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Hudson Valley teachers take soft approach with students about Israel-Hamas conversations

Rabbi Harry Pell, the associate head of school at The Leffell school in Greenburgh, told News 12 students at the private K-12 Jewish day school are feeling a variety emotions about the war in Israel.

Jade Nash

Oct 12, 2023, 12:10 AM

Updated 270 days ago

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Teachers in the Hudson Valley are having critical conversations in their classrooms about the Israel-Hamas War.
Rabbi Harry Pell, the associate head of school at The Leffell school in Greenburgh, told News 12 students at the private K-12 Jewish day school are feeling a variety emotions about the war in Israel.
"Shock, sadness, confusion, anger, fear," Pell said.
Pell acknowledged that some class schedules at the school have been shifted temporarily to meet the needs of their student body.
"Some classes are moving forward as per normal. I think that's healthy these times. [In] other classes...that's not what [the students] need or it's not what the teacher is able to do," Pell said.
Pell said they want to make these adjustments to facilitate open and honest discussions with their students who may have questions about the war. Administrators are also making sure that parents are prepared to carry on these conversations at home.
"It's been an email or two a day to the whole parent population, including tips and resources for talking about trauma and talking about specifically this traumatic experience of these Hamas attacks on Israel with your children," he said.


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