Jewish leaders, community come together to condemn antisemitic act

By Sharon Wisch-Ray
Aug. 19, 2025

This is a developing story.

Jewish organizations and the community at large are condemning the unsanctioned display of two Nazi flags hanging from the rooftop of Rockwall-Heath High School on Saturday morning, Aug. 16.

“It’s important for everyone at every level, regardless of if they know about it or not, learn about the representation of the Nazi regime. What does that mean? How does that impact the Jewish community? And what is antisemitism? How do we recognize it when it rears its head? And how do we say that this is not OK?” said Alex Horn, regional director of ADL Texoma.

Horn said she reached out to Rockwall ISD leadership on Monday but had not yet heard back. ADL Texoma has also contacted law enforcement and elected officials. She emphasized that ADL is eager to work with the district through its training programs, including “Awareness to Action” and the widely adopted “No Place for Hate” pledge, which is already in place at 59 North Texas schools.

Joel Schwitzer, regional director of the American Jewish Committee, said the incident underscores the importance of a new Texas law taking effect Sept. 1. Senate Bill 326, signed in May, requires schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism in student codes of conduct.

“Consistent application of this standard is an important step toward ensuring Jewish students can thrive while attending our public institutions,” Schwitzer said.

Two students discovered the flags early that Saturday morning and immediately contacted authorities, who quickly removed them. The Heath Department of Public Safety is investigating the incident and urging anyone with information to come forward.

In a Facebook post, the Heath DPS said, “We want to assure our community that we take this incident seriously. We will not tolerate this behavior, and we are committed to holding those responsible accountable. If you have any information that may assist in this investigation, please contact Heath DPS at 972-961-4900.” 

The incident comes amid a rise in antisemitic acts across Texas and the United States since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, and the ensuing war in Gaza.

On Sunday, Heath Mayor Jeremiah McClure condemned the display.

“I stand with our community in firm opposition to any acts of hatred, including the hateful display of flags that were found at Rockwall-Heath High School yesterday morning,” McClure said. “We believe in the power of love, unity, and respect for all people, as God calls us to do.”

Kenny Goldberg, co-chair of the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission, said his organization would welcome engagement with Rockwall ISD. The commission recently surveyed Texas districts on their implementation of the state-mandated Holocaust education and found wide disparities.

“Schools that know nothing about the Holocaust, those that are listening and willing to learn, and those that just don’t care to help,” Goldberg said.

He noted that accountability is difficult, but said the survey results highlight opportunities for the commission to work with districts during International Holocaust Remembrance Week.”

StandWithUs, a global Jewish advocacy organization, also praised local officials and the students who reported the flags.

“We thank the alert and courageous students who reported the detestable Nazi flags, immediately triggering their removal and the subsequent investigation,” said Joshua Mitchell-Arbital, StandWithUs senior campus regional manager. “Texas communities are stronger than hate and show up for their friends and neighbors.”

Jordan Cope, StandWithUs director of policy education and a Dallas native, added: “From Colleyville to Heath, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has now been the target of some of the nation’s most recent high-profile antisemitic incidents. While we are grateful for the mayor’s swift condemnation and the Heath Police Department’s urgent attention, this is a reminder that antisemitism is alive and well, infiltrating every aspect of our communities.”

On the ground in Rockwall

In addition to community leaders, students connected to Rockwall-Heath are still processing the incident. Stephanie Parnes, who graduated from Rockwall-Heath in 2024, told the TJP the flag display hit close to home.

“Seeing the two flags, for me, meant that there was a student, or students at the high school who wanted to incite violence on other Jewish students or other minority groups at the school,” she said.

Parnes, whose parents moved to the United States 20 years ago from Israel, said that she was the only Jewish student in her grade during her elementary through high school education in Heath. She said over the years she experienced a variety of antisemitic incidents, but at the time her family wasn’t sure if classmates understood the weight of their words or actions.

“In elementary and middle school, there had been several people who had saluted Hitler to my face or dropped pennies on the ground and asked me to pick it up, or had called me a kike. The list goes on and on.”

However, Parnes sees the display of the Nazi flags differently.

“It was such a public display. We cannot feel that way anymore. We have to understand that this could very much be a real threat.”

Parnes said that this should be a “wake-up call to Rockwall and Texas.”

“It’s really important that the district immediately works with Jewish families — and there aren’t many of us — to see how they can implement Jewish history and especially Holocaust education into the curriculum better, so this will never happen again.”

Initially, Parnes said she was disappointed that school and local officials, while condemning the flags, were not calling it out as antisemitism. She said she was somewhat relieved after she learned of the board of trustees’ statement Monday evening.

At Monday night’s Rockwall ISD Board meeting, Trustee Grant DuBois addressed the incident directly. In his prepared remarks, DuBois referred to “an antisemitic flag” though two flags had been displayed. He condemned the display and thanked the students who reported it.

“Before we begin tonight’s meeting, I want to take a moment to address a deeply troubling incident that occurred early Saturday morning at Rockwall-Heath High School. The display of an antisemitic flag on our campus is a hateful act that does not reflect the values of our district. Acts of antisemitism—or any form of hate—have no place in our schools or our community.

We are especially grateful to the students who had the courage and presence of mind to report the incident early Saturday morning at approximately 6:40 a.m. Thanks to their quick action, the flags were removed promptly. We also appreciate the ongoing support and partnership of local law enforcement, as well as the elected officials of Heath and McLendon-Chisholm, as we continue working together on the investigation.

If anyone has information about those responsible, we urge you to come forward so that the individuals involved can be held fully accountable.

We remain committed to fostering a safe and respectful learning environment for every Rockwall ISD student. We stand firmly with our Jewish community and our Rockwall ISD families against any form of hate.

Please join me in prayer.”

Rabbi Moishy Kalmenson, co-director of Chabad of Rockwall, said the local Jewish community was shocked and saddened.

“This is not reflective of the Rockwall County we’ve been serving and living in for the past five years,” Kalmenson told the TJP on Monday.

He said he has spoken with the superintendent, the mayor and the police commissioner.

“Right now, they’re wholly focused on trying to investigate and figure out exactly who’s behind it and get accountability on their end,” he said.

Kalmenson emphasized the importance of responding with strength and pride.

“We have to be vigilant, obviously, but our approach here is that we are going to respond with Jewish strength and identity and not back down. We’re not victims here,” he said.

Kalmenson added that he has received many calls and texts from the wider community expressing support. He said he hopes the flag display was an isolated act.

“This is senseless hate that has no place here. Our experience tells us this is not regular. We’ve only had respect shown toward us, so I really do think this is not reflective of Rockwall County. But it happened, and it needs to be called out.”

To that end, Chabad of Rockwall County will hold a rally and prayer gathering Friday afternoon.

“We fight this kind of darkness with light,” Kalmenson said. “The Rebbe taught that even the smallest amount of light can illuminate the darkest of nights. We respond by increasing our acts of kindness, positive action and Jewish pride — mezuzahs, Shabbat candles. We don’t cower. We’re not victims. We are increasing our strength as a Jewish community and as a people.”

Details for the rally will be posted on the Chabad of Rockwall County Facebook page.