Antisemitic basketball foul mouth: Letters to the Editor — Jan. 11, 2024

The Issue: The alleged antisemitic comments at a girls high school basketball game in Yonkers. Edward DeChent, the principal of Yonkers’ Roosevelt High School, has arrived at a teachable moment ( “Con­tempt on court,” Jan. 7). He should hold a joint assembly with The Leffell School, and invite knowledgeable speakers to facilitate an amicable discussion based on the facts.

The legitimate grievances of both Israel and Palestine should be addressed. Perhaps a better understanding of the conflict will lead to empathy and mutual respect. Hatred can never solve anything. Mel Young Boca Raton, Fla. That a student at Roosevelt HS allegedly felt comfortable saying “I support Hamas, you f ing Jew” to a girl from the opposing team reflects the failure of our media.

Coverage of the Israel Hamas war has not been adequate. The Oct. 7 Hamas attacks were an attack on humanity, and no political cause can justify such behavior. Israel’s military response is entirely appropriate given the circumstances. That there is now a humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deeply unfortunate, but ultimately the responsibility for it lies with Hamas.

It is Hamas who must return all innocent hostages and provide a complete surrender to end this incredibly painful war. Andrew M. Upton Manhattan If The Post’s recent article — on the alleged antisemitic behavior of the Roosevelt basketball team — was supposed to be informative, it wasn’t. What was the point of stating that the tuition at Leffell is $45,000 a year? The cost of the school is irrelevant to the story.

This only further fans the flames of antisemitic stereotypes. Betty Schwartz Livingston, NJ These alleged antisemitic insults are disheartening. First, it seems that the Roosevelt coach took no corrective action during the game. Second, the players who perpetrated this purported bigotry felt comfortable doing so.

The game mattered less than venting hatred. Apart from ignoring fundamental decency and sports etiquette, the behavior from Roosevelt HS revealed a thorough lack of respect. The student perpetrators should be thrown off the team and colleges should be made aware of their actions. That would be a valuable lesson.

Stanley M. Rubin Fresh Meadows The girls from The Leffell School should have never been subjected to antisemitic remarks. That was totally obnoxious. With so much antisemitism in our world today, we don’t need to see this type of behavior in our schools. I do hope those Roosevelt girls get reprimanded for their actions.

This type of conduct does not belong in sports. Rob Johann Queens The basketball players at Roosevelt HS should be removed from the team for the duration of the school year. Anything less than that would be a stain on the school. Antisemitism is too serious a matter for it to go unpunished. Robert Semel Brooklyn Roosevelt’s ex basketball coach Bryan Williams claims he is a scapegoat and that he didn’t hear any players sling antisemitic remarks ( “Antisemitic team’s coach, player axed,” Jan.

10). If that was the case, then why was Williams compelled to warn his team to “act appropriately” because they were playing a team from a Jewish school? Seems like an odd discussion to have. Jessica Bruder Westfield, NJ Former Roosevelt coach Bryan Williams obviously did not understand his job description.

A coach is supposed to teach character and sportsmanship, not just basketball. Richard Sherman Margate, Fla. Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style..