Why is a major academic center for the study of American Jewish history, which was founded by a stalwart friend of Israel, falsely accusing Israel of “state violence against Palestinians”?
The Feinstein Center for American Jewish History at Temple University was founded — and for many years directed — by the late Dr. Murray Friedman, a distinguished historian and longtime leader of the American Jewish Committee in Philadelphia. I had the privilege of attending presentations by Murray Friedman, and I know he was a strong supporter of Israel. He is surely turning over in his grave at the news that his center is now being used to spread anti-Israel lies.
On April 20, the Feinstein Center will host a public program called “The Weaponization of Discourse: Israel/Palestine, Antisemitism, and Free Speech on Campus,” featuring Professor Kenneth Stern of Bard College and Joyce Ajlouny, general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). The Feinstein Center’s advertisements for the event declare that it will explore, among other things, “increased state violence against Palestinians.” The phrase “state violence against Palestinians” suggests that Israel is, as a matter of national policy, systematically carrying out violence against Palestinian Arabs. That’s false.
I expect Arab propagandists to spread such lies. I don’t expect the falsehoods to come from an academic center that was founded by a pro-Israel scholar and is funded in part by donations from pro-Israel members of the Philadelphia-area Jewish community.
The April 20 program is responding to, in part, the ongoing debate over the definition of anti-Semitism that has been crafted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and accepted by numerous governments and Jewish organizations around the world. Some left-wing academics, including Stern, object to the IHRA definition because it includes demonization of Israel as an example of anti-Semitism.
Obviously Stern and his colleagues have every right to their viewpoint. But when an academic center such as the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History sponsors a program about “the potentials and limitations of a state-sponsored definition of antisemitism,” both sides of the argument should be represented. Instead, the April 20 discussion is going to feature only two speakers, both representing the same point of view. The (AFSC), for instance, is the foreign policy arm of the Quakers, and articles on the AFSC’s website openly compare Israel to the Nazi Germany; Ajlouny herself has publicly accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing.”
The April 20 discussion is going to feature only two speakers, both representing the same point of view.
Obviously, leaders who engage in “ethnic cleansing” are war criminals and should be in prison. That’s what Ajlouny thinks of Israel’s leaders, from David Ben-Gurion to Yitzhak Rabin. And Aljouny’s activism spreads beyond speech: Before coming to Philadelphia four years ago, Ajlouny was the head of a school in Ramallah that ran a summer program called “Go Palestine” for teenagers from around the world.
According to the itinerary for the school’s summer program, featured speakers included representatives of “the BDS movement,” Nasser Ibrahim of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (a terrorist group) and “ex-prisoners [who were in] Israeli occupation jails,” which almost certainly means terrorists. Interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer on November 3, 2017, Ajlouny came close to rationalizing Palestinian violence when she claimed that many young Palestinians harbor “feelings of revenge and retaliation” and that “it’s very difficult to manage these emotions.”
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the “intolerance” and “extremism” of the “Go Palestine” program was “disturbing.” Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) said the reports of the program’s activities were “quite concerning.” Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said, “I endorse the calls by Senators Schumer and Cardin for an investigation to make sure that no U.S. government funds are being used, directly or indirectly, to support a camp that promotes BDS or other anti-Israel extremism.”
Ajlouny is entitled to her point of view. In fact, she has the same right to free speech as everyone else. But should the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History be the one to give her a platform — and not even feature a dissenting point of view?
The center’s mission statement reads: “The Feinstein Center for American Jewish History supports innovative approaches to understanding American Jewish life. Its mission is simple: Inspiring Inquiry.”
Is this the program the Feinstein Center’s founder and longtime leader would have wanted? What is “innovative” about accusing Israel of “state violence” and “ethnic cleansing”? And where is the spirit of “inquiry” in hosting a program where only one side of a controversy is aired?
Donors and supporters of the Feinstein Center need to ask themselves if this is the kind of programming they want their money used for — and then act accordingly.
Moshe Phillips is national director of Herut North America’s U.S. division. Herut is an international movement for Zionist pride and education and its U.S. website is https://herutna.org/
Jewish Journal
Jewish Center at Temple University Shows Bias Against Israel
Moshe Phillips
Why is a major academic center for the study of American Jewish history, which was founded by a stalwart friend of Israel, falsely accusing Israel of “state violence against Palestinians”?
The Feinstein Center for American Jewish History at Temple University was founded — and for many years directed — by the late Dr. Murray Friedman, a distinguished historian and longtime leader of the American Jewish Committee in Philadelphia. I had the privilege of attending presentations by Murray Friedman, and I know he was a strong supporter of Israel. He is surely turning over in his grave at the news that his center is now being used to spread anti-Israel lies.
On April 20, the Feinstein Center will host a public program called “The Weaponization of Discourse: Israel/Palestine, Antisemitism, and Free Speech on Campus,” featuring Professor Kenneth Stern of Bard College and Joyce Ajlouny, general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). The Feinstein Center’s advertisements for the event declare that it will explore, among other things, “increased state violence against Palestinians.” The phrase “state violence against Palestinians” suggests that Israel is, as a matter of national policy, systematically carrying out violence against Palestinian Arabs. That’s false.
I expect Arab propagandists to spread such lies. I don’t expect the falsehoods to come from an academic center that was founded by a pro-Israel scholar and is funded in part by donations from pro-Israel members of the Philadelphia-area Jewish community.
The April 20 program is responding to, in part, the ongoing debate over the definition of anti-Semitism that has been crafted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and accepted by numerous governments and Jewish organizations around the world. Some left-wing academics, including Stern, object to the IHRA definition because it includes demonization of Israel as an example of anti-Semitism.
Obviously Stern and his colleagues have every right to their viewpoint. But when an academic center such as the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History sponsors a program about “the potentials and limitations of a state-sponsored definition of antisemitism,” both sides of the argument should be represented. Instead, the April 20 discussion is going to feature only two speakers, both representing the same point of view. The (AFSC), for instance, is the foreign policy arm of the Quakers, and articles on the AFSC’s website openly compare Israel to the Nazi Germany; Ajlouny herself has publicly accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing.”
Obviously, leaders who engage in “ethnic cleansing” are war criminals and should be in prison. That’s what Ajlouny thinks of Israel’s leaders, from David Ben-Gurion to Yitzhak Rabin. And Aljouny’s activism spreads beyond speech: Before coming to Philadelphia four years ago, Ajlouny was the head of a school in Ramallah that ran a summer program called “Go Palestine” for teenagers from around the world.
According to the itinerary for the school’s summer program, featured speakers included representatives of “the BDS movement,” Nasser Ibrahim of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (a terrorist group) and “ex-prisoners [who were in] Israeli occupation jails,” which almost certainly means terrorists. Interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer on November 3, 2017, Ajlouny came close to rationalizing Palestinian violence when she claimed that many young Palestinians harbor “feelings of revenge and retaliation” and that “it’s very difficult to manage these emotions.”
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the “intolerance” and “extremism” of the “Go Palestine” program was “disturbing.” Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) said the reports of the program’s activities were “quite concerning.” Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said, “I endorse the calls by Senators Schumer and Cardin for an investigation to make sure that no U.S. government funds are being used, directly or indirectly, to support a camp that promotes BDS or other anti-Israel extremism.”
Ajlouny is entitled to her point of view. In fact, she has the same right to free speech as everyone else. But should the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History be the one to give her a platform — and not even feature a dissenting point of view?
The center’s mission statement reads: “The Feinstein Center for American Jewish History supports innovative approaches to understanding American Jewish life. Its mission is simple: Inspiring Inquiry.”
Is this the program the Feinstein Center’s founder and longtime leader would have wanted? What is “innovative” about accusing Israel of “state violence” and “ethnic cleansing”? And where is the spirit of “inquiry” in hosting a program where only one side of a controversy is aired?
Donors and supporters of the Feinstein Center need to ask themselves if this is the kind of programming they want their money used for — and then act accordingly.
Moshe Phillips is national director of Herut North America’s U.S. division. Herut is an international movement for Zionist pride and education and its U.S. website is https://herutna.org/
Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.
Editor's Picks
Israel and the Internet Wars – A Professional Social Media Review
The Invisible Student: A Tale of Homelessness at UCLA and USC
What Ever Happened to the LA Times?
Who Are the Jews On Joe Biden’s Cabinet?
You’re Not a Bad Jewish Mom If Your Kid Wants Santa Claus to Come to Your House
No Labels: The Group Fighting for the Political Center
Latest Articles
Performative Actions Must Stop
Change Is Good – A poem for Parsha Tzav
A Bisl Torah – Hope Revealed
The Unraveling of Candace Owens
Longing for Shushan after October Seventh
A Moment in Time: “Thinking Outside of the Box”
Culture
A Love Letter to ‘The Jewish Holiday Table’
Moroccan Fish: A Taste of Casablanca for Passover
Katie Workman: The Mom 100, Comfort Food and Ground Turkey Tacos
National Hillel Basketball Tournament in Maryland Led by Two Shalhevet Alumni
Print Issue: Got College? | Mar 29, 2024
With the alarming rise in antisemitism across many college campuses, choosing where to apply has become more complicated for Jewish high school seniors. Some are even looking at Israel.
Rabbis of LA | Grief Helped Pave a Career Highway for Rabbi Anne Brener
Her father died when she was an infant; when she was 23, her mother and 18-year-old sister died three months apart.
Make a Star of David Pendant with Drinking Straws
New York Jewish Couple Redefines Kosher Wine Market
“We want Jews to stop drinking terrible wines or good wines that are overpriced. They don’t need to compromise anymore.”
Campus Watch March 28, 2024
A roundup of incidents, good and bad, happening on school campuses.
Hollywood
Spielberg Says Antisemitism Is “No Longer Lurking, But Standing Proud” Like 1930s Germany
Young Actress Juju Brener on Her “Hocus Pocus 2” Role
Behind the Scenes of “Jeopardy!” with Mayim Bialik
Podcasts
Katie Workman: The Mom 100, Comfort Food and Ground Turkey Tacos
Jamie Pachino: “So Help Me Todd,” Food on TV and Chocolate Chip Cake
More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.