Understanding & Supporting Others During This Trying Time

ISSUE #45 – November 15, 2023

Editor’s Note

Since October 7^th, things have been different. Though there is a war taking place in the Middle East, it is having a major impact on many right here in the greater Princeton area. Over the past month+, there have been local gatherings of grief and solidarity with Israel, Pro-Palestinian rallies, teach-ins, and vigils to bring home the hostages. Very little has been covered by our local media, so we felt compelled to do so.

In this issue, Understanding & Supporting Others During This Trying Time, Princeton Perspectives aims to take a closer look at why a war in Israel and Gaza is affecting people so closely here.

Though our local media is covering little, mainstream media is covering this issue non-stop. From national online publications to cable news channels, network news and social media, people are learning about the area for the first time and getting updates on what is happening in live time. Where are you getting your knowledge? We asked Princeton University students to share how they stay in-the-know in this month’s Pulse of Princeton, and you may be interested to hear what they have to say. Read more…

In This Issue

Perspectives Revisited

The Pulse of Princeton: Where do PU students get their news about the war?

The Rise in Jew-Hatred is Felt Near and Far by Lisa Jacknow - Antisemitism has long been the most-reported religious hate crime. Since the October 7th Israeli massacre by Hamas it has skyrocketed, with downtowns, college campuses and other areas being site to some of… Read more...
A Mix of Local Education and Transglobal Information Feed Today’s Youth by Lisa Jacknow - Princeton Public Schools has a mission “to prepare all of our students to lead lives of joy and purpose as knowledgeable, creative and compassionate citizens of a global society.” The Hun School… Read more...
Use an Open Heart to Get Through Today’s Tragedies by Josée Graybill - We are living through incredibly difficult times. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, our planet warming at warp speed, intense weather events our new reality. Our government is polarized into paralysis,… Read more...
Allyship: A Way to Advocate and Commiserate with Others by Rev. Alison Boden, Falguni Pandya and Central New Jersey Interfaith Stitchers for Peace - Religion has an amazing way of bringing people together, but it also has the ability to pull people apart. As the fighting continues between Israel and the Palestinian territory of Gaza, many… Read more...

Perspectives Revisited

Where do things stand with Princeton’s Master Plan? In the issue Finding the Right Balance, Around Town and in Life (Nov. 2022) we explained in the article Creating a Master Plan that Balances the Needs of All Involved what a Master Plan is and how, since its last big overhaul in 1996, Princeton was planning to update it. For the past year, the municipality has conducted surveys, listening tours and more to try and include public visions in the plan. On November 9^th the Planning Board held a meeting, offering public comment and a plan to vote. But, after four hours and with residents still seeking to weigh in, the decision was made to continue public comment at the Nov. 30^th meeting, where a decision to pause to consider incorporating some of the comments may occur, or a vote might follow.

Who will become the next leader of Princeton Public Schools? We first welcomed Carol Kelley in the issue Local Changes on the Horizon in Princeton (Aug. 2021) in the article Leaders and Goals Take Princeton Public Schools in New Directions. It was Oct. 27^th that she announced her resignation and on Monday night November 13^th, the Princeton Board of Education (BOE) voted to bring Kathie Foster back to Princeton’s schools, approving her as Acting Superintendent through August 2024. Within the past few years, Foster previously served the district in the roles of Interim Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and then Acting Principal for Princeton High School. A decision has not yet been made when the search for a permanent superintendent will begin.