FEBRUARY 1 • 2024 | 7
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engaged in this symbolic 
project. It does not, in any 
way, serve the students of 
AAPS and their families. In 
fact, it may harm the dis-
trict’s efforts to hire a strong 
superintendent. 
Unlike the Ann 
Arbor City Council 
and Washtenaw County 
Commission, there was no 
attempt to garner communi-
ty input to craft a document 
that would be inclusive 
rather than divisive. Several 
trustees engaged mean-
ingfully with community 
members for and against 
the resolution. However, 
their input was not brought 
forth until the resolution 
was being discussed in 
advance of the vote, rather 
than through a collaborative 
process prior to the board 
meeting. 
We are grateful to 
Trustees Susan Baskett, 
Torchio Feaster and Susan 
Schmidt who voted no or 
abstained for understand-
ing their role and scope of 
authority. We understand 
their vote is not an indica-
tion of their personal posi-
tion regarding a ceasefire — 
for it or against it. It is sim-
ply about standing up for 
good governance, concern 
for the school community, 
and the need for the school 
board to focus on the cru-
cial issues facing the district 
and the children it serves. 
As disappointing as the 
outcome of the vote was, 
this experience has engaged 
our community and fos-
tered positive relationships 
with many members of the 
school board, including new 
board President Torchio 
Feaster and Vice President 

Krystle Dupree. Together 
with local families, we will 
be watching closely for how 
the AAPS will handle inci-
dents of antisemitism, rac-
ism and other forms of hate. 
We will continue to work 
cooperatively with school 
administration to address 
the educational needs of 
Jewish families and to con-
tinue to build a more inclu-
sive school community. 

Signed:

Eileen Freed, Executive 
Director, Board of Directors 
of the Jewish Federation of 
Greater Ann Arbor (JFGAA)
Jessica “Decky” Alexander, 
Board President (JFGAA)
Rabbi Nadav Caine, Beth 
Israel Congregation 
Rabbi Josh Whinston, 
Temple Beth Emeth 
Cantor Regina Hayut, 
Temple Beth Emeth 
David Stone, Executive 
Director, Jewish Community 
Center of Greater Ann Arbor 
Joshua J. Chinsky, Board 
President, Jewish Community 
Center of Greater Ann Arbor
Rabbi Will Keller, Head of 
School, Hebrew Day School of 
Ann Arbor 
Monica Woll, Board 
President, Hebrew Day 
School of Ann Arbor 
Shmuel Solovyev, Board 
President, Chabad of Ann 
Arbor 
Rabbi Ari Blech, Visiting 
Rabbi, Ann Arbor Orthodox 
Minyan 
Robert Savit, Board 
President, Ann Arbor 
Orthodox Minyan 
Ariel Zoldan, Vice 
President, Ann Arbor 
Orthodox Minyan 
Rachel Wall, Treasurer, 
Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan 
Tali Amidror, Board 
Member, Ann Arbor 
Orthodox Minyan

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