Hillel exists to foster Jewish life, not to defend Israel
While in college, I invested a great deal of time and energy in Hillel because I experienced it as a place that welcomed all Jewish students. Hillel has always prided itself on its pluralism, and the organization aspires to create a space where all Jewish students can feel comfortable.
In light of those ideals, Hillel President Wayne Firestone has betrayed the organization’s mission by forbidding Jewish Voice for Peace—a national Jewish student organization—from using Hillel space nationwide. JVP advocates for divestment from companies that benefit from the Israeli occupation. Last year, the group was at the forefront of the campaign to boycott, divest and sanction such companies and it has opened several new campus branches this year.
But Hillel should not exist to defend Israel. Rather, it should exist to facilitate Jewish programming, to connect Jewish students and to give them a space to voice their concerns. If Hillel decides to exclude any group it deems bothersome, it should no longer call itself “The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life” or market itself as an umbrella Jewish organization. It should instead present itself as another Washington, DC institution that urges students to support a specific political ideology—like AIPAC and J Street do now.
I do not support JVP; I think its methods are misguided. I do, however, support the idea that a Jewish campus community should welcome every Jewish student on her own terms. As long as discourse remains civil, no perspectives should be off the table. And if Hillel means to be the facilitator of Jewish life on campus, and not just another advocacy organization with a political platform, then it must accept every Jewish student group. This means that Hillel must welcome JVP—no matter its stance on Israeli policy.
Firestone writes in the JTA, “We reject efforts that may divide the Jewish community on campus over the potentially rich debate and discussion that occurs about Israel.” But there is nothing that divides the Jewish community more than excluding a Jewish student group from the supposed campus center of Jewish life. This places an institutional barrier between some Jewish students and others, and tells certain Jewish students that their views and values are not welcome in the Jewish community.
Hillel has the right and the responsibility to ban hateful or intolerant groups from its premises. JVP, however, is neither hateful nor intolerant. In its mission statement, JVP even says that it “opposes anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab bigotry and oppression.” But instead of keeping intolerant groups out, Hillel is pursuing an intolerant policy by banning JVP.
As Firestone notes, Hillel’s guidelines state that “Hillel welcomes, partners with, and aids the efforts of organizations, groups and speakers from diverse perspectives in support of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.” This should still not lead to JVP’s exclusion. While JVP does criticize and oppose Israeli policy in the West Bank, it has not staked out a position on Israel’s existence as a Jewish state and does nothing to hurt Israel’s Jewish and democratic character. Therefore, Hillel has no right to oppose JVP as part of a mission to promote Jewish life.
Hillel must advocate for Israel only insofar as it strengthens the Jewish campus community. As soon as that advocacy starts dividing the Jewish community—and alienating Jewish students—Hillel has a duty to remember its mission and put students first.
