Referee’s Reaction to Players’ Skullcaps Is Disturbing

I applaud Times staff writer Irene Garcia’s feature article “Jewish Team Draws Fire Over Yarmulkes” (Jan.22), and for its accuracy and sensitivity.

There is one particular detail warranting a response. Having played basketball competitively in public high school, I don’t recall ever competing against players donning yarmulkes (skullcaps). Eyeglasses, however, were rather commonplace. The CIF official, Dale Earnshaw, who took umbrage with the Valley Torah players’ wearing yarmulkes attached with small metal clips or bobby pins alleges he was motivated by safety considerations.

Wait a minute! Eyeglasses, by contrast, are many times more likely to cause injury, and might be considered “abrasive, hard and dangerous,” as Earnshaw puts it. Yet it is axiomatic that such headgear is admissible to give myopic high school students the opportunity to participate in a moderately close-contact sport. For that matter, excessively long fingernails are surely abrasive, hard and dangerous. Has Mr. Earnshaw ever conducted a courtside fingernail inspection?

If we dismiss referee Earnshaw’s spurious reasoning as inconsequential, we are then left with a very disturbing question: Why is it acceptable to prevent Jewish students from expressing their religious beliefs on the court? Citing a Valley Torah player with a technical foul merely because his yarmulke fell off suggests a motivation beyond the idea that somebody could get hurt.

Jewish high school athletes do not seek preferential treatment or abrogation of well-intentioned CIF regulations. But they wish to affirm their First Amendment rights both off and on the court. The school deserves a gesture of remorse and apology from the offending parties, as this will reassure these students that a fair share of non-oppressive competition is possible for them in the land of democracy and mutual tolerance.

RABBI AARON PARRY

Los Angeles

Parry is the spiritual leader of the Congregation of Young Israel of Beverly Hills and an instructor at Valley Torah High School.

* It’s sadly ironic that Irene Garcia’s article “Jewish Team Draws Fire Over Yarmulkes” (Jan. 22), coincides with the 50th anniversary of the release of Jews from the Nazi death camps. The right to wear a yarmulke, the symbol of a constant recognition of God, is one of many treasured constitutional guarantees distinguishing America from other governments currently inflicting demoralizing, oppressive acts on their citizens.

Referee Dale Earnshaw’s indignities to Valley Torah High School students have received the front-page attention they deserve. I hope the CIF considers relieving him of his official duties, as he does not reflect the ideals of respect, fair play and objectivity required of a referee.

BARBARA HUFF

Encino