The Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) board voted 3-2 on August 26, 2025, to approve a resolution aimed at combating antisemitism. The measure, titled “Combating Antisemitism through Education, Awareness, Remembrance and Support,” included displaying the Israeli flag on campuses during May for Jewish American Heritage Month, alongside education on the Holocaust, Jewish history, and remembrance of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
While supporters argued it would make Jewish students feel safe amid rising antisemitism, the resolution quickly sparked controversy. Critics, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations Los Angeles chapter (CAIR-LA), condemned it for politicizing schools and equating Judaism with Israel, potentially exacerbating bigotry. CAIR-LA urged the board to invest in education about antisemitism and all forms of prejudice instead. Some Jewish community members opposed it, arguing it could increase antisemitism by conflating religion with a foreign state. The proposal drew widespread backlash on social media, with concerns about safety and inclusivity for all students.
In response, Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss invoked Board Policy 2210 on August 28, 2025, to overrule the flag display due to “heightened safety concerns.” He announced that, until further notice, no flags other than the United States and California flags would be displayed on campuses. Cherniss cited the policy allowing urgent action to protect safety, emphasizing the need to avoid risks amid the controversy.
The district held an emergency board meeting on August 30, 2025, where members voted to adopt a new flag policy restricting displays to official government flags—the U.S. and California flags—effectively scrapping the Israeli flag plan. This reversal came amid intense public reaction, with some crediting social media backlash for the change.
The sequence of events drew backlash from multiple sides. Proponents of the original resolution accused Cherniss of overstepping his authority and caving to antisemitism, while critics of the flag display praised the veto but questioned the board's initial decision for creating division. Reports highlighted how the controversy led to a broader ban on non-government flags, including Pride flags, triggering accusations that the board used the antisemitism issue to end support for other symbols. The affair underscored the challenges of addressing bias in schools without heightening tensions, leaving the district to navigate ongoing debates over inclusivity and safety.
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