20 | FEBRUARY 2 • 2023 

OUR COMMUNITY

like these can have a strong and hurtful 
impact on members of our community. 
They are also an example of when criticism 
of a specific Israeli policy (in this case, a 
proposed ban of a flag) can escalate into 
anti-Israel or antisemitic rhetoric.
”
The letter repeated the organization’s 
mission of meeting the needs of students, 
supporting their growth and empowering 
their identity. 
In response to the anti-Israel climate that 
the protest may perpetuate on campus this 
semester, Hillel officials said the organiza-
tion is going to host a series of events for 
students that address the language of the 
protest, how it causes harm and how stu-
dents can talk about this openly with others 
on the issue. Hillel will also provide and 
encourage impacted students to share their 
concerns with the university administration 
and invites students of all backgrounds to 
participate in Hillel’s six-part educational 
series on antisemitism, which includes 
anti-Israel activism.
Also this semester, Hillel’s Israel Fellow 
will host a number of classes about Israel to 
deepen one’s understanding of the complex 
history of the country, among other Israeli-
focused programs. 
The grassroots organization Students 
Supporting Israel (SSI) said that the uni-
versity needs to investigate and hold SAFE 
accountable for incendiary activity that may 
lead to violence against Jewish students on 
campus. Following the Jan. 12 march, SSI 
circulated an online petition for the uni-
versity to adhere to its 2016-2021 Diversity 
Equity and Inclusion strategic plan, which 
states that the university will “uphold 
accountability in commitment to diversity, 
equity and inclusion.
”
In its petition, SSI pointed out that with 
a student body that is 14% Jewish, the 
University of Michigan has the fifth largest 
Jewish population of any American institu-
tion of higher education. 
“It is the obligation of University of 
Michigan to speak out and suspend SAFE 
from campus,
” stated the petition. “
At a time 
where words hold a powerful influence 
and the Jewish community is ranked the 
number one targeted community in the 
country per hate crimes in relation to global 
population, violent chants can, and have, 

easily escalated into violent actions against 
Zionists and Jewish students on campus.
” 
As examples, SSI Executive Director Ilan 
Sinelnikov, who is based in Delray Beach, 
Florida, pointed to examples in the spring 
of 2021 when Jews in Los Angeles and New 
York were attacked by violent protesters 
carrying Palestinian flags. In April 2022, 
brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at 
Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New 
Jersey, claim they were harassed by protest-
ers carrying a Palestinian flag shortly after a 
pro-Palestinian demonstration there. 
Sinelnikov said the petition is being cir-
culated widely and has already collected 
over 500 signatures. Though there is not 
an active SSI chapter in Ann Arbor, he said 
interested students can contact him to get 
involved through the organization’s website. 
“
After we wrote this petition, a few stu-
dents at the University of Michigan have 
begun to reach out to us,
” Sinelnikov said. 
“We plan to send this to the university pres-
ident and the University Board of Trustees, 
and we are petitioning the university to 
suspend SAFE’s access to apply for campus 
funding and suspend SAFE’s use of campus 
facilities for their events. 
“Because of this petition, we have heard 
from concerned students on campus, some 
who even saw the pro-intifada march. They 
are not happy about it and they want to get 
involved. So, if a bad event or a bad action 
such as this leads to more proactive actions 
on behalf of our Jewish students, that’s all 
we need. 
“In our organization, we teach students 
to not just keep quiet and keep their heads 
down when confronted with anti-Israel 
actions. We teach them to be proactive, visi-
ble and how to respond.
” 

A PARENT’S CONCERN
Parent Gayle Chait of Seal Beach, 
California, who had one daughter graduate 
from U-M and a second currently enrolled, 
said she had hoped Hillel’s statement would 
have been stronger. 
She said she has contacted Hillel, the 
University of Michigan administration and 
the Federation in Ann Arbor with con-
cern and got little to no personal response 
regarding the Jan. 12 march. 
“It’s time for this university to stop being 

complacent and complicit and do some-
thing,
” Chait said.
“I have not personally heard back from 
[University President Santa Ono] on a plan 
of action. I feel like Hillel and the Jewish 
Federation are not doing much in the way 
that I see from their actions or lack there-
of. When the university and Hillel do not 
swiftly and strongly denounce this hatred, it 
sets a precedent.
“The University of Michigan has done a 
great job not denouncing antisemitism on 
its campus,
” Chait said. 
“It also sends a message to Jewish stu-
dents: ‘Figure it out on your own because 
we aren’t here to protect you.
’ It also makes 
for an unsafe campus for Jewish stu- 
dents.
” 

continued from page 19

“DURING THIS RALLY, 
THE ORGANIZERS 
CHANTED ‘LONG LIVE 
THE INTIFADA,’ WHICH 
FOR MANY MEMBERS 
OF OUR JEWISH 
COMMUNITY RECALLS 
IMAGES OF VIOLENT 
UPRISINGS AND 
TERRORIST ATTACKS 
AGAINST ISRAELI 
CIVILIANS. WE SHARE 
YOUR CONCERNS 
REGARDING THIS 
LANGUAGE AND WANT 
TO LET YOU KNOW 
HOW OUR HILLEL HAS 
RESPONDED AND IS 
MOVING FORWARD.”

— MICHIGAN HILLEL

