Dear Friends:
Earlier this week the president of Columbia University resigned in the wake of campus disturbances last year over the ongoing Israel - Hamas war. The former president, Minouche Shafik, is the fourth Ivy League president, out of eight Ivy League schools, to resign their position since October 7.
On Tuesday of this week, a federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against UCLA by three Jewish students at the school. The judge ruled that the school had an obligation not to allow protesters to block access by Jewish students to the campus or its libraries, classroom buildings, or gathering places. UCLA appealed, saying that it was not the university but rather outside groups who committed the actions in question, and that the judge’s injunction prevented the school from handling disturbances in the way that it thought best.
I started my rabbinic career as a Hillel director and I still pay a lot of attention to the campus climate. I recognize that the current situation is difficult for universities to handle because feelings on both the pro- and anti-Israel sides are so intense. But I also think that policies need to be made -- and enforced -- which are content neutral.
Many Jewish students and their parents object when anti-Israel protests take place on campus and when anti-Zionist ideas are expressed in classes. But it seems to me that the essence of a liberal arts education is being confronted with ideas that one disagrees with and finds uncomfortable. At the same time, blocking students who are wearing a Jewish star necklace from campus or the library is not an expression of an idea, it is discriminatory action which is facially unconstitutional if allowed by an entity which receives government funds. If universities set behavioral norms which do not allow intimidation, overnight encampment, harassment, or threats of violence, these rules need to be enforced across the board regardless of which side of the spectrum is violating them.
As a reminder, I am having drop-in hours on Thursday afternoons from 2 to 4 at the shul. For my drop-in hours, you do not need to make an appointment -- that would negate the whole point of drop-in hours -- but I’d urge you to check and make sure I am there regardless as sometimes there are unavoidable pastoral or other emergencies which might take me away from the building.
As always, if I can do anything for you or you need to talk, please contact me at rabbi@kehilatshalom.org or 301-977-0768 rather than through the synagogue office. I am happy to meet you at the synagogue by appointment; if you want to speak with me it’s best to make an appointment rather than assuming I will be there when you stop by.
Additionally, if you know of a Kehilat Shalom congregant or another member of our Jewish community who could use a phone call, please let me know.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Charles L. Arian
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