and fight tirelessly for more and better educational tools that feature Jewish culture and Israel.
But we believe this controversy has turned into an unfortunate and unnecessary distraction. Responding to antisemitism and anti-Zionism in our public schools and affirming the value of multicultural education need not be mutually exclusive. It is possible, and indeed necessary, to prioritize both. We hope all parents in our community will do so as well.”