HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - Non Agenda
Flores, Dora
From:Lopez, Jessie
Sent:Sunday, January 26, 2025 11:21 AM
To:eComment
Attachments:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Shame!!! Would you let kids wear white KKK
hoods? Hamas is a terror organization and regular gazans danced in streets on 9/11
and on 10/7! Keffiyah is terrorist symbol much like a noose and KKK hood are terror
symbols. Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools;
Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh
out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our
Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools;
?Keffiyeh calls for Death of Jews; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
1
Flores, Dora
From:Michael W <cliffhuckstable73@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Shame!!! Would you let kids wear white KKK hoods? Hamas is a terror organization
and regular gazans danced in streets on 9/11 and on 10/7! Keffiyah is terrorist symbol
much like a noose and KKK hood are terror symbols. Keep the Keffiyeh out of our
Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
1
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Mike W.
LA
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Susan Orbach <susan.orbach1@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Susan Orbach
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Tracey Shipley <traceyshipley125@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO, Gregory Endelman, COO, Michael Ciecek, Principal, Orange County
School of the Arts I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at
Orange County School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning
terrorist-supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students. It is crucial that OCSA
leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a “cultural symbol,”
the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members of the
Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are
mere cloaks for its violent associations. The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape,
abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible
for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State
Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh
symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific
massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The
keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not
“resistance”; this is savagery. The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea,
Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for
violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further
demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh
must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world. Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was
so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has become a tool for antisemites to
mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread
their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews, such as has not
been seen since the Holocaust \[10\]. To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are
recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its
ties to terrorism, must be treated the same. OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all
students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a
hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this
responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty
and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12
schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages
or, at best, condones violence. As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation
to ensure taxpayer funds are used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could
1
jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt status \[13\]. When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating
for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable
students? Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the
display of any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish
community and other minority groups. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Sincerely,
References: 1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are 2.
https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/ 3.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat 4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled 5.
https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/ 6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar 7.
https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/ 8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713 9.
https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean 10.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html 11.
https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/ 12.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/ 13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
Tracey Shipley
Youth and family counselor
Addictions counselor and creative therapist
Www.jerusalemteencounseling.net
972548108918
2
Flores, Dora
From:Ilan Madjar <aimadjar@hotmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Avital Madjar
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Get Outlook for Android
3
Flores, Dora
From:zev futureltc.com <zev@futureltc.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Zev
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
2
0of%20Congress
Thanks
Zev
3
Flores, Dora
From:reuben hoch <rhochjazz@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Reuben Hoch
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Esther Heletz <esther.heletz@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Esther Heletz
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Katya Kazakina <kkazakina@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Katya Kazakina
Sent from my iPhone
3
Flores, Dora
From:Keri Melmed <kerimelmed@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO, Gregory Endelman, COO, Michael Ciecek, Principal, Orange County
School of the Arts I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at
Orange County School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning
terrorist-supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students. It is crucial that OCSA
leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a “cultural symbol,”
the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members of the
Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are
mere cloaks for its violent associations. The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape,
abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible
for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State
Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh
symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific
massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The
keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not
“resistance”; this is savagery. The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea,
Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for
violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further
demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh
must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world. Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was
so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has become a tool for antisemites to
mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread
their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews, such as has not
been seen since the Holocaust \[10\]. To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are
recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its
ties to terrorism, must be treated the same. OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all
students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a
hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this
responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty
and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12
schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages
or, at best, condones violence. As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation
to ensure taxpayer funds are used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could
1
jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt status \[13\]. When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating
for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable
students? Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the
display of any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish
community and other minority groups. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Sincerely,
References: 1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are 2.
https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/ 3.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat 4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled 5.
https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/ 6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar 7.
https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/ 8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713 9.
https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean 10.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html 11.
https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/ 12.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/ 13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
Keri Melmed
2
Flores, Dora
From:Amy Morse <amyrmorse@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Amy Morse
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Debbie Cohen-Abravanel <dcohenabravanel@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26, 2025
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Debbie Cohen-Abravanel
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Alissa Haroush <alissaharoush@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:?Keffiyeh calls for Death of Jews
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Alissa Haroush
California resident
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
2
0of%20Congress
3
Flores, Dora
From:vvsshh@yahoo.com
Sent: 10:50 AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Rachel
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
2
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
3
Flores, Dora
From:Steven Kubel <srkubel@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely, Steven Kubel
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Cecille Santos <outlook_5098244F3B832C2D@outlook.com> on behalf of Cecille
Santos <
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
1
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
C.Santos
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
2
0of%20Congress
Sent from my Galaxy Tab A
3
Flores, Dora
From:Anthony Naturman <antnatti@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Anthony Natti
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Lopez, Jessie
Sent:Sunday, January 26, 2025 11:22 AM
To:eComment
Attachments:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; URGENT ‼ Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Why the
Islamist Terror Keffiyeh in School?; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; URGENT ‼
Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; URGENT ‼ Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh
out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our
Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Public Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our
Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Kindly requesting that you please Keep
the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh
out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the modern day
swastika out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh
out of our Schools!!!; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of
our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our
Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Dressing up in Brown Shirts next
time.( Mufti al-Husseini was an ally of Hitler, so only appropriate); Keep the Keffiyeh
out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our
Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools;
Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Safety for
all children! Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep
the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh
out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our
Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools;
Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh
out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our
Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools;
Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh
out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our
Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools;
Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keffiyeh ; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the
Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh
out of our Schools; Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
1
Flores, Dora
From:Barry E. Zweigbaum <bzweigbaum@gwfglaw.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Barry Zweigbaum
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Barry E. Zweigbaum, Esq.
Goldberg Weprin Finkel Goldstein LLP
125 Park Avenue, 12th Floor | New York, New York 10017
bzweigbaum@gwfglaw.com
O: (212) 221-5700 D: (212) 301-6934
This message is intended for the sole use of the addressee, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you
are not the addressee you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, disclose, or distribute to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you
have received this message in error, please immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete this message.
IRS Circular 230 disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication
(including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii)
promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.
Barry E. Zweigbaumendsig
3
Flores, Dora
From:Cheryl Rothstein <rothsteincheryl@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Rothstein
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Wendy Dreskin <bdreskin@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:URGENT ‼ Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
William Dreskin
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Comcast Mail <bdreskin@comcast.net>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:URGENT ‼ Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Wendy Dreskin
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Wendy Dreskin
3
Flores, Dora
From:Yitschak Livni <ylivni@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Why the Islamist Terror Keffiyeh in School?
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Yitschak Livni
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Marcia Sandler <marcia.sandler@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Public Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
MS
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:marilynpgreenspan@icloud.com
Sent:
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Marilyn Greenspan
2
Flores, Dora
From:David Benatar <davidbenatar5@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Jessica Brookler <jessglo613@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Jessica Brookler
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Jessica Brookler
2
Flores, Dora
From:Ena Greengarten <egreengarten@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Ena Greengarten
639 Briar Hill Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M5N 1N4
Canada
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
2
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
3
Flores, Dora
From:Wendy Dreskin <bdreskin@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:URGENT ‼ Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Wendy Dreskin
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Wendy Dreskin
3
Flores, Dora
From:Yigal Yaari <levhotels@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Susan Yaari
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Lisa Dickens <lisa.n.dickens@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Lisa Dickens
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Tracy Lee Herson <tracy@yourealty.co.za>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Tracy Herson
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Anna Haimoff <annapazha@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Anna Haimoff
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Beverly Hornstein <bevhornstein@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Safety for all children! Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Beverly Hornstein
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Beverly Hornstein
2
Flores, Dora
From:Desatnik Law <desatniklaw@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Carol
2
Flores, Dora
From:Noga Alon <noga.h.alon@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
A concerned community member
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Aryeh weiss <aryehmweiss@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Aryeh Weiss
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Barbara Gold <drbarbaragold@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Kindly requesting that you please Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Dr. Barbara Gold
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Cheryl DeSure <biggadilla@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Cheryl DeSure
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Sharon Schlossberg <sharon.schlossberg@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Sharon Schlossberg
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Keren's Mail <yossishimony@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Keren Shimony
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:err4d@icloud.com
Sent: 2025 8:49 AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Eve Radin
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Matilda Anhalt <matilda.anhalt@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the modern day swastika out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Dr anhalt
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Nathalie Majorek <nmajorek@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Nathalie Majorek
2
Flores, Dora
From:Sari Ariav <sariariav@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools!!!
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Sari
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Shraga Feivel Neuhaus <sfnlcsw@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26, 2025
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Shraga Feivel
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
2
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
3
Flores, Dora
From:Eva Platzner <evabplat@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Eva Plat
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Sara Falik <sarafalik@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sara Falik
2
Sent from my iPhone
3
Flores, Dora
From:Arleen Turok <arleen.turok@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Arleen Turok
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Beth <celebratetoday613@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Howard Taber <hwtaber@aol.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Anne Taber
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:marciarutman@icloud.com
Sent: AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Dressing up in Brown Shirts next time.( Mufti al-Husseini was an ally of Hitler, so only
appropriate)
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Sent from my iPhone
3
Flores, Dora
From:Rebecca Spirn <rebeccaspirn2@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Spirn
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Ophira 818 <ophira818@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Ophira
Mother of 3
Los Angeles
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
2
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
3
Flores, Dora
From:Shira Lipton <shira.lipton@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shira Lipton
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Martin Burger <
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Martin Burger
2
Flores, Dora
From:Marsha Weinstein <marsha.weinstein51@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Maxine Kosofsky <maxinegdiamond@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Maxine Kosofsky
3
Flores, Dora
From:Gabrielle Klein <klein.gabrielle@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Gabrielle Klein
3
Flores, Dora
From:marckramer613@gmail.com
Sent: AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Dr. Marc N. Kramer
2
Flores, Dora
From:POTS Pediatric Occupational Therapy <potschaye@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26, 2025 8:45 AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Chaye Lamm Warburg
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Dr. Chaye Lamm Warburg DPS, OTR/L
Director,
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services, LLC
1415 Queen Anne Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-837-9993
Fax: 201-837-9465
www.potsot.com
chaye@potsot.com
3
Flores, Dora
From:mslevib@icloud.com
Sent: 2025 8:45 AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Levi
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Marina Shereshevskaya <shereshm@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26, 2025
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Marina Shereshevskaya
2
Flores, Dora
From:Stanley Weinstein <stanwein18@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Stanley Weinstein
3
Flores, Dora
From:efridlin@icloud.com
Sent: 2025 8:44 AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Elaine Fridlin
2
Bring Them Home Now
Please excuse any spelling, grammatical, and autocorrect errors. Sent from my iPhone.
3
Flores, Dora
From:Nancy Prendes <nancyb.prendes@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Nancy Prendes
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Martha Kariv <marthakariv@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Martha Kariv
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Ronna Perlman <rlmsperlman@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Ronna Perlman
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
2
0of%20Congress
3
Flores, Dora
From:Victoria Ee <chayabeck88@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Chaya Beck
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Caryn Weinblatt <sv2nt@aol.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Caryn Weinblatt
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Jennifer Krasnoff <jennifer.krasnoff@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
J Homa
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:laura berger <honeysbedandbreakfast@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:susan labovitch <susanlabovitch@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Liza Tacher <liza.tacher@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO, Gregory Endelman, COO, Michael Ciecek, Principal, Orange County
School of the Arts I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at
Orange County School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning
terrorist-supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students. It is crucial that OCSA
leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a “cultural symbol,”
the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members of the
Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are
mere cloaks for its violent associations. The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape,
abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible
for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State
Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh
symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific
massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The
keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not
“resistance”; this is savagery. The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea,
Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for
violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further
demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh
must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world. Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was
so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has become a tool for antisemites to
mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread
their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews, such as has not
been seen since the Holocaust \[10\]. To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are
recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its
ties to terrorism, must be treated the same. OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all
students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a
hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this
responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty
and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12
schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages
or, at best, condones violence. As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation
to ensure taxpayer funds are used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could
1
jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt status \[13\]. When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating
for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable
students? Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the
display of any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish
community and other minority groups. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Sincerely,
References: 1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are 2.
https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/ 3.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat 4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled 5.
https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/ 6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar 7.
https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/ 8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713 9.
https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean 10.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html 11.
https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/ 12.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/ 13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
Liza Tacher
2
Flores, Dora
From:Liz Glass <liz1719@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Liz Glass
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:cohn.ann@icloud.com
Sent: 8:57 AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Ann Cohn
2
Flores, Dora
From:autumn mael <autumnmael63@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Autumn Lido Mael
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Autumn Lido Mael
2
Flores, Dora
From:Lori Rudensky <lrudensky@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7th? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Lori Rudensky
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Sonia Marchewka <soniamarchewka@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Enviado desde mi iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:mis101 <mis101@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Ezra E. Masri
Masri Information Systems, Inc.
(917) 345-0187
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
3
Flores, Dora
From:gale Warm <gfriedm2@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Janet Lichter <jennyfelder@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Steven Zeichner Zeichner <doc.zzz@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26, 2025
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Susan Johary <susanjohary@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Tal Brandwein <talbrandwein@hotmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Touch of Silk <touchofsilk5t@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Robin Merkin
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:Marlene Weinstein <mhw247@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Marlene Weinstein
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Susan Johary <susanjohary@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Ira Einhorn <ace401@aol.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:Elisa Schweizer <elisa@sereno.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County
School of the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-
supporting garb, keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to
fostering a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant
distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from
being a “cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional
harm on members of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or
"solidarity," these are mere cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it
has been worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila
Khaled, a member of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed
aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist
organization \[5\] responsible for the horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack
included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of
innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh represents support for the repeated execution of
these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to
annihilate all Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide
\[8-9\]. It is also connected to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the
destruction of our democracy. Imagine how triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting
terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that
day, it has become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar
to how the Nazis used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and
violence against Jews, such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public
spaces due to their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the
same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or
violence, or from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for
minority groups. Allowing anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that
OCSA condones such divisive ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous
indoctrination of impressionable young minds we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\].
This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are
used to promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing
and tax-exempt status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image
OCSA wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of
any symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and
other minority groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-
burnt-in-an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%2
0of%20Congress
2
Flores, Dora
From:debbie zoldan <dszoldan@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keffiyeh
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Debbie Zoldan
2
Sent from my iPhone
3
Flores, Dora
From:Susan Gottlieb <wsuebill@aol.com>
Sent:Sunday, January
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Susan Gottlieb
2
Sent from my iPhone
3
Flores, Dora
From:Iris Fidel <lilifi1756@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Iris Fidel
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Sent from my iPhone
3
Flores, Dora
From:Deborah Sosebee <deborah@sosefam.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasp the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a “cultural
symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members of the
Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere cloaks
for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Deborah Sosebee
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
Sent from my iPhone
2
Flores, Dora
From:schechter.e@icloud.com
Sent: 8:26 AM
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
E Schechter
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Sent from my iPhone
3
Flores, Dora
From:Adrienne Markus <amarkus94@icloud.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 26,
To:teren.shaffer@ocsarts.net; gregory.endelman@ocsarts.net;
michael.ciecek@ocsarts.net; becca.freeland@ocsarts.net; maria.lazarova@ocsarts.net;
kim.lyons@ocsarts.net; abbe.levine@ocsarts.net; gary.humphreys@ocsarts.net;
halim.dhanidina@ocsarts.net; jessica.herthel@ocsarts.net; paul.satkin@ocsarts.net;
vince.foley@ocsarts.net
Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Penaloza, David
Subject:Keep the Keffiyeh out of our Schools
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
To Teren Shaffer, President and CEO,
Gregory Endelman, COO,
Michael Ciecek, Principal,
Orange County School of the Arts
I am writing to call your attention to a situation that happened during a school performance at Orange County School of
the Arts last week. Guests who arrived were greeted by the sight of students donning terrorist-supporting garb,
keffiyehs, which directly undermines your institution's core values of "commitment to fostering a nurturing environment
of creativity, respect, and collaboration" \[1\]. This has caused significant distress, alienation, and a sense of exclusion
among Jewish staff, parents, and students.
It is crucial that OCSA leadership fully grasps the gravity of permitting anyone to wear keffiyehs. Far from being a
“cultural symbol,” the keffiyeh is often worn with the intent or reckless disregard to inflict emotional harm on members
of the Jewish community \[2\]. While some may claim the keffiyeh represents "resistance" or "solidarity," these are mere
cloaks for its violent associations.
The keffiyeh is linked to ideologies that perpetuate murder, rape, abduction, and violent hatred. Historically, it has been
worn by figures like Yasser Arafat, who was responsible for over 19,000 terrorist attacks \[3\], and Leila Khaled, a member
of PFLP—designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group—known for armed aircraft hijackings \[4\]. More
recently, the keffiyeh symbolizes support for Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization \[5\] responsible for the
horrific massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. This attack included gang rape, the gruesome slaughter of
babies, the burning of families alive, and the kidnapping of innocent people still being held captive \[6-7\]. The keffiyeh
represents support for the repeated execution of these barbaric acts perpetrated by Hamas. This is not “resistance”; this
is savagery.
The keffiyeh is linked to violent chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call to annihilate all
Jews from Israel, and “Globalize the Intifada,” which calls for violence against Jews worldwide \[8-9\]. It is also connected
to calls of “Death to America,” further demonstrating its ties to hate and the destruction of our democracy. Imagine how
triggering seeing a keffiyeh must be for military families fighting terrorism around the world.
Can you recall a time when the keffiyeh was so ubiquitously displayed or worn before October 7? Since that day, it has
become a tool for antisemites to mask their hatred for Jews under the guise of social justice, similar to how the Nazis
used swastikas to spread their ideology. This has fueled a staggering surge in antisemitism and violence against Jews,
such as has not been seen since the Holocaust \[10\].
1
To be clear: if symbols like the swastika or the Confederate flag are recognized as inappropriate in public spaces due to
their violent and hateful connotations, the keffiyeh, with its ties to terrorism, must be treated the same.
OCSA has an obligation to create a safe, neutral space for all students, free from the promotion of hate or violence, or
from blatantly displayed symbols meant to create a hostile and unwelcoming environment for minority groups. Allowing
anyone to wear the keffiyeh violates this responsibility and sends the message that OCSA condones such divisive
ideologies. This is a dereliction of duty and contributes to the dangerous indoctrination of impressionable young minds
we are seeing in our K-12 schools and on college campuses \[12\]. This reinforces toxic ideologies, fosters a culture of
hate, and encourages or, at best, condones violence.
As a publicly funded charter school, OCSA has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure taxpayer funds are used to
promote equality and respect, not violence and intolerance, which could jeopardize its legal standing and tax-exempt
status \[13\].
When someone wears a keffiyeh, they are advocating for and promoting a symbol of violence. Is that the image OCSA
wants to project, especially to impressionable students?
Please respond to this email that you will make an immediate and clear policy change prohibiting the display of any
symbols linked to terrorism (including the keffiyeh), violence, or hate towards the Jewish community and other minority
groups.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Adrienne Markus
References:
1. https://www.ocsarts.net/about-us/who-we-are
2. https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/keffiyeh-as-neo-swastika-fashion-statement/
3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yasser-arafat
4. https://extremismterms.adl.org/glossary/leila-khaled
5. https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
6. https://www.ajc.org/IsraelHamasWar
7. https://stljewishlight.org/news/israel-news/an-israeli-first-responder-recalls-tending-to-the-body-of-a-baby-burnt-in-
an-oven/
8. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-789713
9. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/stop-and-think-anti-israel-chants-and-what-they-mean
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/us/anti-jewish-threats-us-adl/index.html
11. https://arapahoelibraries.org/library-policies/ethical-conduct/
12. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3279603/students-conditioned-
sympathize-terrorists/
13. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-
bill/9495#:~:text=9495%20%2D%20118th%20Congress%20(2023%2D,Congress.gov%20%7C%20Library%20of%20Congr
ess
2
Flores, Dora
From:Mark Neri <mark.neri714@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday,
To:eComment
Subject:Ward 3 Homless and Drug Activity
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Hello Mayor,
I am here writing to you with desperate help in ward 3,That is council member J.Lopez area And I am a current
resident at address We as Hard-Working Class California citizens Deserve better because
we keep calling and calling and calling the police department. There is nothing done with your Lenient
regulations that California DOJ and Judges Have forced upon you guys to enforce prop 36, And yet here we are
with no enforcement what so ever!!!! the Limited officers are out there doing their job. It is unacceptable that
the city cannot invest more money in our police department because we are literally crying for help. And these
police officers are doing what they can with what they have and there can be more done!!! It is sad that my
children cannot go outside and play. Because there are needles on the floor drugs on the floor you have
homelessness as defecating, causing disruption around the area on the corner of Main St and 17th Street!!! This
needs to be address and I would like to have an outcome out of this. This is unacceptable, this is not The Proud
Santa Ana of the 2000's You have drug dealers on bicycles. Give me now drugs to these homelessness that is
unacceptable.
1
Alcala, Abigail
From:Karen Vaughn <wiscoblonde13@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, January
To:eComment
Subject:Public comment for the city council and the community
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
I’m inviting citizens to demand that OC Animal Care follow the Strategic Plan we already paid for.
When the city signed a contract with OC Animal Care, the shelter put together a Strategic Plan at a cost of over $400,000. But
it’s not following it. Instead, it wants to spend more of the cities' money to change it. The cities cover over 90% of the shelter’s
budget.
What’s the point of having a “plan” if the county is not following it?
Now the county is trying a bait-and-switch on us. It wants to spend more of our money on a “new” plan. That’s a coverup for
not delivering on the perfectly good plan we already have.
I included this in my opinion piece published in Voice of OC:
Reform is Badly Needed in Orange County Government
https://voiceofoc.org/2025/01/vaughn-reform-is-badly-needed-in-orange-county-government/
This is some of what I say in the piece:
\[…\] In 2016-2018, the animal shelter was under scrutiny. Frank Kim and Dylan Wright oversaw the development of a Strategic
Plan… but when attention faded they proceeded to abandon it. In 2023, with renewed public attention on the shelter, their
response was that the county needs to develop a “new” Strategic Plan. But there’s nothing wrong with the existing plan. The
county just needs to put it to work.
Action: All county plans voted by the Board of Supervisors should mandate regular, itemized reporting on goals and
metrics. Quarterly at first, then annual, through the life of the plan.
\[…\] Instead, Vice-Chairman Katrina Foley produced a pompous 2024 account as if this was the best year in the county’s
history. “Hired permanent director of OC Animal Care” says Foley… without a word about this director’s lack of
qualifications and weird behavior. But over-the-top PR can’t make up for unqualified managers and bad policies at the animal
shelter.
Thank you
Karen Vaughn
1
Alcala, Abigail
From:Alex Brown <Alex9355b@outlook.com>
Sent:Sunday, February
To:eComment
Subject:city council PUBLIC COMMENT on county ANIMAL SHELTER
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Ed Boks is a former Executive Director of the New York City, Los Angeles, and Maricopa County
Animal Care & Control Departments. His work has been published in the LA Times, New York
Times, Newsweek, Real Clear Policy, Sentient Media, and now on Animal Politics with Ed Boks.
Here is what he published just a few days ago:
Animal Politics with Ed Boks, Substack, January 24, 2025
Vanished Without a Trace: The Mystery of the Disappearing Animals at Orange County
Animal Care
https://animalpolitics.substack.com/p/vanished-without-a-trace-the-mystery
This scandal erupted over a year ago with an article in the OC Register, which was followed by an
article in the Fullerton Observer, two opinion pieces in Voice of OC, and a second article in the OC
Register:
OC Register, October 14, 2023
Advocates horrified over mysterious fate of small animals
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/10/13/advocates-horrified-over-mysterious-fate-of-small-
animals/?share=saaeotyscecmamsaw1ie
Voice of OC, November 14, 2023
OC Animal Care Gave Hundreds of Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, and Birds to a Reptile Group. What Happened to Them?
https://voiceofoc.org/2023/11/yamashiro-oc-animal-care-gave-hundreds-of-rabbits-guinea-pigs-and-birds-to-a-reptile-group-
what-happened-to-them/
OC Register, December 2, 2023
OC Animal Care sought to avoid optics of sending bunnies to local reptile rescue group
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/12/01/oc-animal-care-sought-to-avoid-optics-of-sending-bunnies-to-local-reptile-rescue-
group/
Fullerton Observer, January 2, 2024
Animal Advocates Call for Independent Investigation of OC Animal Care
https://fullertonobserver.com/2024/01/02/animal-advocates-call-for-independent-investigation-of-oc-animal-care/
Excerpts with added web links to supporting documents (the published piece didn’t incorporate the links).
In just 20 months, OC Animal Care (OCAC) gave 273 rodents, 200 rabbits, and other small pets to a reptile group.
On a recent similar case involving animals from San Diego, the Sacramento Bee reports that: “Information clearly indicates
(the reptile breeder’s) intention to use these animals as feed instead of finding them adoptive homes.”
Snapshots of email correspondence obtained via Public Record requests show that the OC shelter typically offered many small
pets at once. The reptile group then took rodents and rabbits in bulk without asking for precise numbers and types of animals.
That’s highly unusual.
OC Animal Care made this reptile group its primary destination for small pets.
In the past, \[the reptile group\] has advertised the availability of “feeder” rodents, including live ones.
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An independent outside investigator must be appointed directly by the Board of Supervisors to get a verifiable paper trail for
every animal the OC shelter handed over to the reptile group.
Voice of OC, May 16, 2024
OC Animal Care – Mismanagement and Public Deception Regarding Small Pets
https://voiceofoc.org/2024/05/yamashiro-oc-animal-care-mismanagement-and-public-deception-regarding-small-pets/
OC Animal Care has been involved in transferring small pets to a reptile organization, which subsequently transported them to
Arizona. In a related situation, it was reported that small pets from San Diego Humane Society were likely sold in Arizona as
snake food. OCAC has not provided clear explanations regarding the fate of these animals, and support from County
Supervisors Wagner and Foley has been lacking.
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Alcala, Abigail
From:W Gifford <wgifford813@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:eComment
Subject:City Council Public Comment, Orange County Animal Care
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
OC Register, January 7, 2025
Janet Nguyen celebrates oath of office, gets back into swing of OC Board of Supervisors
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/01/09/first-districts-janet-nguyen-celebrates-oath-of-office-gets-back-into-swing-of-board-of-
supervisors/?share=nprdicohcgct2eanfsdf
Excerpt:
During her time serving as a state senator, Nguyen had been vocal about her passion for animals. She said she would bring that
passion to her supervisor role and look to improve transparency and operations at the OC Animal Care shelter, ultimately
getting more pets adopted. She would also like to find ways to lower the costs of pet vaccinations and spay/neuter treatments,
she said, to make caring for a pet more affordable for families and individuals. “There are opportunities for us to do better
because these animals don’t have a voice. We’re their only voice,” Nguyen said. “We can always do better.”
Patch - Orange County, January 24, 2025
Supervisors Sarmiento & Nguyen are Heroes to Homeless Pets in OC
https://patch.com/california/orange-county/supervisors-sarmiento-nguyen-are-heros-homeless-pets-oc-nodx
Excerpt: I am asking as a resident of Orange County and one who cares about the homeless animals in our community, to
express your thanks to Supervisors Sarmiento and Nguyen. They have both shown a strong interest in reforming OC Animal
Care (OCAC), your municipal shelter.
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Alcala, Abigail
From:G Moses <gmoses4819@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:eComment
Subject:city council comment on OC animal shelter
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
OC Animal Care (OCAC) and OC Community Resources (OCCR) have committed major misrepresentations. Letters were sent
by shelter volunteers to the County and its Board of Supervisors from August 2023 to August 2024, exposing the county
bureaucrats' falsehoods.
Here are links to the letters for the benefit of the citizens.
1st Letter: Observations and recommendations by experienced OCAC volunteers
2nd Letter: Follow-Up Letter by the same group of OC Animal Care volunteers
3rd Letter: Urgent need for Animal Care Attendants
4th Letter: Volunteers debunk statements made by OCAC director
The problems the volunteers flagged remain unresolved. The buraucracy’s disinformation continues.
The letters and additional information about the county animal shelter’s troubles are on http://OCShelter.com
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Alcala, Abigail
From:Michael M <mlmavro@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday,
To:eComment
Subject:CITY COUNCIL, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
(a) Cities pay for the county animal shelter. Why are they putting up with its low standards?
From Patch Orange County, February 2:
Tell the OC Animal Shelter to Fix Its Problems - At No Cost!
https://patch.com/california/orange-county/tell-oc-animal-shelter-fix-its-problems-no-cost-nodx
The "no cost" solution is a non-profit willing to assist the shelter, the previous Strategic Plan at a cost of 400K+ was never
implemented.
Excerpt:
OC Animal Care has a Strategic Plan developed in 2018 by the best experts on animal shelters (at a cost to taxpayers of 400K+
in 2018). But the county is ignoring its own plan.
The county bureaucracy wants to hire some random consultant to “update” the plan. They managed to craft the process to their
liking… so that they have only one bidder. (Their favorite?)
They want OC cities to pay this consultant… so the bureaucracy can craft an excuse to lower the shelter’s standards – at the
expense of OC animals and OC taxpayers.
(b) For nearly two years, I’ve been telling OC Animal Care to allow adopters to visit the kennel areas. I published a research
paper proving that kennel access generates more adoptions: https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/85
The county is reluctantly following my recommendation, but the delay cost city taxpayers AND the shelter's animals
dearly. The only way to avoid more waste and mismanagement is to fully implement the Strategic Plan.
From Voice of OC, January 24:
OC Animal Shelter Expands Weekend Visiting Hours
https://voiceofoc.org/2025/01/oc-animal-shelter-expands-weekend-visiting-hours/
Excerpt:
The shelter has faced harsh criticism for years about its accessibility to the public after the COVID-19 pandemic.
When businesses and municipalities began reopening after pandemic-related closures, the shelter was slow to return to
standard operations.
Instead of fully reopening to the public, OC Animal Care implemented an appointment-based operation that prohibited visitors
from walking through the kennel areas, prompting protests, petitions, a lawsuit and fear that the closed-off shelter was
preventing adoptions and causing more euthanized pets.
In July 2023, shelter staff launched a program that opened up some kennels for five hours each week. It was the first time the
kennels were opened to public access since before the pandemic.
Then in January 2024, the shelter established its current viewing hours from 2 to 5 p.m. \[Starting January 25, 2025, viewing
hours on Saturdays and Sundays will begin at 12 p.m and last until 5 p.m.\]
According to the shelter’s 2024 statistics, 256 adult dogs were euthanized during the calendar year — about 6% of all adult
dogs.
The kill rate for adult dogs has tripled since the current shelter location opened in 2018, according to the shelter’s data sheets
published quarterly on its website. In 2018, the kill rate was right around 2%.
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Flores, Dora
From:timtranho@protonmail.com
Sent: AM
To:eComment
Subject:Public Comments for City Council Meeting
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Will City of Santa Ana executives, elected officials, and City Attorney have SAPD provide, publish, post and
make public the following?:
1) Body worn camera footage required to be released by law regarding 3 officer involved shootings and 1 in
custody death, that have occurred under leadership of new Chief of Police Robert Rodriguez in the last 60 days
as listed:
• Officer involved shooting on December 1, 2024 - Downtown Santa Ana area.
• Officer involved shooting January 1, 2025 - domestic violence incident.
• In custody death, January 16, 2025 - Santa Ana Jail.
• Officer involved shooting - February 1, 2025 - Pursuit of possible murder suspect ended in suspect death on a
busy bystander Balboa Pier in Newport Beach.
2) Total number of officer involved shootings incidents for the past 10 calendar years (2015 - 2025) thru
February 1, 2025.
3) Chief Robert Rodriguez’ and SAPD policies regarding de-escalation, use of deadly force policies and any
City documents addressing the negligence of officer involved shootings incidents involving gross safety
exposure to community members.
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Flores, Dora
From:Jen Lee Briggs <jenleebriggs@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, February
To:eComment
Subject:Public Comment for City Council
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
I am writing to BEG that Orange County rejects any contract from RFP-012-2672301
and accept the offer from Best Friends (a non-profit) to help the shelter follow its existing
Strategic Plan.
Thank you,
Jen Briggs
concerned Santa Ana resident
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Alcala, Abigail
From:Vox Populi <voxxxpopuli@protonmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday,
To:eComment
Subject:Careful shopping Albertson 2000 17 Str
Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Hello, did you recieve message fir public comment?
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
------- Forwarded Message -------
From: Vox Populi <voxxxpopuli@protonmail.com>
Date: On Monday, February 3rd, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Subject: Careful shopping Albertson 2000 17 Str
To: eComment@santa-ana.org <eComment@santa-ana.org>
Please do not show email address in public comment.Just warning people be careful
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