BHUSD Trustee Russell Stuart Marks New Year at Jerusalem’s Western Wall

In a photograph shared on social media, Stuart is seen standing in prayer at the ancient stone wall, wearing a kippah and placing his hand against the weathered limestone. The image accompanied a brief but resonant message posted on New Year’s Day.

“Incredible New Years Day praying for all of us at the Kotel / Western Wall in Jerusalem 🇮🇱”

The moment carried particular weight given Stuart’s role in local education leadership and the broader national and international climate surrounding antisemitism, religious expression, and global instability. The Western Wall, located in Jerusalem’s Old City, has served for centuries as a place of prayer, reflection, and continuity for the Jewish people, especially during periods of uncertainty.

Stuart’s visit comes months after the BHUSD Board of Education passed a formal resolution condemning antisemitism, a move that drew both strong community support and intense national attention. The resolution, adopted amid a surge in antisemitic incidents across the United States following the October 7 attacks in Israel, affirmed the district’s commitment to protecting Jewish students and rejecting hate in all forms.

The board’s action was followed days later by a separate and highly scrutinized vote to ban all non-official flags on school campuses, limiting displays to government and institutional flags only. The policy change came after contentious public meetings and was framed by board members as an effort to keep school campuses politically neutral and focused on education, though it sparked debate well beyond Beverly Hills.

Together, the two votes placed BHUSD at the center of a national conversation about free expression, student safety, and the role of public schools during a time of heightened geopolitical tension. Stuart was among the board members who emphasized the need to protect students from intimidation while preserving a learning environment free from division.

His New Year’s visit to Jerusalem underscored that those decisions were not abstract policy exercises, but deeply connected to personal history, faith, and lived experience. Beverly Hills is home to one of the largest Jewish and Iranian Jewish communities in the United States, many of whom have family ties to Israel and have felt the impact of rising global antisemitism acutely.

For Stuart, the moment at the Western Wall appeared to reflect both private reflection and public responsibility. As schools across the country continue to navigate cultural and political pressures, his message emphasized unity, prayer, and resolve rather than rhetoric.

The image and post quickly circulated among community members, drawing messages of support and resonance from parents, educators, and residents who viewed the visit as a reminder of the human dimension behind boardroom decisions.

As 2026 begins, Stuart’s visit to one of the world’s most enduring spiritual landmarks served as a quiet but powerful statement, one rooted in history, faith, and a call for protection and peace at home and abroad.