August 3, 2015 University of Toronto Rejects BDS This past year has been a busy one in the educational, political, and legal BDS realms. Just this past week, the Board of Directors of the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) voted, as first reported by Shalom Life, to reject creating and funding a side committee to explore the possibilities to develop the anti-Semitic […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 28, 2015 Congressional Subcommittee Will Examine the Impact of BDS Congress’ continuing concerns about discriminatory boycotts will be reflected in today’s potentially hearing House subcommittee hearing on the impact of BDS: HEARING ADVISORY: National Security Subcommittee to Examine BDS Movement “Impact of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement” Subcommittee on National Security (Chairman Ron DeSantis) PURPOSE: · To better understand the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions […] Blog
July 24, 2015 Take This Poll on SCR-35 and State Department Definition UCLA’s student newspaper, the Daily Bruin, is running a poll on the SCR-35 resolution and the State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism. The SCR-35 resolution was passed earlier this month by the California State Assembly urging the University of California (UC) to condemn anti-Semitism. UC President Janet Napolitano also encouraged the condemning of anti-Semitism and supported […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 24, 2015 Available for Pre-Order: Kenneth L. Marcus’s New Anti-Semitism Book The Louis D. Brandeis Center (LDB) is pleased to announce that LDB President and General Counsel, Kenneth L. Marcus’ new book, entitled The Definition of Anti-Semitism, is now available for pre-order, published by Oxford University Press. Proceeds from this book will benefit LDB and its campaign to fight campus anti-Semitism. The expected publication date is September […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 21, 2015 California State Assembly Passes Important Resolution The state of California has taken another important step forward in combating anti-Semitism. On Monday, July 13, the California State General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the University of California to condemn anti-Semitism. The resolution, originally put forward by State Senator Jeff Stone (R- CA), passed the Higher Education Committee of the California State […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog Litigation
July 13, 2015 State Anti-Boycott Laws and Free Speech, by Eugene Kontorovich In recent months, Illinois and South Carolina have passed anti-BDS measures that protects taxpayers from indirectly supporting discriminatory boycotts against Israel. Northwestern Law Professor Eugene Kontorovich in an article in Tablet Magazine puts to rest concerns that measures to withhold public funds from companies that boycott Israel violate the First Amendment. As Professor Kontorovich notes, the First Amendment allows states to […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 9, 2015 Fall Internship Announcement The Brandeis Center is pleased to announce that it is now reviewing internship applications for the upcoming fall semester. This summer, LDB welcomed in five interns: two Law Clerks and three Communications and Development interns. The Center is looking for a group of new students to continue in the fight against anti-Semitism. While the Brandeis Center […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 7, 2015 Episcopal Church Votes Down BDS Following a series of political victories against BDS, the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops, at the church’s General Convention in Salt Lake City, UT refused to divest from companies that do business with Israel in the West Bank, rejecting the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. A committee of leaders from the Church proposed […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 3, 2015 Anti-BDS Resolution Receives Bi-Partisan Congressional Support Last week, the House of Representatives introduced a bi-partisan resolution condemning the boycott of Israeli academic institutions or professors. Resolution 318, introduced by Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), carries support from both sides of the aisle with two Republicans, and three Democrats. The resolution recognizes that boycotting Israel, as the resolution states, “hinders the possibility of achieving […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 3, 2015 CA State Assembly Passes Important Anti-Semitism Resolution Last week, the Higher Education Committee of the California State Assembly approved State Senator Jeff Stone’s resolution (SCR-35) condemning anti-Semitism at California college campuses, by a vote of 8-0. This resolution was previously passed by the CA State Senate. It will now go to the CA State General Assembly for a final vote. The resolution […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 2, 2015 UC Stakeholders: Sign Petition to Board of Regents on State Department’s Definition The University of California’s Board of Regents is set to vote on whether it should adopt the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism at its next meeting at the end of July. The issue came to the forefront when UC President Janet Napolitano expressed her support of the definition and urged the Board of Regents […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
July 1, 2015 Summer Research Workshop Discussions The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the D.C. Holocaust is offering a panel discussion and workshop discussion. At a time where we are seeing, as the joint Brandeis Center-Trinity College report specifies, a resurgence of anti-Semitic activity, it is important that we take time to learn about the history of […] Anti-Semitism Blog
June 30, 2015 NY State Assembly Passes Anti-BDS Resolution Earlier this month, the New York State Assembly passed a resolution rejecting the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS). Assemblyman Walter Mosley (D-Brooklyn) along with 74 other members co-sponsored the bill, which “[supports] efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution and the right of Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination.“ Additionally, this resolution reaffirms New […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
June 30, 2015 New Webpage Details Students’ Testimonies of Anti-Semitism On Monday, June 22, the AMCHA initiative launched a new webpage filled with testimonies from Jewish students who have been subject to anti-Semitic acts on college campuses across the country. An article in The Algemeiner states that “students at 47 colleges and universities in 20 states” recounted these incidents for the webpage. The testimonies detail […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
June 29, 2015 Attorneys: Sign Petition to UC Regents on State Department’s Definition An important decision is coming up at the end of July that could be a major step forward in fighting anti-Semitism on college campuses. The University of California school system’s Board of Regents is set to vote at its next meeting, July 22-23, on whether it should adopt the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism. […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
June 15, 2015 Brandeis Center Receives Four Members Once again, the Brandeis Center is pleased to welcome three new members to the team and welcome back an intern from last summer. The new members are law clerks Corey Celt and Jacky Beda and communications intern Ilan Kaplan. Our returning communications intern is Steven Isaacson. Jacky Beda is currently a rising 2L at […] Blog
June 15, 2015 Controversial Course at University of Missouri Cancelled On Wednesday, June 10, the University of Missouri announced that it was canceling a controversial class planned for Fall 2015. The class was widely contested by pro-Israel organizations and students. George P. Smith, a biology professor at University of Missouri and extreme anti-Zionist was preparing to teach a course entitled “Perspectives on Zionism,” an ironic […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
June 12, 2015 From Murder to Museums: Recent Cases and Ethical Considerations in Nazi Looted Art New York lawyers may be interested in this upcoming Continuing Legal Education opportunity provided by the New York County Lawyers’ Association: Tuesday, June 16, 2015, 6:00 PM – 7:40 PM Member Price: $50 Non-Member Attorney Price: $75 Intended Audience: Non-attorneys (No CLE) may attend FREE. RSVP to eberezinsky@nycla.org Location: 2nd Floor Auditorium Course ID: C061615 […] Anti-Semitism Blog
June 10, 2015 New Congressional Legislation Aimed at Countering BDS The vote on the Trade Promotion Authority bill (“TPA”) is still up in the air. Having already passed through the Senate, the House will vote on the bill in the coming weeks. Hill Republicans and President Obama support the “fast track” legislation, which would help finalize a major Pacific trade accord with the Pacific rim. […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
June 10, 2015 Canada’s Important Resolution on Anti-Semitism Canada has just passed a resolution that defines and prioritizes combating anti-Semitism. In an article for the Jerusalem Post, Irwin Cotler, former justice minister and current MP of the Canadian parliament, discussed the importance of such a resolution. Last February, Cotler and Jason Kenney, the minister of multiculturalism, presented the resolution to Canada’s House of […] Anti-Semitism Anti-Zionism Blog
June 9, 2015 Zivotofsky: A Victory for the Executive Branch In 2002, Congress passed Section 214(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which permitted American Citizens born in Jerusalem to identify on their passport that they were born in Israel. Since the passing of the statute, the State Department has refused to enforce the law, and lists only “Jerusalem” on its passports. In a 6-3 […] Anti-Zionism Blog Litigation