News
Herzlia pupils face discipline over Israel protest
As Herzlia Middle School’s prestigious prize-giving evening came to a close, two Grade 9 boys stepped forward from the rest of their grade on the stage and knelt down (known as “taking the knee” as a form of protest) in front of the audience when the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah, was sung. The audience was shocked at what many people believed was a flagrant disregard of the ethos of the school.
TALI FEINBERG
The Grade 9 pupils were invited onto the stage to honour them and bid them farewell as they graduated from middle school. They were joined by a vocal ensemble to sing the national anthems.
Taking the knee during a national anthem is a protest popularised by American football players who have used it to draw attention to police brutality and racial inequality in the United States.
Many parents at the school were incensed by this behaviour, and believed the children should be expelled, while others felt it was the right place to show dissent and verbalise their opinions.
One parent at the school, who is close to the families of the two pupils involved, said he believed the boys were protesting against the current Israeli government’s occupation and treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories.
“They took the knee as they felt that Hatikvah, which represents the hope of Jews around the world to be free and have their own homeland, should not be sung when these messages are so clearly ignored. The boys believed this to be obvious in the way the Israeli government is dealing with Palestinians in the occupied territories, who live in untenable circumstances.”
In an email sent to Herzlia parents on Tuesday evening, Geoff Cohen, the Education Director of United Herzlia Schools (UHS), wrote, “The Herzlia Middle School prize-giving is a formal and prestigious public event, showcasing the school and staff while celebrating its pupils’ achievements. The boys’ inappropriate kneeling action demonstrated deliberate and flagrant disregard for the ethos of the school, the leadership and governors, teaching staff, the parents, and their fellow students by publicly embarrassing the school and offending those present.”
He stressed that the issue was not about an individual pupil’s right to question or hold an opinion which differs from the mainstream ideologies of the school. “Our concern is about the time, place, and manner in which such views were displayed, and the blatant flouting of school rules, Herzlia’s Zionist values, and the values of Herzlia’s Menschlichkeit pillar. It showed a lack of respect, pride, gratitude, responsibility, compassion, and understanding of community.”
Speaking to the SA Jewish Report, Cohen emphasised that Herzlia had forums to debate and express opinions, but this was not the right forum, and it had brought the name of the school into disrepute. He pointed out, however, that both boys emphasised that they were Zionists and believed in Israel’s right to exist, but were protesting the policies of the current Israeli government.
Cohen said he would not share the disciplinary measures that had been put in place, as the school did not make public dealings with individual pupils or their families. However, in the email, he said he and Middle School Principal Shane Brorson, in consultation with the management committee of the school’s governing body and the chair of the board of trustees, had decided on a set of consequences that were designed to be disciplinary and educational.
“We have informed the boys and their parents of the sanctions we are imposing, and encourage everyone to move forward positively,” he said.
The parent who is close to the families said the boys probably chose to make their stand during prize-giving because “Herzlia does not provide for proper free debate and channels to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli problem. All discussion is carefully scripted, and the participants are chosen so that no one with significantly differing views may speak. Often, the excuse given is that there are four tenets which anyone allowed on campus must support. For example, they must support the two-state solution – this, when half the Israeli government in power does not support the two-state solution.”
He said the two protesting boys had received a lot of support from other pupils, and even teachers. “They have, on the other hand, also endured a huge amount of hate speech, including being called ‘Nazis’, and being told that they should leave the school and go elsewhere.
“I don’t believe the pupils expected such a huge outcry about what is essentially an act of conscience. It is clear that a large part of the Jewish community is unable to accept free speech as a right. This has been shown by the number of parents who have called for the boys to be expelled,” he said.
The parent said he knew that the boys believed in Israel’s right to exist, and were staunch Zionists. “That does not mean agreeing with the current government’s policies,” he said. “I believe we should all be incredibly proud of the boys, and the courage it must have taken to take a stand in an environment that does not provide for free expression. They are true leaders, and represent the hope of all free-thinking Jews around the world.”
Selwyn
November 15, 2018 at 11:25 am
‘I have no connection to Hertzlia in any way. However, school rules are school rules. and there is a time and a place for every thing. If these pupils and parents are not happy with the school’s modus operandi, you make an appont ment withthe necessary head anddicuss or plan to dicuss the problem. Unfortunately the lax, could’nt care less attitude from the top of government down to any level you choose, has resulted in lower standards, morals, behaviour and the fact that any one can get away with anything. Sadly if the likes of Malema or LFBF(?) come in to power, guess who will be the first at the Israeli refugee queue. In short,nice little jewish boy from Herzlia : Don’t crap on your own doorstep’
Selwyn Scher(Israel)
November 15, 2018 at 12:38 pm
‘I was a student at Herzlia in the 60s and 70s and have been living in Israel since 1979 .I feel that the behavior of the 2 boys is totally unacceptable and and makes me very sad .I do not support the present government however the National Anthem is not that of the government but of the country as a whole .They can choose not to sing the Anthem and they can debate the Israeli situation but not act in such a disrespectful way .Thousands of Israelis have given there lives so that we can be a free people in our land.They made a very ,very grave error and hope that they will learn and realize this .We Jews have enough enemies from outside we cannot afford to have enemies from within .’
Zmira Cohen
November 15, 2018 at 9:41 pm
‘How old are these boys in Grade 9?
15, 16 probably.
How could they possibly think that they have the answer to the problems of the Israeli nation state,which has suffered from terror and hardship of every kind imaginable , not only since her official political emergence in 1948, , but throughout the pre World War 2 years, when the noose over the Jewish people’s collective head was straining ever tighter?
Would they , who according to the Report, support Israel’s right to exist,consider pointing to any of Israel’s avowed enemies in the Middle East , who offer the honour & dignity to all their citizens , of any faith and creed , the human rights , civil & political opportunities & employment potential ,that Israel offers to her citizens, even though some of these citizens openly decry her right to exist?Once these boys reach the stage that they feel they must ‘put their money where their mouths are ‘( in other words are no longer living in reaSonable comfort in their parents’ homes , out of reach of Kassam rockets and booby trapped balloons) why not go and experience living in Sederot and then in Gaza.
\\Perhaps then would they be able to understand why Israel has to protect her people in their entirety , even those who are unaware of the huge sacrifices of the majority of Israeli’s who do love their Land and are not so naive as to think, that subjecting the nation to annihilation by listening to arm chair strategists , who have never had to deal with any problems , other than those they have encountered in a school exam paper, is not really the best route to take.Help anyone whom you wish to help , but do not bring shame onto the land which is embedded in your identity.
If you do not wish to sing Hatikva , stay silent.
By doing what these 2 boys have done , is merely to add fuel to the fire of destruction the enemies of the Jewish people are unceasingly trying to trigger.My heart goes out to all who suffer.The way to end the suffering in the Middle East is not to insult the State of Israel ,but rather to bolster her and strengthen her from within so that her present day enemies will see the futility of brutal attacks and an unwillingness to negotiate , to the end that they will recognise Israel and support her growth and development and ultimately share in her bounty to the benefit of all.’
Jill
November 16, 2018 at 8:22 am
‘Those boys are ill informed if that is what they believe. There are no "occupied territories" in Israel. That is terrorist propaganda to delegitimise Israel. Those who stand against Israel should be ashamed, particularly when the Israelis have endured so much sufferung at the hands of the terrorists.’
Stephen Kalmek
November 17, 2018 at 12:52 pm
‘If the boys and their families are zionists but don’t like the way that the government is dealing with the Palestinians, they should make Aliya and then as citizens of the state of Israel they would have the right to vote for the government that they believe in.
They would obviously be expected to serve in the I. D. F.
I find it exceptionally insulting to the state of Israel and all its citizens of Jewish, Moslem, Christian, D1ruze beliefs to hear of such actions taken by Jewish scholars at a Jewish school in the diaspora.
Hopefully the boys and their zionist families will be making appointments soon with the Aliya Shaliach.
‘
Nomi
November 18, 2018 at 7:38 am
‘The boys acted out of ignorance. The proper punishment would be to send them to Sederot to live under the circumstances the children have to endure. Also a tour of Ramala would enlighten them even more. The international press is not the place from which to form an opinion. Better yet, put them in charge of the Israeli government for a day or two and see how they fare.’
Michael Rootshtain
November 18, 2018 at 2:44 pm
‘I find the platitudes insulting and demeaning. Democracy means, amongst many things, the right of a country to choose the individuals or parties to represent them in government. The idea that two pupils, living in the comfort of South Africa, are not only stating that they disagree with the current government policies in Israel, but are denigrating the majority of citizens living in Israel who selected this government.
Why did they not take the knee during the South African anthem. Are they saying that they agree with the government policy on Israel, on Tibet, on China etc.. What hypocrisy! The reason that they were so brave about Israel is stated clearly by a "friendly" parent – "I don’t believe the pupils expected such a huge outcry about what is essentially an act of conscience". This is not the place to debate whether the current Israeli government policy is what ensures the survival of the country and adds to the possibility of peace or not. Neither is an awards evening the place to insult and cause pain to members of the audience, to denigrate the Israeli anthem and to belittle the citizens of Israel who have used their democratic right to elect their government.
These are not true leaders and they certainly do not "represent the hopes of
free-thinking Jews around the world", whatever that last statement means.
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