A New Jersey high school has been accused of banning yellow ribbons, meant to honor Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, from a club parade, a move critics described as “deeply offensive” and “blatantly anti-Semitic.”
Fair Lawn High School also banned Israeli flags from the event, because administrators believe the flags are too political, some parents and the group StopAntisemitism are suspicious, noting that members of the Muslim Student Association are allowed to display the keffiyeh, a traditional headscarf worn by men. . from parts of the Middle East, according to the New York Post.
The event, according to the report, was to promote a trip to Israel.
“What happened at Fair Lawn High School is a shocking case of hypocrisy and anti-Semitism,” StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez told reporters. “This incident is not a direct violation of the rights of Jewish students to express their identity and concerns.”
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An Israeli flag with an additional yellow ribbon is seen near Frishman beach on October 03, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Getty Images)
Between 33% and 40% of Fair Lawn’s 35,000 residents are Jewish. Fair Lawn in Bergen County is located approximately 17 miles from New York City.
This comes a year after Hamas terrorists Oct. 7, 2023, attacking Israel, which led to Israeli military retaliation and sparked an ongoing war in the Middle East. More than 250 people, including Americans, were taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attack. Many of the hostages have since been freed, rescued or killed, and dozens are still being held by Hamas.
One parent said the school district’s failure to address complaints about alleged anti-Christianity is not a new concern.
“The incident at Fair Lawn High School’s Club Fair is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern of atheism that I and other parents have been fighting for years,” said Adi Vaxman, founder and president of Operation Israel, which provides humanitarian aid. Israel, he told the New York Post.
“Despite many meetings with the board of education and the superintendent, promises of inclusion in anti-Semitic efforts have not been fulfilled,” added Vaxman, whose daughter Maya attends the school.
Waxman continued: “The manager’s claim that the yellow hostage ribbon – a humanitarian symbol calling for the release of innocent civilians kidnapped from their homes and held in harsh conditions by Hamas – is ‘political’ is deeply offensive and unacceptable.”
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They brought home a necklace with a yellow ribbon pin during the salute to the victims of the attack on Israel by Hamas, on October 6, 2024. (Getty Images)
Seeking a double standard, Vaxman said the black and white keffiyeh, which he said is a “symbol of armed resistance against the Israelis,” was allowed to remain on display at the club’s event for hours.
“This clearly shows the bias of the school and the manager in question,” he said. “It is appalling that the school supports the Muslim Student Association that identifies with Palestine while inspecting the Israeli flag of the Jewish Student Union. Israel is the only Jewish state in the world, which is naturally associated with Judaism and is compatible with [Jewish Student Union’s] advertised for a trip to Israel.”
Fair Lawn High Principal Paul Gorski issued a statement defending the school’s response to the ribbons and flags.
“We are proud of our Student Activities program and the leadership demonstrated by students and faculty,” Gorski wrote. “During this year’s event, the Muslim Student Association and the Jewish Student Union were asked to prepare things that were not part of their original demonstrations. Both groups received the same education and were treated equally.”
Gorski said no students were disciplined for their participation in the club fair.
An Israeli flag with a yellow ribbon symbolizing solidarity with hostages at a camp set up by families of hostages, near Benjamin Netanyahu’s house, on August 13, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. (Getty Images)
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The principal also said the high school participates in the Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate” program and that the school was “proudly recognized” by being awarded a Gold Star to the team during a ceremony earlier this year.
“We condemn hate and remain steadfast in our commitment to building an inclusive society where hate is not tolerated,” he said. “When we return to school after the Jewish holidays, we will engage with our students and the community. Hate has no home at Fair Lawn High School.”
However, Vaxman maintains that the school discriminated against Jewish students during the club fair.
“This selective use of the law again demonstrates the discriminatory treatment of Jewish students,” Vaxman said. “The response of the school is very disappointing and fails to deal with these core problems. Their participation in the program ‘No Place for Hate’ comes to naught when Jewish students face blatant discrimination and intimidation in their school on a regular basis. We want concrete measures, not empty platitudes, to fight antisemitism and to ensure true equality for ‘all’ students.”