By COLlive reporter
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 48 Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Religious Bigotry in Virginia Public Schools and Institutions of Higher Education to further expand his efforts to combat antisemitism at Virginia public schools and institutions of higher education.
“No one should be unsafe in the classroom or on campus or feel targeted because of their religion or heritage,” he stated. “This Executive Order reaffirms and strengthens the Commonwealth’s commitment to safe educational environments free from discrimination and continues our actions against antisemitism and anti-religious bigotry in public schools and institutions of higher education.”
The Order directs the Secretary of Education, the Virginia Department of Education, and the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia to develop resources that will help local school divisions as well as colleges and universities prevent, track, report, and follow up on incidents of antisemitism and anti-religious bigotry.
Surveys conducted by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) found that since the terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, incidents of antisemitism have increased, especially in classrooms and on campuses.
Youngkin was lauded for this bill at the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CMA) gala held in connection with Jewish Heritage Month. “We came together to celebrate more than 400 years of Jewish contributions to Virginia, and to send a clear message: antisemitism has no place in our schools, our communities, or our Commonwealth,” he said.
Among those representing Jewish communities across Virginia was a delegation of Chabad Shluchim led by Head Shliach Rabbi Yossel Kranz. At a reception, Virginia Beach Shliach Rabbi Meir Lessoff delivered a Jewish message and sounded the shofar for participants. Other speakers included members of Congress and the Senate, Israeli Druze diplomat Sawsan Hassan, a survivor of the October 7th massacre, and a Holocaust survivor.
To close the evening, Rabbi Lessoff presented the Governor with a printed Torah scroll as a meaningful gift of gratitude, alongside the display of a 500-year-old Torah scroll — the oldest in Virginia.
אלופים! עלו והצליחו