Earlier this month, LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus had an online interview with Rabbi Herschel Finman for his radio show, The Jewish Hour, to discuss his latest book, The Definition of Anti-Semitism, and anti-Semitism on American college campuses. As Marcus describes in his interview, one of the biggest obstacles LDB has had to face when dealing with anti-Semitism on campus is the apprehension college and university administrators have when anti-Semitic actions are tied in with anti-Israel movements. Marcus explains that many administrators are unsure of where the line lies between free political expression and anti-Semitism. For this reason, Marcus states that he saw a need to write and publish a book that explores and clarifies this topic. Marcus also noted the US State Department’s Definition of anti-Semitism as a significant tool in identifying how and when anti-Israel hate crosses the line into anti-Semitism. In light of the how hostile college campuses can become for Jewish students in the wake of anti-Israel movements such as BDS, Marcus explained the importance of the adoption of the State Department’s definition by university officials, as well as domestic federal institutions, as it provides clear criteria to review potentially anti-Semitic actions and can thus help administrators to determine proper responses. Anti-Semitism has had a long history across the globe, and as Marcus explains while discussing the origin of Jewish hate, Jewish people have often been used as a scapegoat for domestic and international problems and have long the target for dehumanizing stereotypes and caricatures. In contemporary times, anti-Israelism has been used to veil anti-Semitism, and, in conjunction, anti-Semitic incidents have occurred from colleges and universities nationwide; from Harvard University in Massachusetts, to the University of Michigan, and to Stanford University in California. Marcus states that it is crucial to prevent this resurgence of anti-Semitism from becoming a continued global trend and be allowed to gain momentum, and that it is important to fight against it. To listen to the full interview, please click here. Rabbi Herschel Finman is a Chabad Rabbi serving greater Detroit and cyberspace. His radio show is Detriot’s only Jewish radio program, and can be heard Sundays 11:00AM-12:00PM ET, on WLQV 1500 AM and www.wlqv.com.
Download PDF The Brandeis Center is pleased to announce the expansion of its law student chapter initiative to the Pacific Northwest. Last week, LDB opened its 17th law student chapter at the University of Washington (UW) School of Law, in Seattle, Washington. “The new UW law student chapter can join the other LDB chapters in responding to the dramatic spike in anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incidents on college campuses in the U.S.,” says LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus. “The Brandeis Center’s expanding nationwide law student chapter network is a critical step towards ensuring that the next generation of legal advocates can recognize anti-Semitism in all of its forms and fight back through legal means.” LDB law students have the opportunity to receive education and training on legal methods to combat campus anti-Semitism. Chapters will address harassment of Jewish college students and examine legal aspects of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) movement’s anti-Israel campaign. Throughout the year, select speakers will visit each campus and chapter leaders will have an opportunity to take part in the Brandeis Center’s annual National Law Student Leadership Conference. Regular programming for campus chapters will focus on Jewish civil rights advocacy, campus anti-Semitism, international human rights law, pro-Israel legal advocacy and counterterrorism legal policies. Law students of all backgrounds and faiths are welcomed to become members. “We are delighted to have opened a chapter of such an effective and powerful organization at the UW School of Law,” says new chapter President Ada Danelo and Vice President Natan Tubman. “It makes us proud to be able to play this small part in the battle against anti-Semitism and to promote civil rights.” LDB currently has chapters at the following schools across the country: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; Brooklyn Law School; Chicago Kent College of Law; City University of New York (CUNY) Law School; Cornell University School of Law; DePaul University College of Law; Emory University School of Law; Loyola University of Chicago School of Law; Northeastern University School of Law; University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law; University of Chicago School of Law; University of Minnesota School of Law; University of Pennsylvania School of Law; University of St. Thomas School of Law; University of Virginia School of Law; University of Washington School of Law; William Mitchell College of Law.