The BHUSD is considering a resolution that would strengthen support for Israel. The city has shown support with an Oct. 7 memorial flag display. (photo by Tabor Brewster)

The Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education on Aug. 5 discussed a resolution to combat antisemitism and strengthen the district’s support for Israel. The resolution, titled “Combating Antisemitism through Education, Awareness, Remembrance, and Support” includes initiatives such as recognizing Jewish Heritage Month in May, commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day, celebrating the state of Israel, “recognizing the true Jewish history of the state of Israel” and displaying the flag of Israel on all BHUSD campuses each year.

Following a discussion, the board did not vote on the resolution’s approval, and it will return to a public hearing at a later date after it is examined further.

The resolution was met with both support and opposition from members of the community. Several speakers – including at least three who are Jewish – expressed concerns over the resolution’s perceived vague language and potential First Amendment violations. Some speakers argued that the resolution may backfire, effectively fomenting antisemitism by conflating all Jewish people with the state of Israel.

“I come to you today as the son of an Israeli immigrant with half of my family living in Israel and over a decade of orthodox Hebrew school under my belt,” BHUSD parent Daniel Lifschitz said. “For many years, antisemites have pushed something called the dual loyalty trope to foster hatred and suspicion of Jews. The trope posits that Jews are inherently required to be loyal to and defend the state of Israel, and because their true allegiance is elsewhere, Jews cannot be trusted to participate in American civil life. Jewish people in turn have spent decades attempting to disabuse people of this notion, explaining that Zionism and antisemitism are separate concepts and that criticism of one does not necessitate hatred of the other. The resolution put forth by the board to combat antisemitism seeks to destroy all those decades of work by completely eliminating any distinction between anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment. It also vaguely intones that there is some nebulous false version of Jewish history that will now be banned from discussion, zero specifics provided. It makes the shocking and unprecedented demand that we fly the flag of a foreign state and pledge unwavering support for that foreign state no matter what it does. That is not merely illiberal and authoritarian, but most likely illegal and an invitation for litigation.”

Lifschitz suggested eliminating several aspects of the resolution and reworking it to remove explicit support for the state of Israel.

Former BHUSD parent Andrea Grossman, who is Jewish, said she was dismayed that the resolution would be put forward by the public school district.

“Did the person who drafted this claptrap have any understanding of the Establishment Clause within the First Amendment? Here’s its meaning: The Establishment Clause, part of the First Amendment, prevents the government from establishing a state religion or favoring one religion over another. It is essentially a mandate to separate church and state, prohibiting government actions that promote, endorse or inhibit religion,” Grossman said. “Not all taxpayers who support the school district are Jewish. Not all students here are Jewish. Why should a Catholic kid, or a Protestant kid, or a Muslim kid, God forbid, be required to pay attention to the Jewish calendar? And why should my kids, who are Jewish, pay attention to a Jewish calendar in a public school? Who decides what the ‘true history’ of any people is? Who determines that? And who writes the history? And more disturbing, why should a public school fly a flag that’s not an American or California flag?”

BHUSD parent Andrew Katz, who is Jewish, supported the intent of combating antisemitism in schools, however, added that requiring the display of Israeli flags and observing Israel’s Independence Day “puts a target” on the backs of Jewish people. He also pointed out a recently approved BHUSD policy which substantially limits the discussion of “sensitive topics” in classrooms – including subjects like race, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation. He said the school should support initiatives including education on the historical struggles of other marginalized communities.

“It’s great for schools to be able to celebrate Jewish Heritage Month and hang Israeli flags in classrooms. It’s mean for them not to be able to celebrate Pride Month, nor hang the different LGBTQIA+ flags in classrooms,” Katz said. “It’s important to commemorate the murders of over 1,000 innocent Israelis in Israel on Oct. 7. It’s mean to ignore the lynching of many thousands of Black people in the United States from Reconstruction through the ‘50s, and the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and Trayvon Martin and other Black people in modern times.”

Although the proposed resolution received criticism from at least four parents and community members, it also received support from at least two parents.

“For many Jews, Beverly Hills School District is the choice to make sure that it’s a safe place for Jewish kids to feel Jewish, to be Jewish, to express their Judaism … This resolution is very much needed to create that safe environment,” said a parent who identified as Jewish, American and Israeli. He added that he strongly disagreed with Lifschitz’ distinction between anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism. However, he added that the school district should also “figure out other ways to take care of other minorities to feel safe and included.”

“I think it’s very important to have Jewish education, antisemitism education, because some teachers are unaware of it,” BHUSD parent Lisa Babcock, who is Jewish, said. She alleged that several teachers in the district have ignored antisemitism, and claimed that one teacher denied the events of Oct. 7.

Following public comment, BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss acknowledged the differing viewpoints on the language of the resolution, but expressed support for its approval.

“The intent of this resolution is to support our Jewish students,” Cherniss said. “Antisemitism is at an all-time high. This resolution makes a statement that the school district wants to educate our students, our families about antisemitism and ways to combat that through knowledge and facts and education.”

The resolution was strongly supported by Board Member Sigalie Sabag. Board Vice President Judy Manouchehri supported the resolution but added that it could be “fine tuned.” Board Member Russell Stuart also supported the resolution but said he did not disagree with examining the changes suggested by Lifschitz.

Board Member Dr. Amanda Stern said she supported the intention of combating antisemitism, but expressed concerns over potentially violating the First Amendment and contradicting the board’s recent policy on sensitive topics.

“We recently passed a policy that does mention the need to be careful with sensitive topics as well as partisan materials, so I wonder how it is that something of this nature could not be deemed as something that is sensitive or something that covers partisan materials,” Stern said.

Board President Rachelle Marcus also supported the basis of the resolution in combating antisemitism, but added that it should be further examined to address concerns expressed by the community.

Marcus and Manouchehri agreed to create a two-person subcommittee to re-work the resolution with the concerns in mind.

“I will work with Mrs. Marcus as the subcommittee to bring this back with what I hope to be something that all five board members will support,” Manouchehri said.