“Given that you are a Jewish student and very active in the Jewish community, how do you see yourself being able to maintain an unbiased view?”
When Rachel Beyda, a sophomore at UCLA ran for the student Judicial Board, she faced some questions she didn’t expect. Rather than being grilled about her talents and abilities, Beyda’s affiliation with Hillel and her membership in a Jewish sorority became the focus of her interview.
“What I’m seeing right now is someone being denied a position because they’re Jewish.”
Minutes from the Board’s meeting show that after Beyda was asked to step out of the room, members debated whether her strong Jewish identity somehow made her “biased” and thus unable to serve, with at least one student urging the board to turn down her application because of her Jewish interests. Some students brought up age-old anti-Jewish stereotypes that Jews don’t relate to others fairly or have split loyalties. “What I’m seeing right now is someone being denied a position because they’re Jewish,” one frustrated member eventually complained.
Beyda was eventually confirmed – after a faculty advisor pointed out that membership in Jewish clubs wouldn’t prevent Beyda from doing her job on the Board. The Judicial Board eventually apologized to UCLA’s Jewish community for its line of questioning, and the university’s Chancellor Gene Block issued a statement of disapproval; he later called the incident a “teachable moment”.
Yet Jews at UCLA – and at other universities – report that the atmosphere at many universities is becoming toxic, with Israel and Jewish students increasingly singled out for hostile treatment.
Beyda’s experience came several weeks after UCLA’s Undergraduate Student Council voted to join the BDS (boycott, divest, sanction) movement against Israel, singling out the Jewish state for special opprobrium. After voting to divest from companies doing business in Israel, “The overall culture of targeting Israel led to targeting Jewish students,” explains Natalie Charney, the student president of UCLA’s Hillel. “The problem is the anti-Israel culture in which we are singling out only the Jewish state creates an environment where it’s okay to single out Jewish students.”
In recent weeks, that’s been the experience of students at London’s prestigious School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) as well. After an aggressive anti-Israel campaign was launched on campus in January 2015, Jewish students at SOAS started being harassed and vilified. On March 4, 2015, some Jewish students met with the school’s director to air their concerns. Facing anti-Semitic comments and attitudes, some Jewish students are afraid to enter the cafeteria or common rooms or even go to lectures at the school, and have been avoiding campus. (It’s not only Jewish students who are afraid; one Muslim undergraduate told Britain’s Jewish Chronicle that he was afraid to vote against boycotting Israel because he worried staff members would find out and lower his grades in retaliation.) The director has so far refused to take any action, leaving SOAS’s Jewish students to face an increasingly hostile atmosphere on their own.
At South Africa’s Durban University of Technology, anti-Israel sentiment led to the Student Representative Council to demand on March 3, 2015 that “Jewish students, especially those who do not support the Palestinian struggle, should deregister” and leave the university. The call came during “Apartheid Week” in South Africa, when anti-Israel activists increase their activities, and call for the boycott and targeting of the Jewish state. Although global press reports noted that the Council apologized after extensive criticism, the actual wording of their apology remains troubling. While noting they shouldn’t have singled out Jews, they clarified that “we demand that ANY student Jewish, Muslim, Christian or even Atheist or any other that is funded by the Apartheid State of Israel…must not be students in DUT, and if there are there, they must be immediately de-registered”.
A report released in February 2015 by Brandeis University and Trinity College in Connecticut found that in 2014, a majority of American college students – 54% - “reported having been subject to or witnessing anti-Semitism on their campus”. Much of the anti-Semitism described in the report correlates closely with anti-Israel activity, and is rising. Using the experiences of British Jewish students as an example, the report notes that Jewish students in the Unites States can expect more hostility “as anti-Semitism coalesces with anti-Zionism and becomes more globalized”.
A student at Depaul University in Chicago summed up the feeling many Jewish students increasingly have, telling an interviewer “I do kind of feel like I’m being targeted as a Jewish student on campus… I feel that I’m constantly on the defensive on campus. I feel that I have to defend myself, my Judaism, my pride in Israel every day and it’s getting a little bit exhausting. I’d like to live and go to a university where everyone can have their own opinions… and feel safe” before noting that she personally did not feel physically safe on campus any more.
In June 2014, a Temple University professor was criticized by Jewish students after he made jokes about the Holocaust and even questioned whether the Holocaust took place at all during a debate about boycotting Israel. The university’s initial reaction was weak, saying only that “the exercise of academic freedom necessarily results in a vigorous exchange of ideas”. Two months later, on August 20, 2014, a pro-Israel student was allegedly punched in the face and called “a baby-killer, racist, Zionist pig” by a fellow Temple University student. While the two events were not linked, some Jewish students are beginning to feel that tolerating intense anti-Israel statements and sentiment on campus might make it easier for anti-Jewish feelings to spread.
As Apartheid Week 2015 spreads around the world this Spring, students are bracing for another round of assaults on the Jewish state – and expecting, in some cases, that these attacks will spill over into wider anti-Israel sentiment as well.
On March 9, 2015, several hundred people – including rabbis, lawmakers, and representatives from the NAACP – gathered on the steps of California’s State Capital in Sacramento to condemn anti-Semitism. The following day, UCLA’s Undergraduate Students Association unanimously passed a resolution against anti-Semitism, sending a crucial message that anti-Semitism will not be tolerated. Their words form a powerful call to action for all of us.
(5) KATHLEEN A Dahnke Nottestad, March 16, 2016 4:17 AM
Birds of a feather flock together? Higher education where are YOU!!?
It's allowing others to be bullies - It's wrong and the sooner it is dealt with seriously the better chance - on college campuses or anywhere else - it will end spiraling into more hateful actions - the fact that college faculty and board of directors are NOT doing anything to end this discrimination - the students doing these are out front and the ones to end this maybe hold the same beliefs but behind the scene thus, inagreement or they would have dealt with it immediately!! There is NO middle of the road when dealing with discrimination of any groups, gender, religions, race, ect. It's wrong and if nothing is being done we need to find a means to bring it to an end - crimes against humanity is just that a Crime and it's time action is NOW not after anyone else has been mistreated, abused bullied because they don't fit into their definition of "IN" even those who choose not to take action should be held accountable it is their job to take care of these situations if the target was one of their loved ones there would have been actions taken to end this disgraceful behavior - college is a place one goes to learn it's time these places where a place of higher learning. Try treating others like you'd like to be treated and that goes for all those in places that should have the credentials and common curtesy to teach politeness and if they arrived without this trait best they learn it or leave!! It's called a teachable moment - the only reason for not embracing it is you also lack integrity and never let your ignorance of stereotyping be known thus evolve for you are now able to examine what has been transpiring and do the right thing - pretending it's Not happening or doesn't matter is down right ignorant on your credentials of being in charge or teaching at a higher education level do the world a favor and retire!! A mind is a terrible thing to waste - you should be encouraging ethnic groups to learn and explore beyond their own borders. GROW and Live and Learn!
(4) Schoe, August 13, 2015 10:02 PM
Life Threatening Stance
Two years ago I was a student at a major university in the mid-west of the United States that has many Muslim students attending the university. I had to be very, very careful about letting it become known that I am Jewish. There were times in class when it would be unavoidable but that it would be necessary to declare some statement that would show my Jewishness (political science major and masters). That knowledge was kept close because if it was generally known I am Jewish...it would very possibly mean my life. Anti-Semitism seems to be bound to being more tolerant of Islam and all it entails. Far too many people are ignorant of what is happening on American campuses. It is dangerous out there. Currently I an working on my doctorate ...online. Shalom!!
(3) Howard Franks, March 18, 2015 1:11 AM
Dealing with antiemtic students
Only be setting examples ie expelling students who overtly exhibit such
sentiments will it cease. Unfortunately, it will not happen
(2) Nancy, March 17, 2015 8:14 PM
Re: A teachable moment.
As Jews we can ill afford to become complacent. The anti Semitic activities on campuses across the country need to be stopped yesterday. Anti-Semitic actions and remarks need to be treated exactly the same as sexual harassment. We need to demonstrate zero tolerance for these actions and remarks. Re: Making aliyah. Unfortunately that option may not be realistic for many people, for a variety of reasons. The bottom line is that we Jews must demand to be treated with respect and dignity no matter where we live.
scott, March 18, 2015 8:21 PM
Is it worth it?
I disagree with the assertion that there is any reason that Aliyah is unrealistic for any Jew. Inconvenient maybe. But there is nothing in the US that you can't get in Israel. Its a choice.
If you and I were standing on the sidewalk and I saw a nickel on the ground near your feet and grabbed it saying "Finders Keepers", even if you'd seen it drop from your pocket would you want to fight for it?
Probably not.
It's just a nickel. Its not worth much. Why fight for nothing?
That's how I feel about a crusade to adjust gentile attitudes toward Jews in diaspora. What's the value in fighting for that? So you can either compromise your attachment to Jewish culture to fit in or in to live a shtetl life to a varying degree based on your level of observance-never being fully jewish or fully a member of the country in which you choose to live. That life doesn't seem to be worth much. Why would anyone fight for the right to live with people who merely tolerate them? That's like me fighting for the right to hang out with my mother in law.
I live in Israel surrounded by Jews of all stripes. I gotta admit, sometimes that's hard to tolerate, but when they call me a yid, that's a good thing.
I'm also about seven thousand miles away from my mother in law. Nuff said.
Nancy, March 19, 2015 9:45 PM
To Scott re: is it worth it?
There was actually a commenter on aish who has said she absolutely CANNOT afford to make aliyah. My heart really goes out to her. Please understand I am not trying to commit lashan hara here. I am merely asking how is one supposed to overcome what seemed to me to be a major financial obstacle? On another topic, I had to smile at your last sentence. You have commented about your in laws before, and I'm glad you and your wife do not live near them! :-)
scott, March 26, 2015 12:26 PM
its not expensive.
Today is a new day. We start a new life...our third apartment in Israel and I spent the morning sorting out the mechanics of transferring electricity and whatnot with my new landlords while my wife is taking her ulpan exam.
I was discussing just this topic with them. I remarked that while my apartment is extremely nice by Israeli standards, it would be a low rent dump in the states. They giggled and said they agreed. When their friends from south Africa come to visit they're not exactly complimentary about Israeli housing either. But we all agreed it was worth it.
Anyone can afford to make aliyah. You may not be able to afford your two car, private school, buy new clothes every month american lifestyle....but you can exist here on much less. Almost everyone does. There's not as much to spend money on. Health care is almost free in comparison to the us. So are Jewish day schools. A bad parking ticket? $25.
I was talking to my wife last month about why it felt like we had so much more time here despite completely giving shabbat over to observance. She smiled and said it was because we didn't spend so much time buying crap we didn't need and eating out. When she went to the states earlier in the year she finally realized how much of her time she used to waste in malls and target when her friends kept taking her there. She kept asking why? She now spends that time productively.
We just don't spend money. Nothing we need since we brought a whole shipment of stuff half of which we never unpacked. Its just useless crap here.
I honestly believe that the salvation of my marriage was aliyah. Coming to Israel makes you cut out everything non essential and reevaluate everything.
Its not expensive. Its just inconvenient. And that's a lame excuse.
(1) scott, March 15, 2015 11:04 AM
a teachable moment
Ever think that Israel was created cause hashem knew this stuff was bound to happen?
Seriously.
Everyone gets caught up in divine reward and punishment and how those relate to commandments but what if every one of them was simply hashem trying to keep us safe?
What if he knew a people whose culture would survive based on the morality taught at sinai for thousands of years would result in horrible persecution from cultures whose values are based on popular consensus so he made us a place where-if we worked together with each other and him-we'd be safe?
What if Jews who choose to leave the reservation both morally and geographically have that right, but since they pick the benefits if diaspora life over the comandment to dwell in israel they also are agreeing to be subject to the mercy of the nations among who they choose to live? They picked their team.
Isn't that what keeps happening? The neighbors of Jews in diaspora keep killing them and handing them over to be killed?
As incredible as it seems, as much of a paradise Americans of Jewish decent have found in the united states, as enlightened and liberal their new home seems....its starting again. In the universities of the elite-the enlighted liberal intellectuals that Jews of american descent trust to keep them safe-antisemitism has become commonplace. These are the future american leaders. And theyre learning to hate Jews. Being taught to hate Jews. Wonder what will happen when they're in charge?
I wonder how many German Jews wished they were paying attention in the 1920s as the exact same thing was happening.
There's a teachable moment here. The council members that actually discussed excluding a Jewish student on the basis of her race are still students at UCLA. If theyd done that to a black student or an arab or a hispanic student they would not be.
If you can't see the lesson there I pity you.