1942 - 2019

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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