Windsor Students
Pass Referendum
To Boycott Israel
eF114 4itt
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T
ing illegal performance-enhancing chicken soup.
he Sochi Winter Olympic games are behind us.
Despite fears of terrorism, inadequate housing,
Here's wishing all of our Jewish competitors much nachas
brown drinking water, Russia's anti-gay stance,
during the games and to remember to please dress warmly. As
unseasonably warm temperatures, losses by both our U.S.
my mother, Florence, of blessed memory, always said: "Alan,
men's and women's hockey teams to Canada, and Bob
take a jacket; you can always sit on it."
Costas' pink eye condition, by all accounts the XXII Winter
Meanwhile, closer to home, there's a winter sport tak-
Olympics were a success.
ing our community by storm — the "Giant Pothole Slalom:'
This exhilarating event is much like skiing's downhill slalom,
Now we can fmally pay attention to the winter games
that have for far too long flown under the radar.
only competitors are driving — not skiing — and
I'm speaking of the Jewish Winter Oylympics
they're weaving around potholes instead of gates.
that are held every 18 years on Mount Sinai
By the way, in a cost-cutting move, Oakland County
where Jews from all around the world gather
announced this week that it will not repair some of
with the dream of winning a Golda Medal.
the larger potholes this spring, deciding instead to
The 321st or CCCXXI Jewish Winter Oylympics
convert them into small community pools.
commence this weekend and are expected to be
I can't let the subject of potholes go without asking
bigger and better than ever with exciting new
a question: If our space shuttles can withstand
events. Eighteen years ago, I had the honor of
minus 400°F in orbit and 2,500°F upon re-entry
being one of the select few chosen to run in the
without falling apart, why can't they find a material
traditional torah-orch relay prior to the Games;
like that to build our roads? Considering the current
running with a Torah with its handles retrofitted
outrageous road conditions, it's more important
Alan
with little flaming torches.
than ever to make sure your kids go to the bathroom
Muskovitz
The relay ends in Oylympic Stadium with the
before they leave the house. A full bladder does not
Jewish News
lighting of a giant cauldron of saganaki cheese, an
have a chance with these potholes.
Columnist
homage to the Game's Greek origins. I'll never for-
Speaking of which, by the time we pay for repairs
get the packed stadium yelling "oypa" as the giant
to our cars' front ends and flat tires, we won't have a
hunk of cheese became engulfed in flames.
pothole to p well, you get the point.
New competitions at the Jewish Winter Oylympics include
The only reason to leave the potholes alone, in addition
the Four-Man Bobshlep, the Downhill Shalom and, generat-
to the community pool concept, is that I think these
ing the most buzz, the Nordichai Combined, where entrants
annoying craters could reduce the number of people
cross-country ski three miles, stop for a nosh, then ski three
texting while driving. Just ask anyone who has driven down
additional miles. The most popular event remains to be the
Drrrrraaaaakkkkkke or Miuudddddlllebeeeeelt roads lately.
See you next mmmmmmonth! ❑
snowboarding competition where participants snowboard on
replicas of Ten Commandments tablets.
Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/acting talent, speaker, emcee
Hopefully we will not see a repeat of the scandal that rocked
and a regular guest host on the Mitch Albom Show on WJR AM 760.
the CCCXX Games 18 years ago where several athletes were
Visit his website at laughwithbigal.com and "Like" Al on Facebook.
kicked out after drug testing confirmed they had been ingest-
JN CONTENTS
theJEWISHNEWS.com
March 6 - 12, 2014 I 4 - 10 Adar II 5774 Vol. CXLV, No. 5
Around Town
22
Arts/Entertainment ... 41
Calendar
28
Food
46
Israel .. 5,18, 27, 29, 42, 44
jewish@edu
38
JN Archives
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Metro
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Next Generation
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Out & About
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Points Of View
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Staff Box/Phone List... 6
Synagogue List
36
Torah Portion
37
World
27
Shabbat: Friday, March 7, 6:11 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, March 8, 7:13 p.m.
Fast of Esther: Thursday, March 13, 6:36 a.m.-
8:19 p.m.
Shabbat: Friday, March 14, 7:20 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, March 15, 8:21 p.m.
Purim: Sunday, March 16
Columnist
Danny Raskin
Shabbat And Holiday Lights
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assage of a controversial University
of Windsor (UW) undergraduate
student referendum to boycott
Israel has sparked safety concerns for some
Jewish students on campus as well as com-
plaints that have prompted an investigation
of the vote by the school's administration,
the Windsor Star reported.
"I think the referendum will just lead to a
more hostile environment on campus," said
David, a Jewish UW student who gave only
his first name for safety reasons.
The referendum asked students whether
to support the global Boycott, Divestment
and Sanctions movement, a campaign
aimed at creating economic sanctions
against Israel and boycotting companies,
products, academic institutions and any
other group with ties to the Israeli state, the
story said.
Voting was open to students for three
days last week. The student alliance report-
ed that 798 students voted for the referen-
dum and 585 students voted against it. The
university has about 14,000 undergraduate
students.
David, 28, said the referendum's passage
means Jewish students on campus "bet-
ter just keep low" because they can't safely
express their political views, the story said.
"Unfortunately, the University of Windsor
is not a safe place for Jewish students any-
more," David said. "I don't think I am in
immediate physical danger, but it's just not
an easy environment to be a Jew on cam-
pus, especially when you are a vocal sup-
porter of Israel."
The issue went to a referendum ballot
after the student Palestinian Solidarity
Group called for it in November, the story
said.
In the Star story, David said some
students were afraid to vote no after an
incident on campus Jan. 30 that police
described as a hate crime.
Jake DeJong, vice-president of academic
affairs for the student alliance, arrived at his
office to find it vandalized. On a Support
Our Troops flag hanging in his office, some-
one had spray-painted a Star of David and
the word Zionist, the Star reported.
"The University of Windsor will be
uncompromising in its commitment to
continue to be a place that is welcoming
and safe for all students:' University
president Alan Wildeman said in a
statement.
Harvey Kessler, executive director
of the Windsor Jewish Federation and
Community Centre, said the federation and
its Community Relations Committee "have
been actively working with and providing
support to the Jewish Students Association"
at UW. The university, he added, "is eager to
protect all its students and employees, as well
as its reputation and image in Windsor and
nationally.
"We will continue to play an important
role at the university and in the community
as these matters are resolved:' ❑
March 6 • 2014
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