(Hanover, Pennsylvania — November 1, 2025)
Statement from StandWithUs Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Julie Paris and Matt Lebovic, Director of the StandWithUs Holocaust Education Center:
StandWithUs is profoundly disturbed by the egregious display of antisemitic hate that occurred on a Halloween parade float entered by St. Joseph Catholic School in Hanover, Pennsylvania on October 31. The inclusion of a replica of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp gate, bearing the horrific Nazi slogan “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work Sets You Free”,) trivializes the murder of millions during the Holocaust, including six million Jews.
The image is not merely “offensive” or “unacceptable”—it is a direct symbol of an attempt to exterminate the Jewish people and represents the ultimate evil of humanity. To use it as a centerpiece for a holiday display demonstrates a shocking and dangerous level of ignorance, moral failure, or malice on the part of the individuals responsible.
“The most alarming part of this incident is the failure of adult supervision. No educators or grown-ups responsible for the students intervened to prevent this display. This profound lapse demonstrates surging, largely unchecked antisemitism in our schools and a critical educational failure.”
StandWithUs acknowledges and appreciates the immediate and unequivocal condemnation and apology issued by Bishop Timothy C. Senior of the Diocese of Harrisburg. His statement correctly identifies the imagery as a “notorious symbol of hate,” and his pledge to work with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to provide education is a necessary first step.
However, this incident necessitates more than just an apology and future education. We demand action to ensure the apology does not serve as window-dressing obscuring more antisemitism in the school community:
Accountability: We urge the Diocese and Saint Joseph Catholic School to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into who conceived, constructed, approved, and allowed this symbol of hate to be displayed. The individuals responsible must be held accountable for their actions.
Immediate, Mandatory Education: The commitment to education must be immediate, comprehensive, and mandatory for all students, staff, and administrators in the school community. This must include direct, unvarnished teaching on the horrors of the Holocaust, the history of antisemitism, and the critical need to respect Jewish memory and security.
Review of Procedures: The school’s approval process for all public-facing displays must be completely overhauled to ensure such a “grievous incident” can never be repeated.
The Holocaust Education Center of StandWithUs would welcome the opportunity to work with our partners and the Diocese to ensure that the educational response to this outrage is meaningful and effective. Incidents like this are a sign of a critical failing in Holocaust and antisemitism education. We expect the Diocese of Harrisburg to translate their sincere words into sincere, measurable action to confront this hate.
