June 10, 2005

Fires on Campus

I spent many years teaching at the University of Memphis. In the room next door, an Arab professor taught a science subject. I could often hear him shouting and wondered why. One day, several of his students came to see me after class. They wondered if I could help them. They were non Jews, yet they were offended at his moments of rage against Jews and Israel. The students gave me permission to speak in their names to the Chairman of the department and I called him the next day. He was very much aware of the events in that class. His response was: “Rabbi, this is America, the land of free speech.” I was flabbergasted. “But”, I replied, “What does Israel have to do with science class and anti-Jewish rhetoric at the University? He backed off a bit and promised to look into the matter. I never heard from him again.

Events, currently at Columbia University and other institutions of higher learning throughout the United States, paint a dismal picture. Attempts to force University foundations and pension funds to divest their investments in Israeli companies are but the tip of the iceberg. Harvard’s distinguished President, Dr. Lawrence Summers courageously opposed this move and called it like it is, antisemitism. The pressure to divest, at Harvard and elsewhere, is more than Arab-Israeli politics. It is a backdoor attack against the disproportionate number of Jews teaching and leading many of America’s colleges and Universities.

This hateful propaganda has impacted upon many Jewish faculties and students. Most Jewish students come to college with little knowledge of their religion and people and many Jews who teach see themselves as courageous thinkers who can attack fellow Jews. By saying “I am a Jew, but not a Zionist,” they falsely justify their support for Arab treachery and criminality, arguing that Arabs are the minority and the Jews are the oppressive majority, occupying a land that is not theirs. This phony “honesty” is outrageous. Israel’s political left needs to lower its head in shame for what it has accomplished. Words such as “Peace Now” are enemy weapons fired at Israel’s young sons and daughters. It is as if they are saying that it is entirely up to Israel to make peace. These words are lies, because Israel’s left cannot come to grips with reality. Arab terrorists in our own land have no interest in peace. Their objectives are clear, the destruction of the Jewish people and their state, Israel.

It is not surprising that Arab propaganda machines churn out a constant flow of antisemitism. Jews who want to believe that fairness demands some sort of justice for Arabs, should engage in an in-depth study of the Holocaust, where they would quickly discover the identity of the person who gave Hitler resounding support for the genocidal crimes against the Jewish people. And now, these same voices of hate and falsehood are heard on campuses throughout the United States. This is a serious problem that affects every Jew in this country and could eventually impact upon the political posture of our government towards Israel.

Denying Jewish children college education, as a solution, is foolish. Jews, today more than ever, are at universities and it certainly would be wonderful if they would attend Yeshiva University, Touro College or universities in Israel. Close to ninety-eight percent of all Jews enrolled in college are at state or private institutions. And what about the impact of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel propaganda on the millions of non-Jewish students? These young people are tomorrow’s Presidents, Senators and Congressmen.

Hostile propaganda, if not quickly responded to, will and does impact upon Jewish student in our very multi-cultural and diverse environment. Our Rabbis cautioned,” And know what to answer.” The heads of our Orthodox schools must recognize a new fact and reality. Failing to defend Israel against the enemy who is obsessed with the destruction of the Jewish people is a historic mistake. Only fools would suggest that if there were no Zionism, there would be no antisemitism. This is sinful stupidity as the only defense Jews have against those who have in every generation sought to annihilate us, is the State of Israel, its military might and powerful technology. Israel’s victories in defense of the Jewish people is certainly a gift that a merciful G-d has bestowed upon His people.

Incidentally, the vents on campus are but harbingers to what is beginning to happen on the streets and avenues of commerce, medicine and technology throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

Edited by Anna Olswanger

Shabbat Shalom