Jewish Candidates in the 2018 Congressional Elections: The
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Editorials ..................................... 4A Op-Ed .......................................... 5A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................ 11A JTA News Briefs ........................ 13A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 43, NO. 07 OCTOBER 19, 2018 10 CHESHVAN, 5779 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ A culture of discrimination? By Jackson Richman on her promise to write 20-year-old junior Jake Secker (JNS)—The University of a letter of recommendation to Michigan is again under fire study abroad for a semester at for anti-Israel sentiment as a Tel Aviv University. pro-BDS instructor rejected a “I’m so sorry that I didn’t Jewish student’s request for a ask before agreeing to write letter of recommendation to your recommendation letter, study in Israel for a semester, but I regrettably will not be just a few months after an able to write on your behalf,” associate professor refused Lucy Peterson said in her to do the same for student email to Secker. “Along with Abigail Ingber. numerous other academics in In August, associate profes- the U.S. and elsewhere, I have sor in the American Culture pledged myself to a boycott of Department John Cheney- Israeli institutions as a way Lippold wrote to Ingber via of showing solidarity with email: “As you may know, Palestine.” many university departments University spokesperson have pledged an academic Rick Fitzgerald has stated on boycott against Israel in sup- the record that “the univer- port of Palestinians living sity is prohibited by federal in Palestine. This boycott law from discussing student Illustration by Lior Zaltzman/Getty Images includes writing letters of matters without the written (l-r): Gary Trauner; Sen. Dianne Feinstein; Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.; Sen. Ben Cardin; and Sen. Bernie Sanders. recommendation for students permission of the student.” planning to study there... For Secker is a friend of Ing- reasons of these politics, I ber’s. He did not respond to must rescind my offer to write JNS for a comment, nor did Jewish candidates in the 2018 your letter.” Peterson. He is now undergoing dis- Groups like the Anti-Def- ciplinary action. amation League condemned congressional elections: The Senate But the problem is bigger the move and called on the than Cheney-Lippold, as fur- university to address the is- By Ron Kampeas running for the House. There are two less than 2 percent of the population, ther evidenced by a second, sue of students being denied incumbents and 13 challengers. comprise 6 percent of the candidates). nearly identical incident letters of recommendation to WASHINGTON (JTA)—There are 56 Additionally, two House candidates, There are moderate Republicans who that affected another Jewish study in Israel, despite the uni- candidates for Congress who identify both Democrats, have Jewish fathers and would rather not mention President student. versity’s policy against BDS. as Jewish. say that shaped their outlook, but they Donald Trump’s name while campaign- Last week, a graduate Among them are 41 Democrats: five are do not identify as Jewish. At least three ing, right-wing Republicans who eagerly teaching instructor reneged Culture on page 14A running for the Senate—three incum- House hopefuls in the same party—two embrace the Trump endorsement and bents and two challengers. Among the incumbents and one challenger—have other right-wing Republicans who peddle 36 in the U.S. House of Representatives, a Jewish spouse and are raising their “alt-right” tropes. 18 are incumbents and 18 are challeng- children as Jewish. There are centrist Democrats who Michigan professor ers. (Three incumbent Jewish House Politically and geographically, they staunchly defend Israel, leftist Democrats Democrats are retiring.) are as diverse a bunch as the 900 candi- The 15 Republican candidates are dates for Congress (Jews, who make up Senate on page 14A faces discipline (JNS)—A University of Michigan professor, citing his Nikki Haley, fierce defender of Israel, support for the BDS move- ment in denying a student’s request in August for a letter resigns as US ambassador to the UN of recommendation for a semester-long study-abroad By Josefin Dolsten and President Donald Trump cultural affiliate, and pushed program at Tel Aviv University, Ron Kampeas in an Oval Office appearance for the defunding of UNRWA, was sanctioned on Tuesday by with Haley on Tuesday morn- the agency that administers the university. NEW YORK (JTA)—Nikki ing praised the former South assistance to Palestinian “As you may know, many Haley, the U.S. envoy to the Carolina governor and said refugees and their descen- university departments have United Nations and a strong that about six months ago, she dants. She threw a party for pledged an academic boycott defender of Israel in the world told him that she was ready to countries that did not vote to against Israel in support of body, will leave her post by the leave by the end of this year. condemn the United States Palestinians living in Pales- end of this year. “She’s a fantastic person, for recognizing Jerusalem as tine,” John Cheney-Lippold, very importantly, but she’s Israel’s capital. an associate professor in the also somebody that gets it,” Haley at the Oval Office American Culture depart- Trump said. event said Trump earned in- ment, wrote to University John Cheney-Lippold, an The announcement has es- ternational respect by deliver- of Michigan student Abigail associate professor in the pecially shocked supporters of ing on his warnings, including Ingber in an email in August. American Culture depart- Israel. “Whatever Trump may on Iran and Israel. “This boycott includes writing ment at the University of have gotten wrong, his choice “They get it when the letters of recommendation for Michigan, cited the BDS of Nikki Haley as ambassador president says he means busi- students planning to study movement in his decision to to the U.N. was a master- ness,” she said. “If you look at there... For reasons of these withhold a letter recommen- stroke,” the Boston Globe‘s the anti-Israel bias and the US Ambassador to the UN politics, I must rescind my dation for a Jewish student Jeff Jacoby wrote recently. strength and courage the Nikki Haley offer to write your letter.” seeking to study abroad in CNN has referred to her as president showed in moving The punishments against Israel. “the breakout star” of Trump’s the embassy” to Jerusalem. returned the compliment on Cheney-Lippold include a cabinet. She especially praised Twitter. stern warning, ineligibility for Science and the Arts, on Sept. Haley, a moderate on Jared Kushner, Trump’s “She is a bold reformer a merit increase for the 2018- 20, where he acknowledged Trump’s foreign policy team, Jewish son-in-law. “Jared is and has been an unwavering 19 academic year, in addition he was wrong regarding had a warm relationship a hidden genius that no one champion of truth, principled to being ineligible to take an university policies on the with Israeli Prime Minister understands,” she said. Haley realism and integrity within accredited sabbatical until the BDS movement and instead Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently joined Kushner the United Nations,” Ivanka fall 2020 semester. inserted “a personal stance,” frequently praised her for in shaping his Middle East Trump said on Twitter. “Jared Ingber’s family found out criticizing what she saw as peace proposal, which no one and I are grateful for her about the course of action Professor on page 15A bias against the Jewish state outside the small team has friendship—a true blessing through a Freedom of Infor- at the U.N. seen. “It is so unbelievably in our lives!” mation Act request, obtained The most consequential well done,” she said of the Haley was a star in the by JNS. actions she took had to do proposal. center-right pro-Israel com- Cheney-Lippold met with with Israel: She pulled out of Ivanka Trump, Kushner’s Elizabeth Cole, interim dean UNESCO, the United Nations wife and Trump’s daughter, Haley on page 13A of the College of Literature, PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, OCTOBER 19, 2018 Twins honor their 70th bar mitzvah anniversary Army and after tours in Korea, Laos, Okinawa, Germany and many stateside posts, Herbert retired in 1983 with 25 years of active service. Herbert retired as a lieutenant colonel and then taught Junior ROTC at Miami Killian High School for 15 years. They retired again in 1998 to Kissimmee and then to the Villages in 2014. Martin remained on ac- tive duty a few more years and then remained in the Army Reserves to complete 30 year of service and retired as a colonel in the Chemical Corps. While serving he had a very successful career as a formulation chemist with an international company (Ciba Martin (l) and Herbert Siegel today. Geiga of Switzerland). He married Betty Dobin and has Twins Herbert and Martin in Leesburg. Herbert will be degree in chemistry. They two sons. He currently resides Siegel, will be celebrating wearing the same tallit that he joined the Army in 1958 in Niceville, Florida. Herbert (l) and Martin Siegel at their bar mitzvah in 1948. their 83rd birthdays on Oct. wore for his bar mitzvah. After due to the draft. After one 24, 2018. What is more signifi- the service they are sponsor- year they went to Officers cant about this date is that it ing a Kiddush (luncheon) for Candidate School at Fort Sill is also the 70th anniversary of congregants. Oklahoma and graduated as November events at St. Augustine their bar mitzvah. To honor The Siegel twins were born 2nd lieutenants—Hebert as this event, the brothers will in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Saul and an artillery officer and Martin again be called to the Torah to Sophie Siegel.