"Antisemitism, racism and homophobia were present before that moment, but this act ripped off the veil again, said Beth Silbergeld, the principal at Branham High School, where the photo was taken by a group of students who had been tossing around a football on their lunch break. It shocked us. It hurt. It frightened people. It angered people. It sparked conversations about Holocaust education, accountability, discipline, and what real repair should look like."
"Beth Silbergeld Principal of Branham High School speaks during a gathering against hate, in response to a group of Branham High School students who arranged themselves into the shape of a swastika, at Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Silbergeld's speech on the seventh night of Hanukkah, at Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos, brought the audience to its feet."
A group of Branham High School students in San Jose posed into a human swastika and posted a photo online with a quote from Adolf Hitler. The image prompted pain, fear, and anger among Jewish residents and local leaders and led to a gathering at Congregation Shir Hadash on the seventh night of Hanukkah. The event, organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area, aimed to condemn the antisemitic incident and show solidarity. Bay Area Jewish Coalition reported 500 antisemitic incidents at K-12 Bay Area schools since November 2023. Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg urged education about the Holocaust and Jewish history as part of the response.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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