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December 22-28, 2017 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLVI, Number 51 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK The Trump team’s surprising comments on who owns the Western Wall, explained By Ron Kampeas done deal? Is this a depar- worship at the Western Wall during its the most sensitive patch of territory. Notably, WASHINGTON (JTA) ANALYSIS ture from American policy? 1949-1967 occupation of Jerusalem became Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who – A week after President Here’s a primer on who a sore point for Diaspora Jews, as well as welcomed Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem Donald Trump’s historic claims the Western Wall for Israelis. A photo by David Rubinger of as Israel’s capital, has not commented on the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a and what it means for the peace process. three paratroopers, awestruck by the Wall aide’s statement on the Western Wall. top aide said there was no way Israel would Why is the Western Wall so important after they helped capture it during the 1967 Why is the Western Wall so important not control the Western Wall. “We cannot to Jews? Six-Day War, has become iconic for Israelis. to Muslims? envision any situation under which the The Western Wall is the outer wall and Does Israel claim the Western Wall? The wall abuts the Temple Mount – the Western Wall would not be part of Israel,” the largest remnant of the Second Temple, It almost, nearly, really close to certainly holiest site in Judaism and the third holiest in an administration official said December 15 which was destroyed by Rome in 70 C.E. does. Israel extended administrative control Islam. Muslims believe its Al Aqsa mosque in a background briefing for reporters ahead during the Jewish wars. Since 135 C.E. – the to eastern Jerusalem, including the Old City, is where Muhammad ascended into heaven of Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Israel launch of the Jewish exile in the wake of within a month or so of the Six-Day War. It in his Night Journey. this week, which was to include an official the failed Bar Kochba revolt – Jews have declared the “complete and unified Jerusa- As Zionists gained political and military visit to the Wall. (On December 18, the directed prayers from wherever they are lem” the capital of Israel in a 1980 law that strength in British Mandate Palestine in visit was postponed until mid-January amid toward the destroyed Temple. was amended in 2000 to define borders that the 1920s, the Palestinian leadership also the furor over Trump’s proclamation on There are indications throughout the included the Old City; the law refers to the attached political significance to the Wall, Jerusalem, The Washington Post reported.) Dark and Middle Ages of Jewish worship “holy places” as being under Israeli protec- advancing theories that Jewish claims to The official also cautioned that Trump at the Wall, but the Encyclopedia Judaica tion. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation the site would eventually infringe on the was not determining Jerusalem’s borders. dates permanent worship at the site to the is a department of the Israeli government. plateau it abutted. Palestinian attacks on “As the president said, the specific bound- early 1500s, probably a result of an influx The caveat: The 1980 law and its 2000 Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall in aries of sovereignty of Israel are going to of Jewish refugees from Spain into the city. amended version are declarative; neither uses August 1929 launched the bloody anti-Jew- be part of the final status agreement,” the Depictions of pious Jews praying at the site the word “annexation” or “sovereignty.” Suc- ish riots that year – a galvanizing moment official said. were a cliche by the late 19th century. cessive Israeli governments have been careful for Zionism, to a degree uniting disparate Is Israel’s claim to the Western Wall a Jordan’s almost absolute ban on Jewish not to close off negotiations over the Old City, See “Wall” on page 7 Chanukah celebrated around the community The Beth David Choir provided entertainment at the Beth David Sisterhood Chanukah program with Songs of Tradition. L-r: Rabbi Benny Kellman, Gerry Hubal, Aaron Alweis, Rabbi Moshe Shmaryahu and Steve Gilbert. (Photo by Nancy Basmann. See more photos on page 5.) Students from Hillel Academy recited the blessing over the Chanukah candles during the community celebration at the Jewish Community Center on December 13. Holding the candle is Rabbi Moshe Shmaryahu, head of the school’s Judaic studies. Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell lit the first candle of Chanukah with students and teachers at the Temple Concord-Temple Israel Hebrew School. Standing behind the Students from the Jewish Community Center’s Early Childhood Center performed during students are (l-r) Religious School Directer Orly Shoer and teacher Karen Hammer. the community celebration at the Jewish Community Center on December 13. (See more (See more photos on page 5.) photos on page 7.) INSIDE THIS ISSUE Study says... Congregational notes News in brief... Special Sections A new study on four college Area congregations announce Palestinians to seek full U.N. Legal Notices ................................... 4 campuses finds few college upcoming events, services and membership and a U.N. vote on Book Review .................................... 4 students want to boycott Israel. office closings. Jerusalem’s status; and more. Personal and Business Services ..... 5 ........................................Page 2 ........................................Page 6 ........................................Page 8 Classifieds ....................................... 8 Page 2 - The Reporter December 22-28, 2017 Few college students want to boycott Israel, study of four campuses finds By Josefin Dolsten antisemitism, though a higher proportion were exposed to Most Jewish students did not place issues relating to NEW YORK (JTA) – A study of four U.S. colleges hostile remarks about Israel. Fewer than one in five Jewish Jews, Judaism or Israel as among the “most pressing” found little support for academic boycotts of Israel among students said they experienced discrimination due to their topics on campus – 20 percent or fewer of Jewish students the students. faith. For most kinds of discrimination the number was listed such issues among the top three “pressing” ones on At each of the schools studied – Brandeis, Harvard, lower, but the report included what the study termed as their campuses. the University of Pennsylvania and the University of “microaggressions,” which included being asked in class The Israel advocacy group StandWithUS told JTA that Michigan – less than 15 percent of non-Jewish students to offer the perspective of one’s identity group, as well the findings were in line with its work on campuses. “Based expressed support for a boycott of Israeli academic institu- as being the object of jokes or teasing. Between 7 and 21 on our experience, we agree that there is minimal support tions and scholars, according to a study by the Steinhardt percent of Jewish students at the schools said they had been among students for academic boycotts and other anti-Israel Social Research Institute at Brandeis. Only 7 percent of the subject of microaggressions or teasing. campaigns,” Max Samarov, the group’s executive director students at Michigan and Harvard expressed support for Most Jewish students – 80 percent or more at all the cam- of research and campus strategy, said in an e-mail. “While an academic boycott of Israel, while that number was 8 puses – said their school did not have a hostile environment some student governments have passed divestment, most and 12, respectively, at Penn and Brandeis. At each of toward Jews, but a higher proportion said campuses had a have rejected it and there has not been a single successful the campuses, Jews make up more than 10 percent of the hostile environment toward Israel. At Michigan, 51 percent divestment referendum against Israel. Most students are undergraduate student body. of Jewish students thought the campus had a hostile envi- simply not engaged in the issue and others are standing The study, which was released earlier in December, also ronment toward the Jewish state. That number was 32, 34 up to these campaigns of hate.” found that relatively few Jewish students were exposed to and 22 percent, respectively, at Harvard, Penn and Brandeis. Polling for the study was conducted via an e-mail survey. Opinion Ending the silence on abuse By Jonathan S. Tobin listening or indifferent about what was going on under ment, keeping quiet does nobody any good. The mindset JNS their noses. that regarded the reporting of such crimes and misbehavior In the last two months, the avalanche of stories about The Conservative movement responsible for the USY as bad form or disreputable scandal mongering, or what sexual abuse and harassment has touched virtually every program in question was not alone in this respect as such Jewish tradition regards as “lashon hara,” is a big part sector of American society. The revelations about deeply scandals have, in one form or another, touched other Jewish of the problem that enabled the abusers to get away with troubling behavior on the part of politicians, journalists denominations. To its credit, the United Synagogue of Con- their crimes for so long. When The New York Jewish Week and figures in the entertainment world have transfixed servative Judaism appears now to have taken appropriate reported on the abuse going on at the Orthodox movement’s the country. As more victims come forward to tell their action, not only to sever any ties with alleged abusers, NCSY in 2000, it was subjected to a storm of criticism stories, the consequences have gone beyond the disgrace but also to ensure, as much as it is possible, that similar from those who thought this wasn’t the sort of thing Jewish of some prominent individuals, the end of careers and, in misconduct doesn’t recur.

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