RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (JTA) — A school in Rio de Janeiro published a public apology for an exam question that compared Israelis to Nazis.
The geography exam for eighth-graders at Colégio Andrews included a question that said Jews were once chased by Hitler and today another people is victimized by the Israelis, who compel them to live under their rule after invading, seizing land and killing.
The question was illustrated by a Nazi soldier wearing a swastika oppressing a Jewish boy, and an Israeli soldier with a Star of David oppressing an Arab boy.
“Who is worse: Nazis or Jews?” the question asks.
The Rio Jewish Federation quickly demanded a public apology and further action. The school published a note on its website this week and emailed the apology to all parents. The exam’s question was voided and the teacher who created the question was fired.
“This was an isolated case that does not reflect our school’s educational project goals, which have always favored peace and the good coexistence among the people,” the apology read. “This is our formal apology.”
Lectures on the Holocaust and the Middle East are scheduled to be delivered to students and teachers.
