Exclusive: School That Barred Holocaust Survivor Celebrates Keffiyeh-Clad Protestors in Curriculum

A Brooklyn middle school that sparked outrage for blocking a Holocaust survivor from speaking due to his support for Israel is using images of protestors wearing keffiyehs in its social justice curriculum, according to documents shared exclusively with Belaaz on Sunday.

While MS 447 in Boerum Hill refused to allow Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann to address students, leaked curriculum materials reveal the school is actively teaching a “social activism” unit that highlights art by Rama Duwaji, the wife of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. The artwork depicts protestors wearing keffiyehs; checkered scarves that serves as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism and which are frequently associated with terrorism against Israelis and Jews.

The unit also features a module titled “Fashion as Activism,” which explicitly includes the keffiyeh. The course material claims that Palestinian nationalism began in the 1930s. Critics, however, argue this constitutes historical revisionism, noting that modern Palestinian nationalism was largely promulgated in the 1960s under heavy influence from the Soviet Union as part of a Cold War campaign against the West and its ally, Israel.

The revelations have incited anger among parents and Jewish community leaders, who contend the school is prioritizing a specific political agenda while marginalizing Jewish history. This conduct could potentially violate NYC Schools Chancellor Regulation D-130, which mandates that curriculum remain neutral on political matters.

Moshe Spern, head of the United Jewish Teachers, told Belaaz that the school was engaging in indoctrination. “Exposing 7th graders to keffiyehs in the context of social justice and activism is an example of indoctrination for students to have negative viewpoints around Israel,” Spern said. “This is precisely why they didn’t want a Holocaust survivor with pro Israel views because it would go against their negative narrative around Israel. They’re afraid that students could actually have empathy for Israel and even support Israel. This is a very dangerous precedent being set by MS 447.”

The “Art for Social Change” unit also highlights movements such as Black Lives Matter and features figures like Kendrick Lamar and Colin Kaepernick.

In a letter to families dated Nov. 20 and obtained by Belaaz, MS 447 teacher Joy Canning described the unit’s objective: “Students have been busy throughout this unit thinking about their own deep culture, their identities… and social justice issues.” She noted that students would design their own “activist T-shirts” to “wear the message of the movement of their choosing” at an upcoming expo in February.

Meanwhile, following public backlash over the school’s refusal to host Steigmann, District 15 Superintendent Rafael T. Alvarez issued a letter on Dec. 5 attempting to clarify the district’s stance.

“We acknowledge that the recent decision caused hurt for many in our community, and we are committed to repairing that harm,” Alvarez wrote. He stated that he and Chancellor Aviles-Ramos had spoken with Steigmann and agreed to “partner together on an educational programming opportunity for students in our public school system.”

However, the letter stopped short of confirming Steigmann would be allowed to speak at MS 447 specifically; a move Mayor Eric Adams has publicly supported, as first reported by Belaaz. Instead, Alvarez noted that the school has arranged visits to the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Children’s Museum “as a starting point.”

Spern expressed relief that the Chancellor and Superintendent are engaging but remained deeply critical of the delay.

“We are very happy to hear that Chancellor Ramos and Superintendent Alvarez are taking this very seriously and supporting my friend Sami Steigmann, but it’s unfortunate that it took a media storm to wake them up to this issue,” Spern said. “As someone who reported this concern to them immediately, it went on deaf ears… No one should be fooled, there is still very real systemic antisemitism in NYC Public Schools.”

Spern questioned the vagueness of the Superintendent’s response regarding MS 447.
“Why is Superintendent Alvarez afraid to host Sami Steigmann at MS 447? And why hasn’t the Principal apologized?” Spern asked. “What are they afraid the students will hear? Is it possible that hearing about the Jewish perspective on the Holocaust somehow violates the school’s mission?”