OTHER VIEWS

Taking Back The Campuses

Public Affairs Committee and similar groups (in
They cover the bulletin boards and walls
Ramat Gan, Israel
Canada, the Canada-Israel Committee plays this
with
posters
repeating
the
great
lies
of
lai niversity campuses in North
role), organize seminars and prepare publications
Palestinian victimization: "occupied
America and Europe are very
presenting
the Israeli perspective and the facts that
Palestinian land," stones versus tanks,"
hostile environments for students
expose
the
Palestinian myths.
"Israeli violations of international law."
who identify with Israel and
In
Canada,
the most notorious campus in terms
At Berkeley, mock Israeli "checkpoints"
Jewish causes.
of
pro-Palestinian
brainwashing is Concordia
were set up so that the students are
Since 1967, the self-styled "intellectrial
University in Montreal. When I spoke there recent-
exposed
to
the
"suffering
and
victimiza-
classes" have adopted the myths of
ly, Jewish student activists covered the Arab propa-
tion at the hand of the oppressive occupy-
Palestinian victimization, combining mas-
ganda posters with huge announcements, including
ing
regime."
Of
course,
there
is
no
men-
GERALD M.
sive ignorance with a political orthodoxy
an eye-catching photo of Palestinian children clus-
tion of suicide bombers, drive-by murders
STEINBERG
that blocks any debate. Demonstrations
tered around a tank aimed outwards, clearly expos-
or other attacks on Israelis — or the histo-
Special
and seminars that echo Palestinian propa-
ing the myth of innocent and unarmed Palestinian
ry of Arab rejectionism and violence. On
ganda and Arab anti-Semitism are every-
Commentary
victimization.
the politically correct campuses, terrorist
day events.
The title that they chose for this talk, "Coping with
attacks against Jews and vicious anti-Semitism in the
When it comes to Israel and the Middle East,
Palestinian Terror " highlighted the real source of the vio-
Moslem
world
are
not
worthy
attention.
many universities are more like indoctrination cen-
lence. And despite the timing of my talk during exam
Socially maladjusted students, whose private con-
ters than educational institutions.
period, they turned out to insure that the pro-Israeli side
cepts of morality excuse the mass murder of
The University of California at Berkeley provides a
would not be outnumbered. This time, instead of anoth-
Americans and Israelis, and who walk incongruously
particularly blatant example, but the same phenome-
er easy propaganda victory, the Arabs were placed on the
around campus in kafiahs, provide useful allies.
non can be found on many other North American
defensive.
While they know next to nothing, for members of
and European campuses. The pro-Palestinian lobby,
this group, any cause that is anti-globalization and
supported by Arab governments and Islamic groups,
anti-American gets their support.
' brings in a stream of speakers and professional politi-
Tilted Funding
As the impact of the resolutions adopted at the
cal activists.
In
general, Jewish student groups are very under-
Durban anti-Zionist conference (held in early
In addition to infamous malcontents and Jews
funded,
particularly when compared to the money
September) spreads, with the support of the United
such as Noam Chomsky who are deeply opposed to
and
resources
available for anti-Israeli propaganda.
Nations and other international organizations ostensi-
Israel and Zionism, the colleges are flooded with
Workshops
on
changing the agenda from
bly devoted to human rights, the propaganda cam-
psuedo-academics with Israeli-sounding names to
Palestinian
victimization
to terrorism and incitement,
paign to de-legitimize Israel will accelerate.
promote the "Zionism is Racism" campaign.
and on how to use the Internet to find accurate infor-
Despite this very hostile environment, a small
mation that is often hidden by the media (usually
number of very committed Jewish students are
Gerald M. Steinberg is a professor, and director of the
reported by journalists who are trained in the same
fighting back. Groups such as Hillel: The
Program on Conflict Management and Negotiation
universities and centers that are dominated by Arab
Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, and response
Political Studies, at Bar-Ilan University. His e-mail
propagandists) need to be held a few times per year.
teams that receive training from the American Israel
address is gerald@vms.huji.ac.il

,

A Modern Miracle

into it he carved plant designs that remind
n the seventh night of Chanukah
you
of the north woods. The ark was
this year, we gathered at our syn-
passed
on to a synagogue in Detroit in the
agogue, the Reconstructionist
mid-1900s.
When that synagogue moved,
Congregation of Detroit, to light
it
became
the
ark for Congregation
our menorot together — families, chil-
T'chiyah in Detroit's Greektown. When
dren, friends and guests — and we said
T'chiyah moved, it became the ark for the
thanks in the candlelight for a modern
Reconstructionist Congregation of
miracle. It was the miracle of the gold key.
Detroit. We love the rich Michigan Jewish
It all started in September, on the day
history associated with our ark.
we lost the key. Our synagogue is small,
C AR OL
On that day in September, the unbeliev-
only two rooms on the second floor of the
WEIS FELD
able
happened. As the ark was being rolled
Wayne County Medical Society offices
Comm unity
gently onto the elevator for its return trip
near downtown Detroit. For large events,
Vie ws
upstairs, the key somehow shook loose
we use the big dining room on the first
from
the
ark
and hit the tile floor. Our president,
floor so that families can bring everyone and guests,
Matt
Schenk
of Detroit, watched the key bounce
too. On those days, we move our ark and Torahs
once,
twice
and
then silently slip between the floor
and things to the dining room. We use the elevator.
of
the
elevator
and
the hallway floor. Matt and his
Our ark is very old and precious. It has a lock that
father,
Alan,
froze
in
their tracks. Seconds later, they
opens with a small gold key — a very old, very
heard
a
clink
from
somewhere
in the elevator shaft.
fancy gold key with swirled carvings. The ark was
Then silence. The gold key was gone.
handmade by a Michigan carpenter early in the
The ark was locked. Alan said he thought he had
1900s. It belonged to a congregation in the Upper
a
spare
key at home. After locking up that night,
Peninsula. The carpenter used native lumber, and
Alan went home and searched. Yes, there was one
duplicate. We thought we should take no more
Carol Weisfeld of Detroit is a professor of psychology
chances, though.
at University of Detroit-Mercy. Her e-mail is:
We asked the Wayne County Medical Society
weisfecc@udmercy.edu

0

1/11
2002

Notice the key
in the lock in the
synagogue ark.

