Rutgers-The Case for Community Involvement Against Anti-Semitism

Rutgers University, like many other universities in North America, has seen more than its share of anti-Israel activism that has spilled over into anti-Semitism.

http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/statement-by-rutgers-university-on-anti.html

http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/stand-with-us-and-hillel-statements.html

http://www.dailytargum.com/opinions/fight-anti-semitic-thought-speech-1.2447129

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2011/04/zoa-to-rutgers-stop-campus-anti-semitism-israel-bashing-and-violent-threats.html

(As to the last link, one can only ask, "Who in the Hell is this woman Shehnaz Sheik Abdeljaber?" Just another typical Middle East Studies "outreach coordinator".)

The below article tells how the local Jewish community has decided to get involved. What is also interesting is that Hillel has taken an active role. What the case of Rutgers illustrates is that there is an important role for the community-not just Jewish-but all good-minded people to answer the call. Is there a lesson for other schools? You bet there is.

http://jewishresearch.org/quad/06-11/pages/rutgers-hillel-celebrates-successes.htm


In the case of my school (UC-Irvine), Hillel has responded by supporting positive events like I-Fest. In my view, however, that is not enough. Whether or not Jewish (or other) students want to actively challenge the organizations like the Muslim Student Association or Students for Justice in Palestine is a personal matter, and only the individual student can make that decision. The fact is that in most campus communities, there is a void left when it comes to challenging the above groups, their speakers and their often hateful messages.

That is where the community comes in. The case of Rutgers, as well as UCI in the past couple of years illustrates that community involvement can be effective. For one thing, lax university administrators who are afraid to speak out and condemn anti-Semitic hate speech (as opposed to hate speech directed at certain other groups) have to have their feet held to the fire and told that ALL hate speech is unacceptable-even if constitutionally protected free speech. Over the years at UCI many hateful statements have been made against Jews. Swastikas have been scrawled on bathroom stalls at other UC campuses like Berkeley.
It was only in 2010, when Amir Abdel Malik Ali told Jews in his audience that he supported Hamas, Hizbollah and Islamic Jihad and that "You Jews-You'all the new Nazis" that UCI chancellor Drake finally spoke out and condemned it-without mentioning the speaker, the quote, the event and the targeted group.

Even worse, Orange County community members who decided after the incident with the Israeli ambassador to the US in February 2010 that enough was enough and started to organize counter-protests on the UCI campus, were met by opposition from the local Hillel chapter and the OC Jewish Federation. If some students prefer to dialogue with their Muslim counterparts, that is their business. If others (students or community members) choose to actively challenge hateful speakers in a legal and non-disruptive manner, that is our business.