FSU Senate Keeps New President Two Jewish Pioneers Are Building An
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Health & Fitness Section B WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 44, NO. 43 JUNE 26, 2020 4 TAMUZ, 5780 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ FSU senate keeps new president By Jackson Richman (JNS) —The student senate at Florida State University voted on June 18 not to remove its new president, despite his past anti-Semitic posts. The final tally was not disclosed. Ahmad Daraldik was selected by the Florida State University Student Senate to replace its previous president, Jack Den- ton, who was accused of racism. Along those lines, Daraldik faced calls to step down after screenshots surfaced of past anti-Semitic posts. “Being in a position of power Ahmad Daraldik presented Ahmad the opportu- nity to represent all students has made other troubling at FSU, including Jewish and remarks. Israeli students. He could have While claiming to oppose taken the opportunity to learn, anti-Semitism, he equated open up a dialogue with us, Israelis with Nazis and Pal- and work with us to create a estinian experiences with the shared understanding,” the Holocaust on a website he cre- group Noles for Israel said ated devoted to this falsehood. Josh Hasten in a statement on June 12. A caption on the website reads, Ari Abramowitz (l) and Jeremy Gimpel in front of their house of worship on Arugot Farms. “Instead, he chose to further “The Holocaust never ended, marginalize our community it just moved to Palestine… ” and create further polarization In 2012, he shared on his on our campus.” now-deleted Facebook ac- Two Jewish pioneers are building an “As a university Senate count a post that glorified president, Ahmad should not the swastika. be using his position to spread StandWithUs blasted Da- oasis amid uncertainty misinformation and slander raldik, who is a member of that will cause harm to an op- FSU’s chapter of Students for By Josh Hasten Gimpel. Both are rabbis, former Israeli While the farm is still under construc- pressed minority,” they added. Justice in Palestine, while also Defense Forces’ soldiers, best friends and tion with a grand opening slated for the Daraldik, a Palestinian criticizing the student senate (JNS) — Atop a nearly barren moun- business partners, who combined their summer of 2021, busloads of visitors Muslim, had previously posted for failing to remove him. tain ridge at the tip of southeastern life savings and moved with their families (thousands of tourists from Israel and on Instagram using language “The senate voted against Gush Etzion, with breathtaking views to a hilltop just outside the community abroad have already visited) to see the like “stupid Jew thinks he removing their president overlooking the Judean Desert and the of Ibei HaNahal in order to build what land blossoming before their eyes. is cool,” “#f***Israel” and based on blatantly false Dead Sea, two American immigrants are is known as Arugot Farms. However, there is catch. Sitting down “#f***theoccupation.” claims. It was repeatedly building an oasis — a working organic For the past two decades, the pair with JNS at the farm, the pair says that He responded with a recent stated that all of his anti- farm and spiritual retreat center — with teamed up utilizing various platforms, their property is actually located within video in which he defended his Semitic statements occurred the hope of turning the site into a global including radio and television, and going “Enclave #8,” on the conceptual map statements on Israel, citing many years ago, when in fact tourist destination. on speaking tours in Israel and abroad, an August 2019 trip to the he equated Israelis with Nazis Meet Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy sharing their love of the Land of Israel. Oasis on page 15A disputed territories where he in a video posted literally this allegedly had a negative expe- month,” SWU co-founder and rience at a Israeli checkpoint. CEO Roz Rothstein told JNS. “I was dehumanized, I was “The lies promoted by those House Dems push new letter aimed at humiliated, and I was upset,” tripping all over themselves said Daraldik, reported Cam- to defend him are almost as unifying the party behind a message to Israel pusReform. bad as his many anti-Semitic Nevertheless, Daraldik posts and comments.” By Ron Kampeas caucus in warning Israel against annexation of part of WASHINGTON (JTA) — the West Bank. Speak out against House Democrats have put The letter, now circulating together a letter that they among the party’s House cau- anti-Semitism on campus hope will unite their entire cus and obtained exclusively by the Jewish Telegraphic Local resident Donna Ren- tempt at apologizing for Agency, warns Israel about der wrote a letter to FSU Presi- his anti-Semitic act. Not the dangers annexation would dent Thrasher about student enough! Without a second pose to Israelis and to the president Ahmad Daraldik. thought, he should be expelled region. But it does not hint at She is encouraging others to from FSU. An apology is not any danger to the U.S.-Israel email him as well. enough. Removing him from relationship and restates the “Ahmad should be expelled his office is not enough. signers’ commitment to the and nothing less,” Render If he tweeted out stupid relationship. said. “A message has to be Black or Muslim, he would be The House formulation sent here. Anti-Semitism on out in a blink, and rightfully comes just weeks after a letter campuses have become much so. If you do not take swift with much tougher language too common and the media action to expel him, you will failed to garner a majority of largely remains quiet. We need be saying it is okay to be anti- the Democratic caucus in the to speak out and say this is Semitic. Senate. It seeks to reconcile Samuel Corum/Getty Images unacceptable.” I will be following this situ- two competing interests for Representative Ted Deutch, D-Fla., speaks in Washington, Feel free to cut and paste her ation and doing my best to let Democrats: sounding off D.C., Jan. 28, 2020. He is one of four authors of the letter. message below or write your the world know. I will ask my about a looming annexation own. President Thrasher’s friends to do the same thing. that the party believes would rael’s significant progress risks insecurity in Jordan, email address is president@ Sincerely, be disastrous for the Middle on normalization with Arab with serious ancillary risks fsu.edu. Donna Render East, and not alienating the states at a time when closer to Israel,” it says. “Finally, Dear President Thrasher, See pg. 3 for ACF petition. centrist pro-Israel movement, cooperation can contribute unilateral annexation could It has come to my atten- still seen as a critical compo- to countering shared threats,” create serious problems for Is- tion that your student body nent of support for Democrats reads the letter, sent to every rael with its European friends president, Ahmad Daraldik, in an election year. Democratic member in the and other partners around the tweeted out “Stupid Jew.” I “Unilateral annexation U.S. House of Representatives. am sure you are aware that would likely jeopardize Is- “Unilateral annexation Letter on page 15A he has made a lame at- PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, JUNE 26, 2020 Raffle to benefit Jewish life at UCF is in full swing Sammy Maurer picking up her Shabbat to GO package. 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