Where Was President Obama When He Was Supposedly in Israel?
The Brandeis Brief
April 2013
 
  

March is an intense month on American college campuses, as anti-Israel Apartheid Weeks set the stage for virulent anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic activity. This year, anti-Israel forces have scored symbolic victories as student governments approved boycott motions on three California campuses. In response to resurgent anti-Semitism, the Brandeis Center has been expanding. This month, ex-prosecutor Danit Sibovits began work as the Center's new Staff Attorney. She will be traveling the country to identify and litigate campus anti-Semitism cases. At the same time, we launched the Louis D. Brandeis Center Blog, which has already hosted brilliant commentary on several issues which Brandeis Brief readers will find interesting.  First, D.C. litigator Alyza Lewin brilliantly asks, "Where was President Obama when he supposedly was in Israel?"  Lewin and her father, Nat Lewin, both LDB Legal Advisors, went to court this week to argue the Jerusalem passport case.  While President Obama was in Jerusalem, his State Department was defending their position that Jerusalem cannot be called a part of Israel, at least for diplomatic purposes.  Lewin takes them to task for it.  Next, Australian new media expert Andre Oboler explores whether Facebook has an anti-Semitism problem, explaining the important report that he released this week.  Third, historian Gil Troy explores the "evil overlap" between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. Troy's three terrific postings helped us to inaugurate our Blog earlier in the month, based in part on his important new book, Moynihan's Moment.  Fourth, LDB's own Danit Sibovits introduces herself and explains her passion for defending Jewish students and combating anti-Semitism.  Finally, we thank all of you for generously supporting the Center's work.  Thanks to your generosity, we have successfully met the terms of our six-figure challenge grant.  Indeed, we raised double our goal, and we did so ahead of schedule.  With your help, we can continue to fight to keep higher education free of anti-Semitism, anti-Israelism, and other forms of bigotry. Best wishes from all of us at the Brandeis Center for a Happy Passover!

 
Articles 
Where Was President Obama When He Was Supposedly in Israel?
Alyza Lewin
 
Alyza Lewin

What a week it has been for Jerusalem. The President of the United States arrived, transformed the King David Hotel into his (and his entourage's) home away from home, and then began a series of meetings and visits - to the official residences of President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, to the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, to the Jerusalem Convention Center, to Mount Herzl, Yad Vashem, and to the grave of former Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin.  All of these sites are in Jerusalem.  But are they in Israel?

 

According to the U.S. State Department they are not.  The State Department refuses to recognize Jerusalem as being in Israel and says that the city's status must be determined in future peace negotiations.

 

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If You Can't Recognize Hate Speech, the Sunlight Can't Penetrate

Andre Oboler

 

Andre Oboler

This week the Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI), an Australian Charity which I have the privilege of leading as its CEO, released my major new report into Hate Speech on Facebook. OHPI seeks to facilitate a change in online culture so that hate in all its forms becomes as socially unacceptable online as it is in "real life". This article provides an over view of OHPI's new report and its real impact, which extends far beyond exposing specific examples of hateful content.

 

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The Evil Overlap: Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism

Gil Troy

 
Gil Troy

This article, with material directly excerpted from Moynihan's Moment: America's Fight Against Zionism as Racism, explains the evil overlap between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. Of course, some criticisms of Israel and Zionism are anti-Semitic, some are not. There is a legitimate anti-Zionist critique among Jews and non-Jews with both an established intellectual tradition and valid contemporary arguments. The contemporary Israeli-Palestinian stalemate is too complex for simplistic judgments yet nevertheless constantly clouded by them.

 

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About Danit
Danit Sibovits
Danit Sibovits

As a young Jewish professional, activism has shaped much of my life.  I grew up in a traditional household where the civil rights of the Jewish people were a priority.  Events shaping Israel and the American Jewish community were a constant topic of conversation at the dinner table.  I also started to show a real interest in the legal field, such as completing an internship with the Nassau County Attorney's Office.

 

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In This Issue
Where Was Obama?
Hate Speech
Evil Overlap
About Danit
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The Louis D. Brandeis Center is a nonprofit organization supported by individuals, groups and foundations that share our concern about Jewish college students.  Contributions are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  To support our efforts to combat campus anti-Semitism, please contact us at info@brandeiscenter.com.
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Can We Help You? 

The Louis D. Brandeis Center stands ready if we can help you to combat anti-Semitism in higher education. Please contact us if you are a student or professor who needs our help.  We are also available to provide technical assistance to university administrators who are interested in achieving legal compliance and best practices for eliminating campus anti-Semitism.
 
 
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