The Massachusetts legislature recently passed two budget amendments aimed at combatting antisemitism—one mandates schools to adopt curriculum related to antisemitism and another creates a commission to make sure the state follows the Biden administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.
Newton has a relatively large Jewish population—estimated at between 20 percent and 30 percent of the total city population—and since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack against Israel, police have noted a rise in antisemitic crimes in the city.
On Wednesday night, candidates for both the Middlesex 11th and Middlesex 12th state representative races met at Temple Emanuel in Newton to discuss that and other issues that impact the Jewish community.
The forum was moderated by FayeRuth Fisher, public affairs director for Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston.
11th Middlesex
Alex Jablon, Democratic candidate for the 11th Middlesex seat, said the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack against Israel has left him grappling with pain and fear and that educating the whole public about antisemitism is important.
Jablon noted that, as a college student in Indiana, he noticed a lack of understanding about Jewish people and Jewish history.
“When I was there, I think that there was a vast, vast, vast underteaching of the pain and the suffering that our people have felt for thousands of years,” Jablon said. “And I think this education is important. I was the first Jewish person that a number of my friends ever met, and I was able to educate them.”
Amy Sangiolo, the other Democrat running in the 11th Middlesex race, said she supports the antisemitism amendments that were passed.
“I totally support having this commission. I think that what we do need to have is curricula in our schools and our classrooms that teach everybody about awareness of different cultures and different folks, particularly those who have been marginalized forever and have had hate lodged against them.”
The Republican candidate running for the 11th Middlesex seat, Vladislav Yanovsky, had a different take.
“Nothing has changed in the last 3-and-a-half-thousand years. There are no more or no less people who hate the Jews, and they are free to do so,” Yanovsky said. “The only option I see to combat antisemitism is a strong Jew—a proud Jew, who believes wholeheartedly that they are the descendent of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are proud of their Jewishness, and on top of that, they are well-armed.”
He then emphasized that he was talking about guns.
“We have taught Holocaust education ad nauseam,” Yanovsky continued. “Everybody has been Holocausted out already, and nothing has changed.”
12th Middlesex
With the 12th Middlesex Race—which consists of three Democrats and no Republicans—there was less variance.
“Listen, it’s not done,” Rick Lipof said. “We need to figure out who comes to the table and crafts this antisemitism legislation for our schools. It’s gotta be done the right way.”
Lipof called out the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which has expressed opposition to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
“I would be a hawk watching out for our schools, making sure that the antisemitism curriculum is teaching the right things, the right history, that it’s inclusive,” Lipof said.
Bill Humphrey said he favors funding security at Jewish temples and other places that may be targets of antisemitic crimes and emphasized the importance of learning.
“I’ve had the opportunity, since I’m not Jewish, to meet with rabbis and hear about their specific experiences trying to make their sites more secure, and I think that was helpful for me to hear,” he said.
Humphrey added that efforts at the state level should be proactive and preventive.
“Not everyone lives in a community like ours, where they are exposed to the Jewish community and have those opportunities, and I think the more you can have intercultural and intercommunal experiences, funding for cultural experiences, that helps to teach folks who aren’t from a community that has a lot of Jewish folks more about that,” he explained.
Greg Schwartz spoke next and said that a state representative from Newton has the opportunity to educate people on Beacon Hill about issues important to Jewish constituents.
“When I worked for two congressmen who were Jewish in the U.S. Congress and one member of Parliament in Britain who was also Jewish, I saw how important it was not just to organize the other Jewish legislators but to reach out and create alliances with the other legislators who were not Jewish,” Schwartz said. “And that’s gold.”
The candidates also discussed housing, immigration and abortion rights.
You can watch the full candidate forum online.
The primaries for state house races will be Sept. 3.