On January 28, the Solomon Schechter girl’s basketball team took their positions, ready to play a competitive game of basketball against the Ossining Middle School. But according to several Schechter team members and parent attendants, some of the Ossining athletes hurled verbally hurtful slurs and insults toward their Schechter counterparts after the game, such as “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Kwanzaa.”

Team members Alexia Lefkovits and Tanya Low said they heard slurs such as “No Jews allowed” and “Jews get out” during the aggressive game.

Solomon Schechter Upper School principal Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, who did not attend the game, said, “The girls were not being nice to each other. [But] I spoke at length with the Ossining Principal, who took the matter very seriously, and her view is that this was not at all a matter of Anti-Semitism. It was more stupidity than deep-rooted Anti-Semitism.”

According to Cohen, the students on the Ossining team were pulled out of their classes the day following the incident and had an hour-long meeting with their coaches and teachers.

Parents who attended the game said they were very concerned with the poor sportsmanship of the Ossining team. Some of them said they could not believe their ears. “It is a very sad reflection on the attitude of the young kids today, especially that it should happen at a basketball game,” said parent attendant Carol Low. The girls on the Ossining bench were reportedly laughing and making fun of the Schechter girl’s team after gaining a thirty-point lead.

When asked to comment on the incident, the Ossining director of physical education said, “Anything of this sensitivity goes straight to the principal. She has been doing the investigation.” Ossining Middle School Principal Ms. Regina Silio declined to be interviewed but preferred to speak only with school staff on such a sensitive matter.

According to Cohen, he and Silio have set up a meeting that will take place between both teams next month in order to work together to move ahead.

Solomon Schechter Upper School Headmaster Dr. Elliot Spiegel said he clearly understands that this is not the first time that something of this magnitude has happened in the Schechter community. He expressed two concerns: first, the Ossining team “need[s] to understand how hurtful and offensive these acts are,” and second, he wants “to make sure that students are taught to respond, and not to ignore.”

Though the precise details of the incident are still unclear, to many it brings to the forefront the importance of confronting anti-Semitism whenever it is encountered. “If it does exist, it is very disturbing. We’re living in a very difficult time,” said Spiegel. “The world is indeed going through a very difficult stage. Hatred towards Jews and other people of different faiths exists everywhere, and cannot be put to a conclusion by one person alone. The final stages of anti-Semitism will only emerge when the future generation is taught to oppose these ideas. The world needs leaders to further this cause.”

When asked how to best prevent anti-Semitism, Spiegel simply replied, “Education. The leaders must fight racism. They have to react to it.”

Students of the Solomon Schechter Upper School reacted firmly following the event. Freshman Harris Bedell said, “I feel that [anti-Semitism] should be put to a stop because if we wait too long, the words could lead to actions.”

Eytan Kurland, another freshman, said, “If we can’t stop it in our community, then we won’t be able to stop it at all.”

When asked if this event would have an effect on inter-school athletics, especially with the Ossining school, Cohen said, “No, there is no reason, as long as the school leaders continune to respond in such a fine matter.”

Girls on the basketball team hope to be able to play basketball without worrying that something of this matter will happen again, and that everyone will be able to accept other people of different faiths, cultures, and religions.