LA teachers suspended for lecture on 'genocide' against Palestinians in class at synagogue: Report

LA teachers suspended for lecture on 'genocide' against Palestinians in class at synagogue: Report

Two teaches at a Los Angeles-area charter school have been suspended after teaching 1st graders that Israel was commiting a "genocide" agaisnt Palestinians while teaching the course inside a synagogue, according to a Saturday report.

The Citizens of the World charter school rents space from the Adat Ari El Synagogue. Issues first arose when teachers at the school complained of Israeli flags being flown on the Synagogue grounds following Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre in Israel., according to the New York Post.

After receving complaints from teachers, the school's principal, Hye-Won Gehring, emailed Senior Rabbi Brian Schuldenfrei.

"I know that this is a time to hold your community close, and perhaps the flags are intended for that--but do you know how long they will be up?" Gehring wrote.

Schuldenfrei took offense at the email, and later discovered that two teachers had shared a lesson on "human rights" with first grade students that claimed Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians, the Post reported.

The teachers reportedly shared details of the lesson on social media.

"After the lesson, one fo the teachers proudly shared on Instagram, and I quote, 'LOL but I did a lesson on the genocide in Palestine today w my first graders," Schuldenfrie said, according to the Post. "The teacher went on to boast: 'My fav was a kid who was like 'What if they just gave the land back to Palestine and find somewhere else to live."

Both teachers involved in the incident have since been suspended, but not fired. Gehring on Friday announced a two-week absence to undergo sensitivity training.