a new jersey high school A club fair has been accused of banning yellow ribbons intended to honor Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas, in a move critics have described as “deeply offensive” and “blatant anti-Semitism”.
Fair Lawn High School also banned Israeli flags at events, as administrators believed the flags were too political, some parents and the StopAntisemitism group alleged, noting that Muslim Student Union members were allowed to display the keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by men. According to, from parts of the Middle East New York Post,
According to reports, the event was partly promoting travel to Israel.
“What happened at Fair Lawn High School is an alarming case of hypocrisy and blatant anti-Semitism,” Leora Raz, founder of StopAntisemitism, told the outlet. “This incident is nothing less than a direct violation of the rights of Jewish students to express their identity and humanitarian concerns.”
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A flag of Israel with a yellow ribbon is seen near Frishman Beach in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 03, 2024. (Getty Images)
Between 33% and 40% of Fair Lawn’s 35,000 residents are Jewish. Fair Lawn in Bergen County is located about 17 miles from New York City.
This comes a year after Hamas terrorists’ October 7, 2023. attacks against israelThat led to military retaliation from Israel and the beginning of the still-running war in the Middle East. More than 250 people, including some Americans, were abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. Many hostages have since been released, rescued or killed, while dozens are still held by Hamas.
One parent said the school district’s failure to address complaints about alleged anti-Semitism is not a new concern.
Adi Waxman, founder and president of Operation Israel, which provides humanitarian relief, said, “The Club Fair incident at Fair Lawn High School is not an isolated incident, but part of a disturbing pattern of anti-Semitism that I and others Parents have been struggling for years.” Israel told the New York Post.
Waxman, whose daughter Maya attends the school, said, “Despite numerous meetings with the Board of Education and the Superintendent, promises to engage in anti-Semitic efforts have remained unfulfilled.”
Waxman continued: “The Administrator’s claim that the yellow hostage ribbon – a humanitarian symbol calling for the release of innocent civilians abducted from their homes and held in inhumane conditions by Hamas – is ‘political’ is extremely offensive. And that’s unacceptable.”
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Bring Them Home A necklace with a yellow ribbon pin during a tribute to the victims of the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 6, 2024, on October 7, 2023. (Getty Images)
Claiming a double standard, Waxman said that the black-and-white keffiyeh, which she says “symbolizes armed resistance against Israelis”, was allowed to remain on display for hours at a club event.
“This blatant double standard exposes the bias of the school and the administrators,” he said. “It is worrying that the school supports the Muslim student body identifying as Palestinian while censoring the Israeli flag for the Jewish student body. Israel is the only Jewish state in the world, which is inherently linked to Judaism And is relevant to the (Jewish Student Union’s) advertised trip to Israel.”
Fair Lawn High Principal Paul Gorski released a statement defending the school’s response to the ribbons and flags.
“We are proud of our student activities program as well as the leadership shown by both students and faculty,” Gorski wrote. “During this year’s event, both the Muslim Student Union and the Jewish Student Union were asked to accommodate items that were not part of their original display. Both groups received the same instructions and were treated equally “
Gorski said no students were disciplined regarding their participation in the club fair.
An Israeli flag with a yellow ribbon symbolizing solidarity with abducted people at a camp set up by abducted families, near Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Jerusalem, Israel, on August 13, 2024. (Getty Images)
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The principal also said the high school participates in the Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate” initiative and the school was “proudly recognized” with a Gold Star honor from the group during a ceremony earlier this year. .
“We condemn anti-Semitism and stand by our commitment to building an inclusive community where hatred will not be tolerated,” he said. “When we return to school after being closed for the Jewish holidays, we will engage in conversation with our students and the community. Hate has no home at Fair Lawn High School.”
However, Waxman says that the school Jewish students were discriminated against During the club fair.
“This selective application of the rules reflects discriminatory treatment of Jewish students,” Waxman said. “The school’s response is extremely disappointing and fails to address these core issues. Their participation in the ‘No Place for Hate’ initiative rings hollow when Jewish students face such discrimination and bullying at their school on a regular basis. We demand concrete action, not empty talk, to combat anti-Semitism and ensure true equality for ‘all’ students.”
