Judith Weiss exposes another rotten spot in the organization many Jewish parents trust to protect, enhance and enrich their kids' Jewish identity on college campuses. I'm all too familiar with Hillel's important mission. For a few years in the distant past, it was my job to deliver on it. How has it gone, at least in some places, so wrong?
Almost weekly, I receive solicitations from Hillel to support their efforts to defend Jewish students against antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on campus. And, look, to be honest, most Hillel organizations are doing exactly that. But without extensive research, it's hard to tell any more whether or to what extent the college or university your child is planning to attend will be one of the ones graced by such a presence.
While moderate Jewish voices are trying to encourage moderate Muslims to speak out, while even President Bush is trying to do the same, Brown University's Hillel director, Rabbi Serena Eisenberg, applauds her Jewish students for finding the writings of Nonie Darwish, one of those rare voices of Muslim moderation, disturbing.
"[O]ur Jewish student leaders were personally troubled by some of Darwish's writings that stereotyped religious Muslims," proclaims Eisenberg, "and I know they would be similarly troubled if a Jewish speaker who denigrated Judaism was brought to campus by a Muslim group."
Eisenberg is pleased that the Brown administration is trying to bring Darwish to campuses under other auspices. Just so long as they aren't those of The Foundation for Campus Jewish Life.
It's not as if this warped ecumenism on the part of Hillel staff is unique to Brown. Back in 2003, freelance journalist Rachel Neuwirth accused the Hillel director at UCLA, Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, of physically attacking her when she confronted him after a campus lecture about his intention to feature "palestinian moderate" Sari Nusseibeh at an upcoming Hillel function. Her lawsuit against Seidler-Feller and the LA Hillel Council has yet to reach resolution.
Given the poisonous atmosphere on college campuses today, Hillel really needs to spend more time promoting and supporting programs like these. And these. And less time on well-intentioned but misguided events like this.
