Friday, October 30, 2026
The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District notified families Wednesday of an antisemitic incident involving a Merrick Avenue Middle School student after district officials learned that an offensive image was circulating on social media.
The image contained antisemitic drawings, writings and swastikas, according to an Oct. 28 letter to families signed by Superintendent Michael Harrington and Merrick Avenue Middle School Principal Katelyn Dunn.
District officials said they immediately took disciplinary action against the student and filed a report with the Nassau County Police Department. The district is cooperating with the police investigation and addressing the incident under its Code of Conduct.
“We continue to unequivocally condemn antisemitism in all forms and will not tolerate any conduct that demeans or targets any member of our school community based on their religion, ethnicity or identity,” Harrington and Dunn wrote in the letter.
The administrators also urged parents to reinforce those messages at home, emphasizing that students can face disciplinary consequences for conduct occurring outside school grounds and school hours.
“Additionally, please know that a student’s actions off school property and outside of school hours can still carry extremely serious consequences when those actions violate the standards of conduct we expect from our students,” the letter stated.
The incident prompted responses from local Jewish leaders, who praised the district's swift action while emphasizing the importance of education in combating antisemitism.
Rabbi Shimon Kramer, director of Chabad of Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh, said he spoke directly with Harrington and commended the district for addressing the incident and supporting students.
“I had the opportunity to speak directly with Superintendent Mr. Harrington, and we are very appreciative of the swift and serious action he and the school district have taken,” Kramer said in an Oct. 29 statement.
Kramer, who survived an antisemitic shooting on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1994, said the incident carries particular significance because of his personal experience with hatred.
On March 1, 1994, Kramer was traveling with 14 fellow yeshiva students when a gunman opened fire on their van. His wife's cousin, 16-year-old Ari Halberstam, was shot and later died from his injuries.
“I know firsthand what hatred can lead to,” Kramer said. “I experienced the terror of being shot at simply because of my Jewish identity, and I witnessed the devastating loss of an innocent young life.”
Kramer said the student's age underscores the need to educate young people about the history of antisemitism and the consequences of hateful behavior.
“Our goal should not simply be to punish a child for expressing hatred. Our goal must be to educate that child so that he or she grows up understanding why hatred is wrong,” he said. “If we punish without educating, we may have missed our greatest opportunity to make a lasting difference.”
Kramer pointed to a recent activity at Chabad's Hebrew School, where students decorated bags with the words “Make the Right Choice,” as an example of teaching children kindness, respect and personal responsibility.
“Every day, our children are faced with choices,” he said. “They can choose kindness over cruelty, respect over ridicule, and love over hatred. But they need us to teach them how to make those choices.”
Rabbi Anchelle Perl, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Sholom Chabad of Mineola and a member of the Nassau County Human Rights Commission, also praised the district's response but said the incident highlights the need for greater education about antisemitism, religious differences and respect for others.
“I commend the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for its swift response and clear condemnation. Such behavior must have consequences,” Perl wrote in a statement. “But punishment alone is not education.”
Perl said children are influenced by their surroundings, including social media, peers and the behavior of adults, and called on schools to place greater emphasis on teaching human dignity, respectful disagreement and moral responsibility.
He encouraged public schools to participate in his free “Ask a Rabbi” program, which gives students an opportunity to ask questions about Judaism, Jewish identity, antisemitism and religious differences in an open setting.
“A swastika is not merely an offensive drawing. It represents a horrific history culminating in the murder of six million Jews,” Perl wrote. “Students must understand not only that such symbols are unacceptable, but why.”
Both rabbis emphasized that accountability should be accompanied by opportunities for young people to learn from their mistakes and develop a greater understanding of others.
“Let the incident in Merrick become more than another disturbing headline. Let it become a turning point for education, understanding and renewed civility,” Perl wrote.
Kramer echoed that sentiment, urging parents, educators a nd community members to use the incident as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of kindness and respect.
“We cannot change what happened yesterday, but we can influence the choices our children make tomorrow,” Kramer said. “Every child has the power to make the right choice. Our responsibility as adults is to make sure we teach them how.”
