| Thank you to those who have reached out with concern regarding the protest on campus last week.
For some context, Vice President Kamala Harris visited our university to engage in a meaningful conversation about the urgency of addressing climate change, a priority for President Ono and the University of Michigan. Our Hillel was invited to send student leaders to this conversation, and the Vice President’s visit was a moment of pride for the university and all who attended.
Members of several local pro-Palestinian groups marched in opposition to Vice President Harris’ visit because of her strong record of support for Israel. They protested a proposed ban of Palestinian flags in Israel. During this rally, the organizers chanted “Long Live the Intifada”, which for many members of our Jewish community recalls images of violent uprisings and terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. We share your concerns regarding this language and want to let you know how our Hillel has responded and is moving forward.
As always, Michigan Hillel’s primary focus is on meeting the needs of our students, supporting their growth, and empowering their identity. To that end, we are:
- Hosting an event for students that addresses the language of the protest, how it causes harm, and how we can talk about this openly with others
- Encouraging impacted students to share their concerns with the university administration
- Inviting students to participate in our six-part educational series on antisemitism, which includes exploration of anti-Israel activism that crosses over into antisemitism
- Hosting Kol Yisrael and My Israel Experience classes with our Israel Fellow to deepen students’ relationship with Israel and feel empowered to speak about Israel on campus
- Encouraging students to participate in the many Israel programs we offer throughout the year
We are also in communication with the campus administration to convey the harmful impact of the language used during the protest. For many in our community, calls for “Intifada” invoke memories of violence in Israel during the Second Intifada, including terror attacks, suicide bombings, and thousands of civilian deaths and injuries. Words like these can have a strong and hurtful impact on members of our community. They are also an example of when criticism of a specific Israeli policy (in this case, a proposed ban of a flag) can escalate into anti-Israel or antisemitic rhetoric.
We appreciate hearing from parents and alumni that you share our concerns and we are sending this message to remind you that we are here for your students, every day, whether they feel impacted by this rally or are struggling in other ways on campus. Many of our students are experiencing anti-Israel activism and antisemitism for the first time. Most students on campus today were not alive during the Second Intifada, which is why our education programs and Israel experiences are so important for this generation. Our focus will remain on supporting our students, lifting up their sense of Jewish pride and ahavat yisrael (love of Israel and the Jewish people), educating our campus community, and working with university partners to ensure a welcoming and inclusive campus environment for all students.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and for Jewish life at the University of Michigan.
Sincerely, |
