The past few weeks have been rife with causes for concern, locally, in Israel, and globally. I’ve been thinking a lot about these various incidents, and I’d like to share some reflections with you.
On May 2, as you’ve likely heard, the University of Michigan’s graduation ceremony included unapproved remarks by Professor Derek Peterson, lauding anti-Israel protests on campus over the last few years. Regardless of what one thinks of the content of Professor Peterson’s remarks, the effect of his words was to sow division and tarnish this joyous day for many graduates and their families. His remarks were the last straw for many after of multiple years of disturbing incidents for Jewish students, faculty and staff at UM, including the unsettling normalization of anti-Jewish rhetoric from across the social and political spectrum.
I am grateful to UM President Dominic Grasso for quickly recognizing and apologizing for the harm caused by Professor Peterson’s words. Not only did he do the right thing, but he wrote a gracious email in response to our note of gratitude. We are fortunate to have such a mensch at the helm of the university.
I haven’t had a chance to share my thoughts on this incident with you, in large part because of all the behind-the-scenes work that’s happening every day, in response to this event and in addressing issues of this kind in our community. Our Jewish Federation’s JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Committee), has been engaged in building relationships and advocating for our community in local government and schools, and at the state and national levels. We are responding swiftly to all manner of antisemitic incidents reported through our website, supported by strong relationships with local schools, law enforcement and city officials. And we regularly liaise with Hillels, members of UM and EMU faculty, and university officials to improve the atmosphere for Jewish students, faculty and staff.
From my perspective, Professor Peterson could have shared a more unifying and healing message for commencement. Unfortunately, he deliberately and disingenuously chose to alienate and divide. I was moved by the words of former Jewish Federation Board President Decky Alexander who articulated that Professor Peterson forgot that the ceremony was about the graduates, not about him or his personal views.
If you’re interested in an Israeli perspective on US university issues, I recommend this episode of The Promised Podcast (starting around the 58-minute mark).
Speaking of Israel, there has been global conversation about an opinion column by Nicholas Kristof published this week in the New York Times. The article accused Israel of systemic sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees. First and foremost, even one incident like those described by Kristof is too many, and Israeli authorities must investigate all such claims and hold those responsible to account.
That said, reporters who have reviewed the column claim by claim found it largely unverifiable. There are no dates, no locations, no names, and it includes information recycled from dubious sources that is, in many cases, almost certainly false. In addition, I am disturbed by the article’s attempt to draw a moral equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the Israeli government by alleging that both equally engage in systematic sexual violence. The morning after Kristof’s piece ran, a 300-page report by an Israeli civil commission was released publicly. This report was built on more than 10,000 photographs, thousands of hours of video, and over 400 testimonies. It concluded that Hamas’ sexual violence on October 7 was systematic, widespread, and deliberate. While there seems to be a great deal of public outrage at Israel, the silence from the world on this Hamas-focused report has been as deafening as it has been since the first evidence was shared over two years ago.
To learn more about Kristof’s column and the conversations it has stimulated, listen to Dan Senor’s conversation with Matti Friedman on the Call me Back podcast, Ask Haviv Anything with Haviv Rettig Gur, or Yossi Klein Halevi and Donniel Hartman’s discussion on For Heaven’s Sake.
In a time when incidents of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel aggressions are on the rise and we see the growing normalization of antisemitic rhetoric, I am deeply troubled by the actions of those Israeli citizens and leaders whose actions and speech provide fodder for those who hate us, pointing to them as examples of all that is wrong with Israel and the Jewish people. The racist language and behavior of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and his followers, as they spew hate and attack reporters in East Jerusalem, and the on-going extremist settler violence against Palestinians on the West Bank for which no one is held accountable are abhorrent and should not be condoned. Just as we speak out against the antisemitism we face, we must do so when our fellow Jews and Israelis perpetrate injustice.
Many Jews across the world are anxious and on alert, reacting from a place of fear. That’s understandable, and it’s not just us. This idea came into stark relief for me on our JCRC’s Black/Jewish Coalition Civil Rights Mission to the American South last week. The trip was a project of the Washtenaw County Black-Jewish Coalition, and I was honored to participate. Throughout our three days in Georgia and Alabama, I was reminded that many marginalized peoples are living with the strain of seeing their rights eroded, and they fear for the future. Fortunately for us, our Jewish communal institutions and the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor are focused on these issues and working to make a difference.
I’m proud of the bridges we’re building across cultures and in the public sphere, and of the work we’re doing internally to improve our community’s resilience. Just this week, 60 community members, law enforcement officers and emergency managers met for a three-hour table-top exercise to better understand appropriate responses to potential and real threats. Knowledge and planning are power and make our community stronger.
While it is crucial that we focus on keeping our community safe and addressing the rise of anti-Jewish activity, we must not forget our true strengths as a people. We must continue to provide joyful and meaningful experiences to foster positive Jewish identity and live proudly Jewish lives. A team of parents of Jewish children is doing just that, as we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) this May. From displays in AAPS schools to a Jewish Cultural Arts Fair at Ann Arbor’s Downtown library, we celebrate joy and positivity and look forward to more focus on this kind of strength and resilience.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a global example of positivity and spirit. Yes, I am referring to Israel’s Eurovision star Noam Bettan. In spite of boos and protests at the venue, Noam nailed his semifinals performance of Michelle, and earned a spot in Saturday night’s final where we know he will continue to shine.
Thank you for being part of this vibrant, flourishing Jewish community that we continue to build together here in greater Ann Arbor.
Shabbat Shalom,
Eileen