Community Involvement

Lauren Ferazani and Kate Gupta, juniors at Rockville Centre South Side High School and  Co-Vice Presidents of their school’s Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) chapter, were recognized at Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David on Sunday, March 23 for taking a stand against antisemitism. Partnering with the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FACS), they are leveraging DECA’s platform to raise awareness among their peers and the broader community about the prevalence of antisemitism, particularly on social media. During their discussion, they highlighted the troubling presence of hate-filled micro aggressions in on-line conversations and chats. However, they noted a significant shift after a Holocaust survivor spoke at their school, sharing firsthand experiences to educate students. The decline in micro aggressions that followed underscored the power of education in combating ignorance and intolerance.

Following the Q&A session, Congresswoman Gillen invited the students to Washington, D.C., presenting them with congressional citations, while Assemblywoman Griffin extended an invitation to Albany.

“The strong turnout from our Jewish community and the presence of so many elected officials demonstrate just how important and timely this conversation is,” said congregant, Sheldon Grossman, “These young women deserve recognition for their courage in educating their peers, and we wanted to show our appreciation for their efforts.

 L to R:  Rockville Centre Village Trustees Emilio Grillo & Katie Conlon; Congresswoman, Laura Gillen; RVC Southside H.S. Juniors Kate Gupta and Lauren Ferazani; Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David Rabbi David Lerner; NY Assemblywoman Judy Griffin; and NassauCounty Legislator Scott Davis