fbpx
Saturday, December 12, 2020

Two Brooklyn College Students Take a Knee While ‘Hatikvah’ Plays Before Volleyball Match at Yeshiva Univ.

Print This Article
"
"

Two students on the Brooklyn College men’s volleyball team can be seen kneeling on one knee as Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah,” is played over speakers before a Feb. 23 match at Yeshiva University (YU).

The StopAntisemitism.org watchdog shared a video on Twitter of what had occurred, alleging that the two players who knelt on one knee declined to shake hands with Yeshiva players after the match.

The Yeshiva University Observer, YU’s student-run paper, confirmed that the kneeling had occurred, quoting a YU student identified as Tehilla Teigman saying that she had felt like her heart was “ripped out of my chest.”

“I’ve never even seen one person show any disrespect,” she later added. “[T]hey listen carefully, they sometimes link their arms with each other … this was the first time I’ve seen it and it was really hard to see.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned the gesture in a statement.

“We condemn this flagrant display of anti-Semitism,” the statement read. “At a time of increased anti-Semitism in our country, including on the streets of Brooklyn, New York, we demand to know what steps Brooklyn College intends to take with regard to this display of anti-Semitism by members of its volleyball team. The ball is in their court.”

A spokesperson from Brooklyn College denied that the two players declined to shake hands after the game in a statement to the Observer.

“Brooklyn College strongly condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and hatred,” the spokesperson said. “The two students who knelt during the national anthem did not refuse to shake hands with players from the other team. Their kneeling is protected by the First Amendment.”

YU’s Twitter account also denied that the two players refused to shake hands.

YU President Ari Berman told the Observer that the two Brooklyn College players “disrespected Israel’s national anthem. We are proud to be the only university who sings both the American and Israeli national anthems before every athletic competition and major event.”

The gesture became prevalent among some American athletes starting in 2016 to protest issues ranging from racism, police use of force and certain policies of President Donald Trump’s administration. “Taking a knee,” popularized by former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick and spreading to more than 200 NFL players, sparked a backlash from the president. It also spread to soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey athletes and some high school and college programs. The NFL eventually issued a policy regarding player behavior during the anthem.

Did you enjoy this article?

You'll love our roundtable.

Enjoyed this article?

You'll love our roundtable.

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Jewish Journal, 3250 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90010, http://www.jewishjournal.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Giving Season

Eight Degrees of Giving Help Both Sides for Jews

Human nature is to desire to be self-sufficient. Most of us are uncomfortable being takers and prefer earning our own keep. If, due to dire circumstances, we find ourselves on the receiving end, our reaction is generally one of mortification. The Torah is acutely sensitive to the precarious dynamic between patrons and their beneficiaries. The Torah's word for the act of giving to the needy, tzedakah, although commonly translated as "charity," more accurately means "justice."

Pandemic Has Altered The Rules of Fundraising

This article originally appeared in The New York Jewish Week The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is massive, costing hundreds of thousands of lives and...

“Incredible Generosity” for 2020, But Some Are Fretting– What Will 2021 Look Like?

This article originally appeared in Jewish Insider. The American Jewish community’s network of approximately 9,500 nonprofit organizations has largely avoided collapse during the COVID-19-spurred slump...

One Form of Giving: Spreading Kindness

“It started as a spreadsheet, a very basic spreadsheet,” Elana Sichel, a recent graduate of University of Maryland says. She and Hadassah Raskas, a U Penn rising senior, are the co-founders of Corona Connects, an initiative that pairs volunteers with organizations needing the extra hands during this chaotic time of living through the Coronavirus pandemic. The idea originated in a strong desire to be of service, stemming from their observant upbringing. Raskas explains, “I think it really was our Jewish values that really created this thing inside of us…it’s so deeply ingrained.”
"
"

Latest Articles

Club Z: Anti-Zionism is “Most Potent Form of Anti-Semitism”

Club Z, a Jewish education organization for teens, hosted a webinar on December 10 arguing that anti-Zionism is the “most potent form of anti-Semitism...

HSM Series’ Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein Perform Classics for Disney+ Holiday Special

We’re all in this together this holiday season because Disney+ is gifting us with a Hanukkah “High School Musical" crossover.

How to Adapt Dating to COVID-19

Although dating is more dangerous than it used to be, where there’s a will, there’s a way!

The Big Bagel Theory with Mayim Bialik

All of our Hanukkah dreams come true for this conversation with the prolific and brilliant Critics’ Choice Award winning actress, neuroscientist, author, mom and mogul-in-the-making Mayim...

A Bisl Hanukkah

Please enjoy this special Hanukkah message.

I Have Questions About the NYT’s “Saying Goodbye to Hanukkah.”

When the NYT treats Jews with less sensitivity than it treats other minority groups, it signals that Jews are less deserving of concern and care.

The Marriage of Hanukkah and Shabbat Brings a Special Light

Once a year, we do a double, magical lighting. The candles of Shabbat meet the candles of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah Entertainment: Celebrate Virtually with Movies, Music and Other Events

If you have an internet connection, there are fun ways to celebrate Hanukkah virtually.

Pandemic Times Episode 111: How Important is Self Love to Joy and Success?

New David Suissa Podcast Every Tuesday and Friday. A conversation with Melody Godfred, the self-love philosopher, author and poet. How do we manage our lives during...

Oil Vey: What to Do about Hanukkah This Year?

Convincing people to have a lockdown-ready Hanukkah might require some catchy, schmaltzy branding.

Culture

HSM Series’ Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein Perform Classics for Disney+ Holiday Special

We’re all in this together this holiday season because Disney+ is gifting us with a Hanukkah “High School Musical" crossover.

How to Adapt Dating to COVID-19

Although dating is more dangerous than it used to be, where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Hanukkah Entertainment: Celebrate Virtually with Movies, Music and Other Events

If you have an internet connection, there are fun ways to celebrate Hanukkah virtually.

‘Shtisel’ Sneak Peek: Virtual Screening and Cast Q&A

Temple Emanu-El Streicker center has a Hanukkah present for fans of the hit Israeli series.

‘Love, Lights, Hanukkah!’: Mia Kirshner Stars in Hallmark’s Nod to the Festival of Lights

Among the 40 new holiday movies that will premiere on Hallmark Channel this season, there’s just one that highlights Jewish tradition.

Latest Articles
Latest

Club Z: Anti-Zionism is “Most Potent Form of Anti-Semitism”

Club Z, a Jewish education organization for teens, hosted a webinar on December 10 arguing that anti-Zionism is the “most potent form of anti-Semitism...

HSM Series’ Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein Perform Classics for Disney+ Holiday Special

We’re all in this together this holiday season because Disney+ is gifting us with a Hanukkah “High School Musical" crossover.

How to Adapt Dating to COVID-19

Although dating is more dangerous than it used to be, where there’s a will, there’s a way!

The Big Bagel Theory with Mayim Bialik

All of our Hanukkah dreams come true for this conversation with the prolific and brilliant Critics’ Choice Award winning actress, neuroscientist, author, mom and mogul-in-the-making Mayim...

A Bisl Hanukkah

Please enjoy this special Hanukkah message.

Hollywood

‘Oslo’ Drama Underway from Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt

Steven Spielberg, Mark Platt and David Litvak are bringing the J.T. Rogers’ Tony Award-winning play “Oslo,” about the 1993 Israeli-Palestinian Peace Accords, to HBO....

‘Valley of Tears’ Tells Harrowing Stories of the 1973 Yom Kippur War

As Yom Kippur began in 1973, attacks by Syria and Egypt took Israel by surprise, launching a 19-day war in which more than 10,000...

Sophia Loren Plays a Holocaust Survivor in ‘The Life Ahead’

In her first feature film since “Nine” in 2009, screen legend Sophia Loren plays a Holocaust survivor who takes in motherless children in “The...

Podcasts

The Big Bagel Theory with Mayim Bialik

All of our Hanukkah dreams come true for this conversation with the prolific and brilliant Critics’ Choice Award winning actress, neuroscientist, author, mom and mogul-in-the-making Mayim...

Pandemic Times Episode 111: How Important is Self Love to Joy and Success?

New David Suissa Podcast Every Tuesday and Friday. A conversation with Melody Godfred, the self-love philosopher, author and poet. How do we manage our lives during...

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

x