NJ Jewish Teacher Sues Muslim Fencer, NJ CAIR for Defamation
An elementary school teacher in New Jersey has sued a Muslim fencer and New Jersey’s Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) chapter for defamation.
Steven Emerson, who heads the Investigative Project for Terrorism, wrote in an April 17 op-ed for The Algemeiner that the fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad — who was on the United States Olympic team in 2016 — and New Jersey CAIR alleged in October 2021 social media posts that the teacher, Tamar Herman, had ripped off a student’s hijab during a class against her wishes. In the lawsuit, which was filed in October, Herman claims the incident was a misunderstanding, stating that the student’s hood was covering her eyes and she had asked her to pull it back, thinking the hijab was underneath. Herman then alleges she started to move the hood back until she realized there was no hijab, and then immediately apologized. The lawsuit also claims the student’s parents had acknowledged it was a misunderstanding until they discovered that Herman is Jewish, at which point their story changed and they started making antisemitic comments to the media. Herman was consequently terminated from her position.
Herman also claims she texted Muhammad, who she says is a friend, about the incident being a misunderstanding, but claims Muhammad ignored her. Muhammad alleges that she does not know Herman. Muhammad and CAIR are standing by their depiction of the incident as being “substantially true” since Herman did move the student’s hood back.
Second Antisemitic Incident in Less Than 10 Days at Stanford
A swastika was found on Stanford University’s campus on April 12, the second antisemitic incident in less than 10 days, The Algemeiner reported.
It was engraved onto a panel in a bathroom in the History Corner building, located on the northeastern side of the Main Quad. The swastika has since been painted over. A university spokesperson told The Stanford Daily they are “deeply disturbed” by the swastika.
The second antisemitic incident occurred on April 3, when a student’s mezuzah was vandalized.
University President Marc-Tessier Lavigne said during Hillel at Stanford’s Passover Shabbat on April 7, “We will not tolerate antisemitism and the symbols of antisemitism here on campus. It is something we need to eradicate.”
University of Kansas Student Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution Denouncing Antisemitism
The University of Kansas Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution that denounced antisemitism on April 3 but removed a clause condemning “bad faith anti-Zionism.”
The Algemeiner reported that the resolution had passed 38-0, with two members of the senate abstaining; it stated in part: “The University of Kansas Student Senate condemns antisemitism at the University of Kansas and recognizes the irreplaceable leadership and contributions of the Jewish community here at the University of Kansas.” It also urged the school to ensure that adequate resources are provided to the school’s Jewish Studies program.
Senator Blake Bailey had introduced the resolution to critice the university “for not doing more to counter antisemitic rhetoric by promoting and investing in the Jewish Studies program,” The University Daily Kansas reported.
Berklee School of Music Student Apologizes for Featuring Swastika in Snapchat Story
Berklee School of Music student Fred Felgate apologized on April 16 for sharing a Snapchat story with a swastika in it.
Stop Antisemitism first tweeted about the story on April 2, stating that Felgate had sent a Snapchat story to his classmates saying “Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa JSWEET” followed by a swastika. “Using such a symbol is completely unacceptable and I made a monumental mistake, not taking the time to think for even a split second about what such an action could cause,” Felgate wrote, per Stop Antisemitism. He added that the swastika “was an extremely tasteless joke that does not reflect my beliefs in the slightest and was totally inappropriate”; he will be meeting with the school’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to discuss the matter.
Columbia Hosts “Palestinian Liberation” Panel on Yom HaShoah
The Columbia School of Social Work hosted a panel on anti-Zionism and Palestinian liberation on Yom HaShoah.
According to an advertisement for the event, which was tweeted out by writer and editor Jordyn Tilchen, the event was titled “The History of (Anti)Zionism, Antisemitism, and Palestinian Liberation: A Brave Discussion & Presentation” and billed itself as a discussion about “an anti-oppressive framework” presented by a trans anti-Zionist Jew. Additionally, Tilchen noted that the school was hosting an April 18 event titled “Anti-Semitism and Privilege.” Both events were virtual. “Let it be known that the panel I was supposed to be on about antisemitism in America was ‘postponed’ into oblivion,” Tilchen tweeted. “It’s been almost a year. @Columbia has a HUGE antisemitism problem.” ■
