APRIL 20, 2017 – 24 NISAN, 5777 JEWISHVOL 41, NO 19 JOURNAL JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG “Surprise“Surprise Attack”Attack” onon IsraelIsrael atat TuftsTufts A resolution recently approved by the Tufts University student PENNY SHWARTZ “It would appear their strategy was a surprise attack on the pro- senate that calls on the college to divest from four companies that do Special to the Journal Israel community on campus,” Robert Trestan told the Journal in a business with Israel has left students active in Tufts Hillel unsettled phone conversation, emphasizing that it cut off an opportunity for but resolute that the vote does not define or reflect the strong and students to discuss and debate the issue. vibrant Jewish life on the liberal arts campus that includes several other student “It’s disrespectful to the campus community to sneak something in this way groups that support Israel. and then claim victory,” added Trestan, regional director of the New England Anti The non-binding measure submitted by members of Students for Justice in Defamation League. Palestine, “A Resolution Calling for Tufts University to End Investments in The Israeli In a campus-wide statement, Tufts University President Anthony Monaco said, Occupation,” passed the Tufts Community Union “We have made clear in the past our opposition Senate on a vote of 17 in favor and six opposed, with to calls to boycott Israeli academic institutions.” eight abstentions, on Sunday night, April 9, a day Monaco also expressed concern with the timing of before the start of Passover, when many Jewish stu- the resolution, immediately before Passover. dents had already left to celebrate the holiday with For its part, members of the Tufts chapter of SJP their families. expressed pride in the adoption of the resolution. It calls for divestment from, or not to begin invest- “Tonight, the Tufts student body answered the ing in Elbit Systems, G4S, Northrop Grumman and call of the Palestinian people to divest from these Hewlett Packard Enterprise and to screen its invest- four companies that are profiting off of the occupa- ments for human rights compliance. tion of Palestine, among a host of other gross viola- The resolution, submitted just three days before tions of human rights.” Parker Breza, a member of the vote, took Hillel leaders by surprise, according to Tufts SJP and TCU Senate said in a statement. Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, Neubauer executive director More than 100 students were present at the stu- of Tufts Hillel. dent senate meeting, according to the Tufts Daily “We had zero warning,” Summit told the Journal. student newspaper. In light of concerns about the “We thought it was shameful and intolerant that they timing of the vote, students were offered a chance did this on the night before Passover. There was a to submit online comments in advance, which strong call by students to postpone the vote,” both were read aloud at the start of the meeting, accord- before and during the meeting, he said. But there ing to Adam Rapfogel, the Council’s parliamentar- were enough votes to push it through, he acknowl- ian. Rapfogel, a sophomore, told the Journal he Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, executive director of the Tufts Hillel, edged. spoke informally last Friday with newly accepted high school was speaking for himself, and not on behalf of the Others also faulted the process including the New students and their parents who visited the Granoff Family Hillel Council. England office of the American Jewish Congress and Center. The recent student senate vote calling on the school to As parliamentarian, Rapfogel, who is Jewish, the New England Anti Defamation League, both of divest from Israel does not represent the climate for Jewish stu- does not vote on resolutions before the student which issued statements criticizing the vote. dents on campus, he told them. continued on page 5 WHAT’S NEXT ON YOUR TO-DO LIST? Get the financing you need to tackle your next project with a HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT. Remodel the kitchen Repair the roof Shop for the holidays % Go on vacation Finish the basement APR* Consolidate credit cards 3.50 Call 877-MY-METRO or visit metrocu.org. Pay tuition *Annual Percentage Rate is variable based on the Prime Rate published in the Wall Street Journal and adjusts monthly. Prime as of 3/31/17 is 4.00%. Maximum APR is 18% and minimum is 3.50%. Loan to value not to exceed 80% or 75% for condos. LTV may be reduced based on creditworthiness. Available on 1-4 family primary residences in MA or southern NH. New lines up to $500,000. Property insurance required. Early termination fee of $500 applies for lines closed within first 36 months not to exceed 2% of the credit limit. $135 to $525 fee if appraisal is required. $140 review fee if property is in a trust. NMLS# 198524 The Jewish Journal MA is a nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and organizations. Email [email protected]. 2 THE JEWISH JOURNAL MA – JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG – APRIL 20, 2017 COMMUNITY NEWS ‘Golda’s Balcony’ a lesson in history that resonates today SHEILA BARTH a person – that strength, wit, them and feel the energy,” she Special to the Journal no-nonsense approach to life, said. a strong sense of personal She added doing a dramat- hink multi-award winners opinion, and big heart linked ic and moving role that has director Judith Braha and to Golda. Having Bobbie por- humor is special to her. “Golda Tactress Bobbie Steinbach, tray her made it a natural fit was multi-faceted – very funny- and you know something sen- for us,” said Braha. “There’s a lot very witty – dry wit. Without the sational is going to occur on of information people get from humor, it would be difficult to stage. Braha and Steinbach have that play,” Steinbach added. sit through because it’s so dark. worked together eight times in “Historically, she’s [Meir] well She loved men and relationships various Boston and area the- known and was beloved here. with men, and men liked her.” aters, making theatrical magic. You couldn’t get into her appear- “We spent a lot of time how Besides building a solid work- ances here in the US.” she would personify them,” said ing relationship together, they’re Braha said, “We both felt Braha. “It was Bobbie’s very par- good friends, who share each strongly that the play says some- ticular sense of Golda’s essence. other’s philosophy, work ethic, thing about making decisions that drives what she’s doing on and goals. that guide the course of history stage. We felt Bobbie had so Both women have long, pres- – that’s not happening in the many Golda-like elements in tigious, storied careers. Braha US. Steinbach added, “It’s a gift her, we wanted her to do HER Andrew Brilliant/New Repertory Theatre has taught at colleges through- Bobbie Steinbach in New Rep’s “Golda’s Balcony” when you have a role that’s like Golda,” out New England, teaches the that, where you can embody “Golda was an amazing MFA Directing program at focuses on Israel’s first-and-only questions,” said Braha, and somebody who was so power- woman, sort of a portrait in con- Boston University, has been a female prime minister, Golda added her “two cents” in how ful, so idealistic, and so wanted trast – blunt yet full of feeling,” director since 1979 and is a long- Meir, her rise to power, and her to portray Meir and people with to create a safe haven and who Braha said. “She had a way of time member and director in the intense goal to create and main- whom Meir conversed. “We feel also, on the other end of it, had boiling things down in compli- Boston theater community. tain a Jewish homeland while so comfortable doing that. It a dark side, where she wasn’t cated circumstances. She was Steinbach also has directed, trying to keep the small strip cuts through the red tape that able to give both to the state a woman dealing with very she teaches and she coaches of land surrounded on all sides gets between actor and direc- and her family – her husband aggressive men and managed to high school students for their by hostile Arab countries from tor.” “When a director and actor for instance. To have that kind hold her own way. auditions for college theater being annihilated. get together and speak the same of gift of a role is a very special “She wasn’t a feminist. she programs. She has previously “It’s kind of sad, because language – theatrical – then I thing. was very much her own per- taught at Suffolk and Lesley uni- Israel is stuck with the same sit- think that’s when magic can hap- “I have a scene partner – the son when it wasn’t common or versities, worked extensively for uations years later. In terms of pen,” added Steinbach. “I think audience. Nobody’s on stage fashionable... She was a gutsy Shakespeare Company, and is the world and the Middle East, that has happened in a fantastic with me except l have these peo- person. There’s a lot to admire the 2016 Huntington Theatre things have remained stuck.” way with the two of us. It’s fun ple I’m talking about. I partner there, but she also struggled a Company’s Lunt-Fontanne When New Repertory Artistic that we kind of grew up together with the audience – I can hear lot.” Fellow. Director Jim Petosa asked in the theater here.” Although Braha and Steinbach’s latest Steinbach to star in “Golda’s Golda Meir was a complicated coup, “Golda’s Balcony,” William Balcony,” she was delighted he person, Steinbach delivered a Marblehead woman helps Gibson’s one-act, one-woman, chose Braha to direct it.