1942 - 2019

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week
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How to reach us see page 10

their right to self-determina-
tion, e.g., by claiming that the 
existence of a State of Israel 
is a racist endeavor, applying 
double standards by requiring 
of it a behavior not expected 
or demanded of any other 
democratic nation, using the 
symbols and images associated 
with classic anti-Semitism … to 
characterize Israel or Israelis” 
and “drawing comparisons of 
contemporary Israeli policy to 
that of the Nazis” and “holding 
Jews collectively responsible for 
actions of the state of Israel” are 
anti-Semitic.
The BDS movement rou-
tinely violates every one of 
those points. That means that 
while it is not anti-Semitic to 
criticize Israel’
s policies, it is an 
act of hate to support Israel’
s 
elimination or to engage in 
rhetoric that is drenched in 
hatred for Jews. Universities 
that don’
t protect their students 
against that are now going to 
hear about it from the federal 
government.
Moreover, this effort has long 
had bipartisan support, as both 
Democrats like former Senate 
Majority Leader Harry Reid 
and Republicans sought to rem-
edy the loophole in the law that 
got anti-Semites on campus off 

the hook. Legislative fixes failed 
due to congressional gridlock.
There is nothing new in 
Trump’
s order. But the dif-
ference is that although the 
Obama administration was on 
record agreeing in principle to 
extending Title VI protections 
to Jews, it chose not to act, 
leaving Jewish students vul-
nerable. Trump’
s Department 
of Education has reversed that 
policy, calling for investiga-
tions into anti-Semitic activ-
ity at Rutgers University, the 
University of North Carolina 
and Duke University to revise 
curricula that were anti-
Semitic. Trump’
s measure 
merely makes that shift official.
Even those partisans whose 
bias against Trump has under-
mined their organization’
s 
missions, like Anti-Defamation 
League CEO and national 
director Jonathan Greenblatt, 
recognize this and have 
endorsed the executive order.
Left-wing groups like J Street 
and the anti-Zionist IfNotNow 
oppose it. The latter is appar-
ently worried that the thuggish 
behavior of their anti-Semitic 
allies in the ranks of Students 
for Justice in Palestine and 
on college faculties will now 
actually be held accountable for 

their actions.
It’
s not surprising that 
anti-Zionists don’
t wish to 
acknowledge that although 
Jews are not a race or a specific 
nation under American law, 
they are more than merely a 
faith. Jewish peoplehood is not 
an invention of white suprem-
acists; it is integral to Jewish 
identity. But if the goal is to 
deny Jews rights that are given 
to any other group — as is the 
case with anti-Semites — then 
efforts like those of Trump to 
defend Jews being attacked, 
marginalized, silenced and 
shunned on campus must be 
denounced.
The knee-jerk reaction of so 
many left-wingers to this move 
says more about them than the 
president. Trump’
s order, as well 
as his administration’
s exempla-
ry policies about anti-Semitism 
and support for Israel, doesn’
t 
obligate anyone to vote for 
him. But if you are so crazed 
by hatred that you reject or 
denounce actions that clearly 
help young Jews, then you are 
the one with the problem, not 
him. 

 
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of 
JNS—Jewish News Syndicate. 

TRUMP’
S ANTI-SEMITISM ORDER continued from page 6

Dos iz nit Rosh Hashanah, 
men ruft dos New Year 
A naye beginning 
far alle is here.
A yontef for Yidn and 
all of the rest
A fraylikher yontef, it’
s 
really the best.
So l’
chayim and cheers 
mit a glazl of beer.

Dos iz nit: this is not
Men ruft dos: we call it
A naye: a new
Far alle: for all
Yidn: Jews
A fraylikher yontef: a happy 
holiday
Mit a glazl: with a little glass

Yiddish Limerick

NEW YEAR’
S DAY

BY RACHEL KAPEN

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8 | DECEMBER 26 • 2019 

