~ Brandeis Brief: August 2021 ~ Last month, the Brandeis Center co-authored a letter alongside StandWithUs to Johns Hopkins University demanding action in response to a teaching assistant who shared anti-Semitic social media posts inciting hatred against Jewish students. The instructor tweeted, “ethical dilemma: if you have to grade a zionist students [sic] exam, do you still give them all their points even though they support your ethnic cleansing? like idk.” The joint letter was sent after six months of public silence from the school. It has generated coverage in Newsweek, The Jerusalem Post, The Forward, Baltimore Jewish Times, and Campus Reform. In other news, Brandeis Center President Alyza Lewin has joined the debate surrounding Ben & Jerry’s recent decision to end sales in “occupied Palestinian territory,” making statements to multiple news sources supporting the constitutionality of anti-BDS laws and speaking on the financial and legal consequences the company may experience as a result of its boycott. Meanwhile, LDB Chairman Kenneth L. Marcus is featured in a new Tikvah Fund podcast, and LDB Vice Chair Rachel Lerman has assumed additional duties as Senior Counsel. “Jewish Groups Calls For Johns Hopkins To Break Silence On TA’s Anti-Semitic Posts” Ben Zeisloft (Campus Reform) The Brandeis Center teamed up with StandWithUs to joint-author a letter to Johns Hopkins University demanding that the institution take action against discriminatory online comments that targeted Zionist students. Six months after the incident, the university has still failed to speak publicly on the issue. Johns Hopkins cited FERPA privacy laws as justification for their silence, but privacy laws do not shield the university from its obligation to protect Jewish students. LDB Vice Chair Rachel Lerman explained that “Privacy laws don’t stand in the way — the University can and must make clear it will not tolerate conduct that encourages its graduate students to turn on undergraduates they are hired to teach or treat them in a discriminatory way… By refusing to make this clear, the University is failing to live up to its obligations.” Read More New York Times Columnist Bret Stephens Discusses The Brandeis Center’s Stanford Case Brandeis BlogIn a recent New York Times article about “new” versus “old” forms of racism, contributor Bret Stephens discusses LDB’s case against Stanford University. Stephens argues that the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program’s “white accountability” groups exemplify the “new” form of racism derived from “antiracist discrimination.” Read More LDB Signs Letter To University Presidents Requesting IHRA Adoption Brandeis Blog The Brandeis Center signed a letter urging university presidents to formally adopt the IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism following the spike in anti-Semitism caused by the recent conflict in Gaza. The letter reminds universities that they are not immune to the impacts of anti-Semitism and should take proactive measures to ensure the safety of Jewish students and faculty. Read More Are The US Anti-BDS Laws Causing Financial Challenges For Ben & Jerry’s And Unilever Constitutional? Sean Savage (JNS), Arno Rosenfeld (The Forward)Ben & Jerry’s recent decision to end sales in “occupied Palestinian territory” could cause intense legal and financial repercussions for the ice-cream manufacturer and its parent company, Unilever. The anti-BDS laws adopted by 35 U.S. States may impose substantial financial consequences on the international conglomerate. Brandeis Center President Alyza Lewin explains to the Cleveland Jewish News that “legal action… instituted by private parties in U.S. courts” and “private boycotts… by upset consumers” could also negatively impact Unilever’s business. In a separate article, Lewin explains the constitutional grounds for anti-BDS legislation, arguing that “State governments have the ability to determine how they want to spend their money.” Read more on the business challenges posed against Unilever by anti-BDS legislation. Read more on the debate over the constitutionality of the anti-BDS laws aimed at Ben & Jerry’s. “We Will Not Be Silent” – The ‘No Fear Rally’ Rabbi Mark N. Wildes (The Jewish Press) Rabbi Mark N. Wildes shares his takeaways from the recent rally in Washington, D.C., including feelings of sadness at the mere need to have a rally against anti-Semitism. Rabbi Wildes highlights LDB Center President Alyza Lewin and commends Alyza for her remarks. In her speech, Alyza highlighted how Jews today are being pressured to shed their pride in their Jewish ancestral and ethnic heritage. She noted that “A world that cannot appreciate Jews, is a world that does not tolerate difference.” Read Mark Wildes’ article Here Read Alyza’s remarks Here, or watch a video of Alyza’s remarks below. LDB Center President Alyza Lewin speaks at DC No Fear Rally Kenneth Marcus Featured On The Tikvah Podcast To Discuss The Effectiveness Of The IHRA Definition On Protecting Civil Rights The Tikvah Podcast Kenneth L. Marcus was featured on the Tikvah Podcast to discuss how the adoption of the IHRA Definition can help the government protect civil rights. In his discussion, Mr. Marcus highlights how often anti-Semitism goes unrecognized and how the adoption of the working definition of anti-Semitism is integral to protecting Jews in spaces such as public universities. Listen Here “The Biden Administration Must Step Up To Stop Anti-Semitism” Ida R. Eblinger Kelley (JNS) Ida R. Eblinger Kelley calls for bipartisan efforts within the Biden Administration to make a serious impact on the current surge in anti-Semitism. In this new article, Kelley highlights Kenneth L. Marcus’s proposed steps for combating anti-Semitism, including his call for an executive order. Eblinger Kelly goes even further to explain four additional steps she feels are necessary, including an emphasis on the widespread adoption of the IHRA definition. Read More LDB’s Former JIGSAW Fellow David Benger “Gets ‘Dicey’ With Anti-Zionists” Chana Fischer (Jewish Link) A recent article published in Jewish Link details the story of David Benger, a former LDB Center JIGSAW fellow and former President of the LDB Chapter at Harvard Law School. Mr. Benger has gained a substantial following on social media sites such as Twitter and Clubhouse and uses his platform to engage in constructive conversations with progressive, anti-Zionist voices online. Read More LDB’s Summer Speaker Series Continues With Lesley Klaff And Mark Goldfeder Discussing “Law And Jewish Identity” Chloe Shrager, Brandeis Blog In the latest installment of the Brandeis Center’s summer speaker series, Professor and Brandeis Center Academic Advisory Board Member Lesley Klaff and Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfeder provided insightful legal analyses in a discussion about two age-old questions with regard to Jewish identity: are Jews a religious group, an ethnic group, or both? And, is Zionism an integral component of Jewish identity? Read More LDB Summer Speaker Series With Lesley Klaff And Mark Goldfeder The Brandeis Center Welcomes Vice Chair Rachel Lerman As Senior Counsel Samantha Crane, Brandeis Blog LDB is pleased to announce the appointment of L. Rachel Lerman as Senior Counsel. Ms. Lerman has vast experience as an appellate litigator and has been with LDB’s Board of Directors for several years, serving in recent years as Vice Chair. Her experience will serve as a great addition to the Brandeis Center’s fight against anti-Semitism. Welcome to Vice Chair Rachel in her new role! Read More