The superintendent of the Beverly Hills Unified College District overruled a plan accepted by the Board of Training to show Israeli flags on all campuses throughout Jewish American Heritage Month, citing considerations about scholar security.
On Tuesday, the board voted 3 to 2 in favor of the flag show, which was a part of a decision on combating antisemitism that additionally referred to as for better schooling on Jewish historical past and recognizing remembrance days for the Holocaust and Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
On Friday, Beverly Hills Unified Supt. Alex Cherniss introduced that he was utilizing his govt authority to cease the flag show.
“In gentle of heightened security considerations across the displaying of flags on our campuses I’ve made the choice to take fast motion for the protection and safety of our college students,” he mentioned in an announcement. “Till additional discover, no flags shall be displayed on our campuses aside from the flag of the US of America and the flag of the State of California.
Cherniss cited a board coverage that enables the superintendent to behave on behalf of the district when fast motion is important to keep away from danger to the varsity group or faculty property.
The movement to show the Israeli flag had stirred controversy inside and outside of the Beverly Hills faculty group.
A number of board members and group members lauded the show as a method to signify help of the Jewish group amid a surge in antisemitism. Critics, however, mentioned that the flag symbolizes help of the Israeli state and that that is inappropriate in a public faculty setting.
Some additionally raised considerations in regards to the show signifying approval of the Israeli army’s actions in Gaza, the place greater than half one million individuals reside in famine amid the continuing conflict.
Board President Rachelle Marcus voted towards the decision due to considerations that displaying the Israeli flag would make campuses a goal.
“I can’t, in all good conscience, put one thing in entrance of the varsity that may add stress to our security, for the coed physique, to the school, to everyone that works within the faculty,” she mentioned at Tuesday night time’s board assembly. “I simply can’t do it.”
Board member Amanda Stern additionally voted no, saying that singling out a selected nationwide flag to show is inappropriate in a public faculty setting. She additionally mentioned she listened to considerations from group members who mentioned that being towards antisemitism doesn’t imply they help the Israeli authorities.
“I like Israel,” Stern mentioned. “However I don’t assume it [the flag] belongs right here.”
Board member Russell Stuart, however, pushed again on the sentiment that the flag show carries political significance.
“The show of a flag throughout Jewish American Heritage Month will not be a direct endorsement of the Israeli authorities,” he mentioned. “It’s a help for our Jewish college students and the Jewish group. I actually don’t see this as being so tough.”
Board member Sigalie Sabag urged her fellow board members to go the decision, saying that it was vital to do all the pieces of their energy to fight the continuing surge in antisemitic assaults.
“This can be a time proper now that Jews are being killed and slaughtered on the road and threats are taking place,” she mentioned. “So sufficient, we have to arise and never do what the Jewish Germans did in Nazi Germany. They have been too scared to talk up.”
The Anti-Defamation League reported a 360% surge in antisemitic incidents in America within the three months following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault in contrast with the identical interval the earlier 12 months. Final 12 months, there have been 9,354 antisemitic incidents reported throughout the U.S., representing a 893% enhance over the past 10 years, in line with the ADL.
The Los Angeles chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a coalition of anti-Zionist American Jews, issued an announcement urging using means aside from the Israeli flag to acknowledge Jewish American Heritage Month and promote the protection of the Jewish individuals.
“[Displaying the] Israeli flag equates Judaism with Zionism and the state of Israel,” JVP L.A. mentioned in an announcement. “But, there’s a lot extra to our religion, group, and historical past than a flag that has now turn out to be a logo of genocide.”
Though the Beverly Hills Unified Board of Training initially accepted a plan to show Israeli flags on campuses, there was by no means any intention to fly them from a flagpole, in line with a district spokesperson.
