Learning how to battle anti-Semitism

Understanding the issues is key

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Being educated about the complex issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and able to articulate a defense of Israel were the major points of a panel discussion that included questions from the audience about the rise of anti-Semitism on North American college campuses on April 13.

Sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women-Peninsula Section and the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, where it took place, the discussion was moderated by former CNN correspondent Linda Scherzer, now the director of the Write on for Israel program; Anne Rice, a professor of African-American studies at Lehman College, and Columbia University freshman Albert Mishaan.

Based on the growth of the chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), 130 at last count in both the U.S. and Canada, and other incidents, anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment has risen on college campuses.

“There are challenges facing our young people on college campuses, the lies, the outrage and the double standard applied to Israel,” said Scherzer, who oversees a program that trains high school students in their junior and senior years to understand the issues and defend Israel in debates with pro-Palestinian groups or individuals.

Traced to the Second Intifada, a period of intensified Israel-Palestinian violence from September 2000 to February 2005, the increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric has come at time, according to Scherzer, when it has “never been a better time to be a Jewish college student,” saying the quotas that existed 50-60 years ago that kept Jews to a minimum at the best schools are gone, while groups such as Hillel, Chabad, StandWithUs make, “college campuses are rich with Jewish life,” Scherzer added.

According to a poll by Truth Revolt, a news and commentary website, Columbia was named the No. 1 most anti-Semitic college in the U.S.. The ranking was based on having some of the best known anti-Semitic professors, a highly active SJP chapter and events such as Israeli Apartheid Week.

“I am happy to say after nearly a year as an Orthodox Jew I am very content. But that’s not to say there are no problems,” Mishaan said. “We have to go out and educate people about Israel. There are tons of ways to get involved in the pro-Israel community.” He mentioned Students Supporting Israel and Areyh: Columbia Students Association for Israel as such groups.

Equating Zionism, being pro-Israel, with racism is one of the primary methods anti-Israel proponents fan the flames. Rice said this is called intersectionality: connecting beliefs so they cannot be considered separately. “The weaving in of Black Lives Matter with Students for Just In Palestine, policing in America, policing in Israel, it’s very dishonest,” she said. “It ignores the Civil Rights movement, when Jews and blacks came together for a common cause.

To better understand the issues, books such as “The Case for Israel” by Alan Dershowitz, “Righteous Victims” by Benny Morris, “The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Iian Pappé, Fortress Israel by Patrick Taylor and “My Promised Land: The Promise and Tragedy of Israel” by Ari Shavit were recommended by the panelists.

“You need to care and to develop an opinion. Learn enough to feel comfortable about your own opinion, Scherzer said.”

For legal help regarding anti-Semitism or anti-Israel activity, go to endbds.com.