The ‘stiff-necked’ people
To Hannah Wren (“My biggest college fear: Anti-Israel bullies, lies,” op-ed, June 28): When you go off to college and are confronted by the anti-Israel hate, remember that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Jews are standing right there with you. You are not alone.
You are part of, and representing, an incredible heritage. I can’t explain in satisfactory, rational terms why we are “hated.” But I feel extremely lucky to be Jewish, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
We are ordinary people. We are also extraordinary. Just flick through any issue of j., for example, to sample the richness of Jewish life all around the world.
One thing we don’t do though, is hate. Our history suggests we have enough justification. Yet, we don’t. Hate is a waste of time and energy. We have survived, and thrived, because even in the face of our biggest tragedies and ongoing threats, we look for ways to move on and forward.
We are a “stiff-necked” people, but we are also a practical people. Good luck.
Jeremy Smith | Berkeley
‘Hate indoctrination central’
Hannah Wren finally said it. Thank you for featuring this high school student’s fearful perspective on today’s college harassment of pro-Israel students. We never dreamed the “free speech” we fought for would devolve into Jew-hatred.
I agree with the writer from Santa Cruz who suggested Jewish parents withdraw money and students from the U.C. system. I suggest going to Hillsdale College in Michigan, where the focus is study of the U.S. Constitution. Not just Jews but all California taxpayers should learn that the U.C. system has become hate indoctrination central.
Avoid the humanities and social sciences. The point is no longer critical thinking but teaching hatred of Israel and America. Even the regents, who have publicly opposed BDS, are considering its major proponent as student regent.
Thyme S. Siegel | Berkeley
Sounding the alarm
Hannah Wren sounded an alarm for the Jewish community that needs to be heard. The community has tried hard to counter delegitimization of Israel at college campuses, but has not succeeded yet. What is needed are community leaders who will speak out more strongly and more often, and more lay people activists, who will rebut every anti-Israel lie.
Hannah is wise, and she and all the other Jewish college students deserve a safe environment so they can study and enjoy college without any harassment by anti-Israel political activists.
Norman G. Licht | San Carlos
Petty and spiteful?
I am writing to express my sincere shock that a longtime, dedicated Jewish professional like Michal Kohane would be fired from her job as director of the Israel Center by the federation for breaking “press rules.”
For those who are not familiar with the case, Michal wrote an excellent opinion piece on eJewish
Philanthropy.com (“40 Plus and Screwed: More on Less Young Adult Engagement,” June 19) about her frustration with donors’ overly focused attention on engaging young people and neglecting the needs of us older folks.
From what I understand, she was expressing her own opinion and wanted to foster a genuine dialogue with like-minded Jewish professionals. Her writing style is entertaining, well written and perhaps a bit too blunt for the soft-skinned.
Her abrupt firing for “breaking the rules” is not right or the way you treat long-serving, incredibly hardworking Jewish professionals who have given so much to our local Jewish community. By the way, no one ever got rich working on Jewish and Israel programming.
I think the federation needs to rethink this decision, admit that both sides made mistakes, shake hands and move on.
Forgiveness and respect are Jewish values, not what appears to me to be petty, mean-spirited spitefulness.
Jeff Rosenberg | San Francisco
Bombast and bunkum
That interesting June 14 letter from Berkeley — where else? — makes a good point (“First Amendment trumps hurt feelings”). Our Constitution protects free speech even when it causes hurt feelings or even outrage. That certainly includes the bombast and bunkum that characterizes much of the anti-Israel rhetoric heard on campus and elsewhere.
Standing up for Israel these days is not a business for sissies; we need to be prepared for that reality. But I recall seeing many photos of demonstrators holding signs proclaiming “No free speech for fascists/racists/Zionists,” etc.
Some years back, protesters in Berkeley blocked the entrance to an auditorium where Bibi Netanyahu (then out of office) was to speak, causing the event to be canceled. Israeli officials were subjected to systematic disruption and harassment during speeches at U.C. Irvine and San Jose State. And a U.C. faculty member, after giving a vigorous pro-Israel speech off-campus in another state, has been subjected to an orchestrated campaign of attack that at times has reached the level of viciousness.
It seems that some folks so love the First Amendment that they will defend to the death the right of everyone to agree with them. A single standard, please! Goose sauce/gander sauce.
Eli Taub | Los Altos
Thank you to Alicia and the Boys
Bravo to Alicia Keys and the Pet Shop Boys for confirming that they would perform in Israel (“Pet Shop Boys join Alicia Keys — refuse to cancel Israel concerts,” June 21). They join Paul McCartney, Elton John, Rihanna and others who have rejected the false messages of hate propagated by extremists like Alice Walker.
Israel is a free, vibrant and diverse society where women are full citizens, free speech is guaranteed and diversity is celebrated. Israel’s people come from all over the globe. Its Arab minority is represented on Israel’s supreme court and in its Knesset, with greater rights than the people of any majority-Arab state. Israel is also the only Western nation whose African population arrived not in chains as slaves, but as free people welcomed home with open arms — including this year’s “Miss Israel” beauty pageant winner, Yityish Aynaw, an immigrant from Ethiopia. As for peace efforts, they have failed due to Palestinian intransigence, despite Israel’s eagerness to make peace.
It’s commendable that, in the words of Keys’ beautiful song “No One,” she won’t allow anyone to get in the way of what she and her adoring Israeli fans are feeling for each other.
Stephen A. Silver | San Francisco