Public schools in Beverly Hills will not display the Israeli flag in recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month in May, the superintendent announced on Thursday, citing the safety of students and parting with the district board’s vote on the issue earlier this week.
“Until further notice, no flags will be displayed on our campuses other than the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of California,” Superintendent Alex Cherniss said in a statement.
Cherniss said he needed to take “immediate action,” and cited a district policy granting the superintendent authority to make urgent decisions “to avoid any risk to the safety or security of students, staff, or district property or to prevent disruption of school operations.”
In a 3-2 vote on Tuesday night, the Beverly Hills Unified School District’s Board of Education passed a resolution aimed a combating antisemitism, honoring the achievements of Jews in the United States and commemorating the Holocaust.
It called for the Israeli flag to be displayed on district campuses throughout the month of May each year.
The resolution sparked a fierce debate, with opponents insisting the flag would not just signal support for Jewish people but also support for the Israeli government and its divisive military campaign in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
“By prioritizing symbolic displays of allegiance to Israel…over the lived experiences of grieving Palestinian and Arab students, the board has chosen to make a divisive political statement and undermine the inclusive environment schools are supposed to uphold,” Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the L.A. chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a statement.
School board member Russell Stuart, who voted in favor of the resolution, tried to draw a distinction between supporting Jewish Americans and supporting Israel.
“The display of a flag during Jewish American Heritage Month is not a direct endorsement of the Israeli government. It is not an endorsement of any geopolitical topic,” Stuart argued. “It is a support for our Jewish students and our Jewish community.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported 1,938 hate crimes targeting Jews in the United States in 2024, a 5.8% increase over 2023. The Anti-Defamation League reported 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024 – the highest number since it began tracking incidents in 1979.
“This is a time right now that Jews are being killed and slaughtered on the street and threats are happening, so enough. We need to stand up,” said board member Sigalie Sabag, who also voted yes.
Like the superintendent, Board President Rachelle Marcus, who voted no, expressed concern about the safety and security of students.
“I don’t want to put something on the front of the school that will make us targets of any kind,” she argued at Tuesday’s meeting.
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