Holiday Haves and Have-Nots

February 2020

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By Eva Levin

Religion. It’s a tough topic. With around 18 major world religions and thousands of sects, it is nearly impossible to consider every single one in the world. But religion at Beverly? That’s a slightly easier task. 

It’s no secret that Beverly Hills has a huge Jewish population. From getting Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur off, to kosher options at lunch, the Jewish majority at school has always been obvious. In the weeks before winter break, different school groups decorated the school with snowflakes, Christmas trees and a menorah. Nearly half of the student body is Jewish. However, 48 percent of students surveyed believe that school groups “somewhat” accurately represent religion during holiday activities.    

Junior Marissa Kaniel is one of the “somewhat.” She noticed the holiday decorations on the second floor patio and thought that they “kind of” displayed religion on campus. Kaniel commented on the menorah, and said that the lights weren’t always accurate or even lit.  “I wasn’t offended,” Kaniel said. “But if they are going to make an effort, they should at least go all the way.” 

Kaniel was one of the few to even spot the Jewish symbol. 

“Before winter break, I noticed the Christmas trees on the second floor patio but I didn’t really notice anything else,” sophomore Candice Anvari-Ghasr said. 

The placement of the decorations may have contributed to the lack of recognition of Hanukkah. There were four Christmas trees on the Second Floor Patio, while there was one menorah in the corner, near the ASB room. Like Kaniel, Anvari-Ghasr was not “offended” by the lack of Jewish decorations. While Anvari-Ghasr “didn’t really have an opinion” on the decorations, she believes she would have felt “happier” if there was more representation.

There were notable discrepancies in holiday events, as well as decorations. Two out of the four Stress Less Week events were devoted to Christmas, despite the 18.6 percent of the students surveyed being Catholic or Christian. “I’m glad that half of the Stress Less Week events were devoted to Christmas, because Christmas is probably my favorite holiday,” junior Christian Hart said. 

Even though he liked the celebrations, Hart doesn’t think school groups “accurately display religion,” but he says it’s fine because the events are more about the holiday season than they are religion. 

Norman Aid peer counselor Cassandra Barra Vernescu, a senior, denied any “specific reason” for having the focus of Stress Less Week be mainly on Christmas, besides “boosting Christmas spirit,” and giving the student body something to “unite under because everyone is so divided,” Vernescu said.

Even though the majority of students somewhat believe there is accurate religious representation, 37.3% of the students surveyed thinks the opposite. Junior Eli Katz thinks that school groups adequately display religion, because of the menorah and Christmas trees. Still, Katz noticed the lack of consistency pertaining to religious holidays and school events. 

“They should do more specific events for each holiday,” Katz said. “At least there was a Festivus pole,” he said, jokingly.