August 12, 2020 LDB Commends FSU President for Adopting the IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism Washington, D.C., August 12, 2020: LDB Commends FSU President ~ Press Release The Louis D. Brandeis Center commends Florida State University President John Thrasher for adopting the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. In his letter to the FSU community this afternoon, Thrasher wrote, “The United States, the State of Florida, and Florida State University recognize the International […] Media Coverage Press Releases Press Room
August 9, 2020 USC Vows to Counter Hate After Jewish Student Government Leader Resigns By Melissa White ~ August 7, 2020 Jewish Insider The student government vice president at the University of Southern California resigned this week, alleging she was the subject of antisemitic harassment over her support for Israel. In response, the university administration said it is launching a new educational initiative to counter on-campus hate. “As you […] Media Coverage Press Room
July 10, 2020 The Future of College: A Jewish Townhall with Alyza D. Lewin Is it anti-Semitism to support the destruction of the one and only Jewish nation-state—home to approximately half of the Jews in the world today? Is it anti-Semitism to say that Jews do not have a right to self-determination—that Jews have no right to exercise sovereignty within any borders in their ancestral homeland, the Land of Israel? Media Coverage Press Room
December 22, 2019 The executive order that defines and combats anti-Semitism without stifling speech Is it anti-Semitism to support the destruction of the one and only Jewish nation-state—home to approximately half of the Jews in the world today? Is it anti-Semitism to say that Jews do not have a right to self-determination—that Jews have no right to exercise sovereignty within any borders in their ancestral homeland, the Land of Israel? Media Coverage Press Room
October 7, 2019 Joint Duke-UNC Middle East Studies Program in Hot Water By Melissa White – September 20, 2019 Jewish Insider The U.S. Department of Education blasted a joint Middle Eastern studies program between the University of North Carolina and Duke University for providing a biased curriculum to students. The department ordered UNC’s vice chancellor for research to provide an updated curriculum for the Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East […] Media Coverage Press Room
June 5, 2019 UC-Irvine Graduate Student Purveys Anti-Zionism While Rejecting Anti-Semitism Sheikh Osman Umarji, A PhD student at UCI’s School of Education, delivered a sermon underpinned by anti-Semitism and a clear denial of Israel’s right to exist. In his speech, Umarji stated the need for “courage to fight Zionism” in order to “free the Palestinians from the oppression.” He rallied against “specific Israeli government policies and Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories” while repeatedly denouncing a Jewish state in any form. The incident at UC Irvine is not an isolated case; the conflation of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism continues to be a problem on college campuses throughout the country. Recent data shows how it has contributed to the general uptick in anti-Jewish animus in higher education. Media Coverage Press Room
March 19, 2019 Zionist Student Group Accuses UC Berkeley Middle East Center of Anti-Israel ‘Indoctrination’ A Zionist student group has accused the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) at the University of California, Berkeley, of displaying bias against Israel, raising concerns over its use of federal funding. Media Coverage Press Room
March 4, 2019 Publisher embroiled in legal battle with Arkansas over law banning Israel boycotts When letters first showed up on Alan Leveritt’s desk saying the Arkansas Times was required to sign a pledge not to boycott Israel in order to continue to receive state contracts, he ignored them. Media Coverage Press Room
February 6, 2019 Federal Judge: Plaintiffs suing American Studies Association over BDS “may have meritorious claims,” but must file in state court In December 2013, the American Studies Association (ASA) became the first, and so far the only, major American academic association to adopt the academic boycott of Israel, part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS). Media Coverage Press Room
January 21, 2019 WHY PROHIBITING BOYCOTTS OF ISRAEL DOES NOT VIOLATE FREEDOM OF SPEECH The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is campaigning against existing and proposed federal and local laws that would deter boycotts of Israel popularized by the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement (BDS). Their argument is that requiring all businesses who want to contract with the state to certify that they do not engage in a boycott of Israel violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Media Coverage Press Room