Maryland’s governor visited a Jewish day school in Rockville on December 16 and talked with students about hate crimes in the state, a bit of Maryland history, his own recent visit to Israel, and his personal fight against cancer, The Lion’s Tale reports.
“Probably the most moving experience for me was we had an incredible visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum and I got a chance to lay a wreath in honor of Holocaust victims,” Jonathan Foldi, the student newspaper’s managing editor, quoted Larry Hogan as saying as the governor talked about his visit to Israel in September.
Mr Hogan delivered what was reported to be an inspiring speech before talking exclusively with fifth graders, telling students they could grow up to be anything they wanted to be and overcome any obstacle put in front of them.
“Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish [whatever] you want,” the governor was quoted as saying. “Anything that you want to be when you grow up, anything that you do, if you set your mind to it, I know you can do it.”
Referring to his race for governor in 2014 and his recent battle with cancer, Mr Hogan told students the obstacles people put in their way, including swastikas at middle schools or other antisemitic displays, shouldn’t stop them from persevering in their goals.
“We absolutely do not tolerate any kind of hate crimes here in Maryland or anywhere else,” the paper quoted him as saying. “We think people need to find a way. Even when you have strong disagreements, you need to find a way to at least respect each other and treat each other in a decent way.”
