If you know a toddler, you know about Ms. Rachel. Because of our two year old granddaughter, I can sing along to many of the songs featured on Ms. Rachel’s hugely popular children’s show on YouTube and Netflix. Rachel Accurso is often described as the Mr. Rogers for this generation of children. Her songs and messages focus on love, acceptance, and the sacred worth of every child.
Yet in our polarized society, she is also the object of hate mail and threats. She became aware that children in Gaza watch her show even as they endure suffering and deprivation. She spoke out about their suffering and helped to raise funds for humanitarian relief. For these efforts, Ms. Rachel endures online and printed accusations of antisemitism including being called “a mouthpiece of Hamas.” Some even called on the Justice Department to investigate her as a “foreign agent” despite the fact that she also expressed grief over the deaths of Israeli children and met with the families of some of the hostages.
Ms. Rachel persists in her commitment to love all children, especially those who are suffering. She learned of a young Palestinian girl named Rahaf who is in this country for treatment after losing both legs when her house was bombed. Ms. Rachel invited Rahaf to join her on an upcoming episode to sing together Ms. Rachel’s signature song “Hop Little Bunnies.” That simple act of compassion received national attention along with additional criticsm and threats. This is a vivid reminder that working for peace and justice comes with inevitable backlash. Even if you don’t have or know a toddler, I invite you to learn more about Ms. Rachel and her faith based commitment to stand up for the sacred worth of each and every child. When the episode featuring Rahaf comes out next month, please watch and share it both in support of Ms. Rachel and as an act of resistance to the dehumanization of the suffering children in Gaza and all those whose humanity is being diminished in our nation and around the world.
Thet two videos posted below are reports from CNN and PBS that feature the story of Ms. Rachel and Rahaf in the context of the controversy surrounding them.