U.S. Department of Education Reopens Rutgers Case, Considers New Definition of Antisemitism by JACKSON RICHMAN “ZOA Filed the First Case of Campus [Of Antisemitism]

Jewish Federation of NEPA Non-profit Organization 601 Jefferson Ave. U.S. POSTAGE PAID The Scranton, PA 18510 Permit # 184 Watertown, NY Change Service Requested Published by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania VOLUME XI, NUMBER 18 SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 U.S. Department of Education reopens Rutgers case, considers new definition of antisemitism BY JACKSON RICHMAN “ZOA filed the first case of campus [of antisemitism]. We wholly support this told JNS: “EMET is extremely grateful (JNS) – At the same time that the U.S. antisemitism that the U.S. Department of effort by the DOE, and hope this will be to Kenneth Marcus, an outstanding de- Department of Education is reopening a Education’s Office for Civil Rights ever utilized and applied in the face of those fender of civil rights, for using the State seven-year-old case concerning Rutgers agreed to investigate under Title VI of who alienate the pro-Israel and Jewish Department definition of antisemitism, University allowing discrimination against the Civil Rights Act, ensuring that Jewish community on campus.” which includes examples of demonizing Jewish students, the agency is expected to students would be protected from harass- Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, director and placing a double standard upon Isra- adopt a new definition of antisemitism. In ment and discrimination in the same way of the AMCHA Initiative, said, “The el. For far too long, Jewish students on doing so, Assistant Secretary of Education that other ethnic and racial groups have International Holocaust Remembrance campuses have been subject to harassment for Civil Rights Kenneth L. Marcus said been protected since the law was enacted Alliance definition of antisemitism, used and discrimination simply for supporting that the Obama administration neglected in 1964,” Klein said. by our own State Department to identify the state of Israel.” evidence suggesting that the New Jersey The complaint alleges that a Jewish incidents of antisemitism across the globe Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO state school aided and abetted a hostile student was physically threatened by the and endorsed by more than 50 countries, of StandWithUs, an international Israel campus for Jewish students, according to outreach coordinator of the university’s is the global gold standard for identifying education organization, said “We believe The New York Times, which first reported Center for Middle East Studies, who post- all current manifestations of antisemitism in open debate about Israel, freedom of the move. ed antisemitic comments about the student – both classic antisemitism and the brazen, speech and protecting students from dis- In his role, Marcus, who founded and on Facebook. Another claim points to a in-your-face, Israel-related antisemitism crimination. That is why we fully support led the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Hu- Jewish student being physically harassed that we see more and more of on campuses the DOE in adopting the IHRA definition man Rights Under Law, leads the office by other students on Facebook. these days. of antisemitism. The E.U., Canada, U.S. that enforces civil-rights laws prohibiting Finally, at an anti-Israel event titled “In fact, our research demonstrates State Department and most of the orga- schools from discriminating based on “Never Again for Anyone,” an anti-Israel that while incidents of classic antisemi- nized Jewish community already use this ethnicity, color, race, disability, national student group called “Belief Awareness tism continue to outnumber incidents of definition. The campaign against it is a origin and age. The Education Department Knowledge and Action” discriminated Israel-related antisemitism, it is the Isra- cynical effort to shield anti-Israel and will be using the U.S. State Department’s against pro-Israel and Jewish students el-related incidents that are significantly antisemitic extremists from accountability working definition of antisemitism. by imposing and selectively enforcing an more like to contribute to a hostile campus for their hate.” The Zionist Organization of America, admission fee against them. for Jewish students,” she continued. “The Earlier this year, the Anti-Semitism which filed a complaint against Rutgers, Alums for Campus Fairness responded IHRA definition accurately and appro- Awareness Act was introduced in both praised the move. “The ZOA has for years that “while free speech is essential on cam- priately captures how antisemitism is houses of Congress. If enacted, it would been fighting antisemitism, standing up for pus, hate speech is something that must expressed on college campuses today, and require the Department of Education to Jewish students and against antisemites to be addressed directly. Many countries all we commend the Department of Education adopt the State Department definition in make American campuses “safe spaces” over the world recognize the challenges for using it.” determining whether certain incidents may for Jews,” ZOA President Morton Klein that face the Jewish people and therefore Sarah Stern, founder and president violate anti-discrimination laws like Title said in a statement. have recognized this working definition of Endowment for Middle East Truth, VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Israelis want American Jewish help in promoting religious pluralism, study finds BY BEN SALES points since 2012. Seventy percent back (JTA) – For years, American Jewish government recognition of all forms of groups have agitated for more religious marriage, including civil marriage – an pluralism in Israel. And year after year, increase from 53 percent in 2009. Six- the Israeli government has acted as if At right: Conservative ty-six percent support the three major the country’s demographic and political Jews prayed at Rob- denominations of Judaism – Orthodox, realities make any kind of substantial inson’s Arch in Conservative and Reform – enjoying equal reform impossible. Jerusalem on July 30, status in Israel. The latest version of an annual survey 2014. (Photo by Robert Nearly half support recognition of all disputes that claim: It shows that Jewish Swift/Flash90) forms of Jewish conversion, while an ad- Israelis disapprove of how their govern- ditional 28 percent support a liberalization ment handles religious issues. It shows that of current conversion regulations. More they want more liberal religious policies. See “Study” on page 6 And it says they want American Jews to intervene in the debate. The one wrinkle is that when Jewish supports religious pluralism. The survey As it does every year, the survey found Federation Israelis talk about “religious freedom,” questioned 800 Jewish Israelis in July that Jewish Israelis are far more liberal on they are mostly talking about a different set and has a margin of error of 3.5 percent. religious issues than their government. of issues than their American counterparts. “The overwhelming majority views The government’s religious policies on Facebook American Jewish institutions have poured negatively the government’s policy on are largely administered by the haredi The Jewish Federation of Northeast- their energy into changes at the Western religion and state, opposes practically Orthodox Chief Rabbinate, which only ern Pennsylvania now has a page on Wall and blocking restrictions on Jewish every aspect of any decision or any issue, recognizes Orthodox rabbis, Orthodox Facebook to let community members conversion. But Jewish Israelis mostly whether it’s the [military] draft or mar- weddings, Orthodox conversion and Or- know about upcoming events and keep care about quotidian issues like public riage or public transit on Shabbat,” said thodox kosher certification. Israel bans connected. transit on Saturdays and government Rabbi Uri Regev, the founder and CEO nearly all public transit on Shabbat. It funding of yeshivas. of Hiddush. “The public does want free- does not recognize same-sex marriages Those are some of the takeaways from dom, does oppose government decisions performed in the country. Candle lighting an annual survey of attitudes among Jew- and policies. The public wants Diaspora But two-thirds of Jewish Israelis September 21 ............................. 6:44 pm ish Israelis on religion and state conducted Jewish involvement in promoting reli- support separation of religion and state, September 23 ............................. 6:40 pm by Hiddush, an Israeli organization that gious freedom.” representing an increase of 10 percentage September 24 .................. after 7:39 pm INSIDE THIS ISSUE September 28 .............................6:31 pm September 30 ............................ 6:28 pm Campaign Chai-lites Sukkot Starting a tradition October 1 ...........................after 7:27 pm A look at the programs the Jewish Sukkot recipes; a new book looks The Russian village of Lyubavichi October 5 ..................................... 6:20 pm Agency for Israel runs, which at the etrog fruit and how it is hopes to become a pilgrimage site PLUS receive UJA Campaign funds. part of changing Jewish customs. for Chabad-Lubavitch followers. Opinion .......................................................2 Story on page 5 Stories on pages 12 and 17 Story on page 15 D’var Torah ...............................................8 2 THE REPORTER ■ SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 A MATTER OF OPINION Why Jews now find themselves in the eye of the Western storm BY MELANIE PHILLIPS Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel In Britain, too, it now appears, antisem- blame because of their “inordinate attention

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