A Massachusetts town official who made disparaging remarks to a Jewish colleague should resign, the Anti-Defamation League said. Maureen Kenney, a selectwoman and member of the school committee in Randolph, reportedly said of a request by the town’s Jewish superintendent of schools for five days paid leave following a family death, “It is not the standard in industry. Besides, don’t you Jews plant them within 24 hours?” Richard Silverman, the superintendent, said that after protesting Kenney’s remarks, she responded, “I don’t see any side curls on your head, so what the hell do you need five days of bereavement leave for?” In a statement Wednesday, the New England Anti-Defamation League office called for Kenney’s resignation, saying her comments were “an insult to the entire community,” according to news reports. “Bigotry against anyone is bigotry against everyone.” Randolph, a community 15 miles south of Boston, participates in ADL’s No Place for Hate, an anti-bigotry program that has come under fire recently from activists opposed to the organization’s position on the Armenian genocide. A local civil rights leader, David Harris, and the Patriot Ledger, a local newspaper, also have called for Kenney to step down.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
