Letters
The following Letter to the Editor from
Wayne State University President Irvin D.
Reid appeared in the April 5 issue of the
student newspaper on the Detroit campus,
the South End. It fol-
lowed a week that
included a closed-door
meeting between
Jewish students and
several Wayne State
University administra-
tors to discuss student
concerns about anti-
Dr. Irvin D. Reid
Semitism and security.
Also that week were a rally by the campus
group Students For Israel (SFI) for victims
of terrorism and a rally by the non-campus
group Anti Racist Action (ARA) marking
Palestinian Land Day.
The ARA rally included a sign calling for
divestment with a swastika in the place of
the "s" in the word Israel, a call for the end
of Israel as a Jewish state — "Palestine will
be free, from the river to the sea"— and,
according to SFI activist Tova Schreiber,
shouts about Jews in English and Arabic.
The concerns of Jewish students were sub-
jects of two stories on Fox2 News/WIBK,
Detroit. Videos of the anti-Israel rally gar-
nered thousands of hits on the YouTube and
Little Green Footballs Web sites (visit the IN
Web site JNonline.us for a link).
WSU spokesperson France Wunder told
the Jewish News that the university is
developing a campus program to promote
tolerance and civility under the leadership
of Dean of Students David Strauss. She said
the program will be modeled after similar
initiatives on other higher education cam-
puses such as the University of Michigan.
She said it is intended that faculty, students
and other members of the university com-
munity will be involved in the program's
development.
The Gift Of Hillel
In her Community View "Hillel Day
School's Expanse" (April 5, page 26),
Helene Brody wrote exactly what I had
been thinking: I loved reading the March
15 issue of the IN with all the wonderful
stories about Hillel alumni, not to mention
the great photo of my nephew, Sam Lasser,
who came in from San Francisco for his
Hillel reunion!
As both an alumna of Hillel as well
as the current parent of a second-grade
Hillel student (and an entering Hillel
kindergarten student), I have been able to
see the benefits of the Hillel experience.
In her current Hillel class, seven students
of other Hillel alumni join my daughter,
Allison. Now, as Hillel parents, we look at
each other and kvell during school pro-
grams, knowing that it wasn't that long
ago that we were sitting in those chairs,
performing at the siddur party or model
seder. However, there is nothing that
could substitute for the compliments that
Allison received from our families dur-
ing our sederim this week. Everyone was
amazed at her progress, how much she
knew of the seder, the songs, the way she
read in Hebrew and English and how she
delighted in participating with everyone. I
just smiled and said, "Hillel."
There is a common bond among Hillel
alumni, an unspoken sense of commu-
nity that comes from being part of that
school. A few weeks ago, a Hillel friend
lost her mother. We all came together to
be with her during this sad time. Many
of us hadn't seen this friend in years, but
because of our Hillel connection, we were
there for her, no questions asked. Time
only made our bond that much stronger.
That is Hillel: it makes all the difference.
Finally, a word of thanks to all those in
the community who support Hillel with
their time, energy and resources. Espe-
cially to my parents, Jacqueline and Myron
Freedom, Tolerance, Respect
At Wayne State University, we regard diver-
sity among students and faculty as one of
our primary strengths. Believing in the
value of tolerance across boundaries of
race, nationality, ethnicity and religion, we
have enthusiastically pursued a program
of cross-cultural studies and activities for
students and faculty.
It is the business of higher education
to create an environment that encourages
mutual understanding, respect for differ-
ences, and the kind of dialogue that heals
conflicts between people and nations. A
university campus should be a place in
which people can learn about each other's
beliefs without anxiety or fear of confron-
tation.
Unfortunately, over the past decade this
country has witnessed a random fragmen-
tation in the quality of public discourse,
a gradual but perceptible displacement
of rational argument by stridency, per-
sonal attacks, intimidation and innuendo.
Recently, a notorious symbol of bigotry
and hatred was openly displayed on our
campus to express a political viewpoint.
Such things may be unavoidable in the
anonymity of the Internet, but they do
not belong at this university. Just as we
maintain high standards in the classroom,
we insist on high standards for personal
conduct and self-expression, whether by
individuals or groups.
Everyone is entitled to his or her opin-
ion. But we do not condone those who
advocate harm to another race, nationality
or ethnic or religious group, nor can we
allow the distortion of history to serve a
political agenda. We always have room for
free speech, but we have no room for the
rhetoric of hatred.
Disagreement between and among peo-
ple of different backgrounds, preferences,
orientation or beliefs cannot be avoided.
In a university setting, however, disagree-
ment must lead to discourse; neither side
is free to be disrespectful of the other. No
matter how passionately one feels about
a particular issue, or how fervently one
holds a particular belief, any form of dis-
regard for other persons is inappropriate.
Anger, threats and intimidation are con-
trary to the values of this institution and
embarrassing to everyone who works and
studies here.
Our diversity makes Wayne State
University a microcosm of the world.
Institutions like ours also are the world's
best hope because we care for the knowl-
edge of the past even as we create the
knowledge of the future. Building on the
values that sustain us, we must take equal
care to create a future that acknowledges
the dignity of all men and women. This
is the university's charge, but it is my
responsibility and yours to make it real.
Please join me in keeping Wayne State
University a place of academic freedom
and free expression, tempered by tolerance
and respect.
Milgrom, I am eternally thankful for my
Hillel education, which is one of the great-
est gifts they have ever given me.
its students against the spiritual narcissism
that has lately become alarmingly prevalent.
As an academic, I share the benefits of
my Hillel experience with my students and
colleagues every day. As a parent of one
— and soon to be two — Hillel students,
it is comforting to know that my children's
school shares my vision of and hope for
their future.
Marianne Milgrom Bloomberg
Hillel Day School Class of 1983
Farmington Hills
Hillel's Diversity
Thank you, Helene Brody, for sharing in
your Community View the diverse accom-
plishments of Hillel Day School students,
past and present ("Hillel Day School's
Expanse April 5, page 26).
Such accomplishments illustrate the
ways that Hillel Day School realizes the
aim of the original Rabbi Hillel, who
taught "Im ani le'atzmi, ma ani? [If I am
only for myself, what am I?].
Hillel Day School offers to any and every
Jewish child an education that instills the
true purpose of learning: to use what you
have learned for the betterment of others.
Thus, Hillel Day School strives to inoculate
FILEFI3ET 'cha Don't Know
Outside of Israel, which country's Jews have the highest percentage of
children in Hebrew day schools?
- Goldfein
•slows Aep qs!mar u! pationa ualPIND s4! Io palled 96 tmAk 'eweued :JamsuV
OCopyright 2007, Jewish Renaissance Media
6
April 12 u 2007
Dr. Irvin D. Reid
president
Wayne State University
Detroit
Professor Howard N. Lupovitch
Hillel Day School Class of 1979
Pulver Family Chair of Jewish Studies
Colby College
Waterville, Maine
Correction
In "Sharing Their WISDOM' (April 5, page
30), the headline should have said "Beth
Shalom Sisterhood joins interfaith event at
mosque Also, the Muslim Unity Center in
Bloomfield Hills has a domed mosque.
More letters on page 8 and on JNonline. us.
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