Contrary to popular belief, The University of Judaism (UJ) is full of contentious diversity when it comes to the ways and means of the Jewish state. At the most renowned Jewish school on the West Coast, students are constantly heard discussing and debating Israeli politics. And just like at most places, many students who dissent from current Israeli policies are deemed “anti-Zionists” by the rest of the community.
Though the scenario has repeated itself countless times since, Israel’s Independence Day of 2004 illustrates the tensions on the UJ campus. For this special day, Israel Action – the campus club whose partial mission is to strengthen the ties between the UJ community and the Jewish State – put on a “birthday party” and memorial ceremony in honor of Yom Hazikaron. Israeli music and folk dancing swelled inside the cafeteria, which was decorated with blue and white and featured Israeli flags in every corner.\t
Students like senior Aaron Brickman felt they had no place at the ceremony. “It definitely feels like Zionism is pushed on us,” he said, pointing to the Israeli flag outside the main UJ campus. He says that although he does not label himself an anti-Zionist, he is given that title by the community because he disagrees with many of Israel’s current policies.
Lauren Gottlieb, president of Israel Action and one of the principle organizers of the festivities, diverges from Brickman’s stance from the outset. Students who sat apart from the party, to her mind, were “ill educated and unaware of the reality of the situation in Israel. It was a birthday party,” she said, “not a political statement.”
The debate begs the question: what makes a situation political? Although the ceremony was by no means mandatory, all classes that overlapped with the ceremony were cut short to allow professors and students time to make their way to the event. Brickman, who is spending the summer studying at the University of Haifa, believes that the UJ needs some reform in their approach to Zionism. First, he says, Zionism should be defined and, more importantly, events whose ethos departs from the norm should be allowed to be held.
Brickman had once tried to hold a concert at the school whose proceeds would be donated to Palestinian non-political, civilian causes. Though he expected protesters, the administration canceled the fundraiser after hearing numerous students’ complaints. The event, he asserts, was no more or less political than those put on by Israel Action.
Though their stances on Israeli politics—and on what constitutes politics—differ significantly, Brickman and Gottlieb both agree that discussion panels between these two polarized sides of the conflict might be good for the UJ. Gottlieb, however, has never seen any student who is anti-Zionist or far-left Zionist rise to the occasion to debate. “It is Israel Action’s mission to promote awareness about Israel’s current issues. We do not try to change people’s opinions, only encourage a dialogue,” she said. “We want to educate people. In the event that anti-Israel propaganda is displayed around the UJ, it is our position to counter that information factually and credibly.”
Brickman believes that the problem is partially one about the freedom to dissent. Though Gottlieb framed the debate in terms of protest and counter-protest, Brickman says it is, at its core, an issue of free speech. The university, he says, needs to allow opinions from all sides of the spectrum. “It seems like any ideas that are more left than Israel’s labor party are not welcome when expressed in public forums,” said Brickman. “Other universities respect both extreme left and right views.” He hopes that in the future the school will allow for any views to be voiced, even those to the extreme left.
The issue of freedom of speech aside, some students feel that the UJ campus is just how it should be. Nicole Smith, a sophomore at the university, sees little problem. “If everyone feels the same way,” she said, “then you will not have a diverse community. Diversity is a good thing, as long as everyone voices their opinions in a respectful manner.” The prospects for Israel’s political harmony being what they are, it seems the UJ and its students will have plenty more time to put their diversity to the test.
