16 | MARCH 30 • 2023 

OUR COMMUNITY

“THIS IS THE VERY OPPOSITE OF 

DIVERSITY, THIS IS EXCLUSION.” 

— NEIL ROCKIND, PARENT

continued from page 14

ues of free and open inquiry, critical thinking and 
a sound education.
“We are horrified to learn of instances of peer-
based bullying, intimidation and acts of violence 
targeting Muslim and Arab students at BHHS. We 
are also astounded to learn of incidents of school 
suspension and questioning of students’ political 
and religious views by BHS administration.” 
The letter did not acknowledge that Arraf’s 
remarks also made many Jewish students feel 
threatened. 
During the reading of the letter, the meeting 
was disrupted by a heckler who was escorted out 
of the building when he refused to be quiet. 
The meeting continued with further remarks 
from MUC’s Imam Abdullah Al-Mahmudi and 
then Rabbi Asher Lopatin, executive director of 
the Detroit Jewish Community Relations Council/
American Jewish Committee. Lopatin emphasized 
the pain felt by both Jewish and Muslim students 
in his remarks and shared two approaches with 
the BOE that will be crucial for healing as the dis-
trict moves forward. 
“
As a Jew, a rabbi and a proud Zionist who also 
supports Palestinian rights, I asked the school to 
support all students (regardless of their religious 
background) expressing their beliefs. Their pas-
sions for every issue need to be supported — from 
how to deal with racism, to how to approach 
Israel or the plight of the Palestinian people … 
But the second crucial point is that the school 
must help students understand that they are one 
community, and parents as well. They need to 
work together even when they disagree strongly. 
We need to create an atmosphere of civil and 
respectful disagreement.” 
At other contentious times during the meeting, 
there were outbursts of laughter and denial from 
some when Jewish speakers made allegations 
that Arraf had possible connections with terror 
organizations such as Hamas, had come under 
investigation by the FBI, and her extreme anti-Is-
rael rhetoric conflates to anti-Zionism, which is a 
form of antisemitism. 
Neil Rockind, who is in his 50s and an alumn 
of Andover High School, said he felt very uncom-
fortable with the divisive atmosphere in the room, 
with half the people clapping and cheering at 
some statements and the other half cheering at 
opposing views. 
“This is the very opposite of diversity, this is 
exclusion,” said the defense attorney and grandson 
of Holocaust survivors. “I married someone who 

continued on page 18

Neil Rockind expresses his views. 

