Read the Brandeis Brief here. With the reignition of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and heightened international attention, global anti-Semitism is on the rise in a way unprecedented since World War II. An extraordinary number of students, faculty, and campus professionals have reached out to the Brandeis Center for advice, even as COVID-closed campuses conclude their academic years. In response, the Brandeis Center has also been hosting an extraordinary series of webinars on international law and domestic anti-Semitism. The resurgence of anti-Semitism, particularly in the form of anti-Zionism, reinforces a message Alyza Lewin delivered during her recent webinar with CAMERA at McGill University, in which she described the history of anti-Semitism, explained why people have difficulty recognizing anti-Zionism as anti-Semitism and provided guidance for students on how to engage more effectively with university administrators. This Brandeis Brief also covers governmental responses to anti-Semitism and the anti-Semitic BDS movement and provides updates on the Center’s continued expansion. Emergency Program on the Surge in Jew-Hatred and Legal Response Brandeis Center In response to the recent surge in anti-Semitism, the Brandeis Center organized a webinar with Alyza Lewin, Yael Lerman, and Dr. Mark Goldfeder discussing the trend in Jew-hatred and potential solutions to the problem. The subjects of conversation included the role social media and celebrities play in perpetuating anti-Semitism, the double standards universities apply to protecting Jewish students versus other minorities, the current status of Title VI, and more. Although this rise in anti-Semitism can be discouraging, the panelists stressed the breadth of resources available to Jewish students, including the Brandeis Center and StandWithUs, and encouraged students to have the courage to fight back. Alyza Lewin, Yael Lerman, and Dr. Mark Goldfeder Discuss the Recent Surge in Anti-Semitism and the Solutions Available Anne Bayefsky and Avi Bell Kick Off LDB’s Summer Speaker Series Sarah Engelman, Brandeis Blog Professors Abraham (Avi) Bell and Anne Bayefsky joined the Brandeis Center to explain international legal aspects of the Gaza conflict, Sheikh Jarrah, and anti-Semitism surrounding the United Nations’ upcoming Durban IV conference. Bayefsky and Bell provided expert analyses on these current events from legal and international relations perspectives, during a time when misinformation is on the rise. Read more. The Summer Speak Series Webinar with Professors Bell and Bayefsky The United Nations Human Rights Council Has No Shame Diane B. Kunz, Brandeis Blog Prof. Diane B. Kunz, a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke University School of Law, joins the Brandeis Blog to call out the hypocrisy of the UN Human Rights Council after the Council passed a resolution blaming the violence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict entirely on Israel. Kunz explains why Hamas is the one violating international laws. By following the track record of its predecessor, the UN Human Rights Commission, the UNHRC targets Israel repeatedly while ignoring egregious human rights violations in numerous other countries. Read here. New Legislation Urges University of Illinois to Adopt IHRA Definition Gabby Deutch, Jewish Insider In response to the Brandeis Center’s pending case against the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin introduced a resolution in the Illinois General Assembly calling on the board of trustees at the University of Illinois to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. “I’m gratified that public officials in Illinois have recognized the seriousness of the issue and are expressing not just their appreciation for the need to address it, but trying to provide assistance,” Alyza Lewin, president of the Brandeis Center, told Jewish Insider. Read more. Biden Administration Announces it Will Not Participate in Durban IV Conference Sarah Engelman, Brandeis Blog President Biden has made a welcome announcement that the United States will boycott the 20th anniversary events of the Durban Declaration. The original Durban Conference in 2001, also known as Durban I, was notorious for blatant anti-Semitism. All subsequent iterations of the conference have singled out and villainized Israel. Canada and Australia have now followed the United States’ example, providing hope that other countries will be inspired to do the same Read more. Alyza Lewin on Combating Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism on College Campuses and Discussing the IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism Bayla Zohn, Brandeis Blog In a presentation to McGill University, Alyza Lewin addressed people’s blind spot when it comes to anti-Semitism: anti-Zionism. In light of recent developments, Lewin’s presentation is even more timely as it showed how anti-Semitism has evolved over time, making it difficult for people to recognize it in its modern form of the delegitimization of Israel. LDB President Alyza Lewin’s Presentation to McGill University New Legislative Measures Pushed to Limit BDS Sarah Engelman, Brandeis Blog Lawmakers in the United Kingdom and the United States are developing new legislation to address the Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. The outcome of these legislative efforts remains to be seen, but these bills importantly recognize the anti-Semitic nature of the BDS campaign, as it seeks to deny the Jewish people their right to self-determination. Read more. LDB Welcomes Mitchell Webber to its Board of Directors Brandeis Center, Press Release The Brandeis Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Mitchell Webber, government investigations expert and former White House lawyer, to its Board of Directors. Mr. Webber brings to the Brandeis Center years of experience in litigation and public policy matters litigation and public policy matters concerning anti-Semitism and the anti-Israel boycott, divest, and sanctions movement. Read more. Brandeis Center Welcomes New Intern Samantha Crane, Brandeis Blog The Brandeis Center welcomes its newest Communications and Development intern Sarah Engelman, a sophomore at Dartmouth College. Sarah is making invaluable contributions to the work of the Brandeis Center and has written some of the articles in this issue of the Brandeis Brief. Read more. Join Us! LDB’s Summer Speaker Series Continues with Mark Rotenberg on Wednesday, June 9 at 12 PM (Eastern) Brandeis Center The Brandeis Center’s third webinar in the Summer Speaker Series will be led by Attorney Mark Rotenberg, the Vice President of University Initiatives & Legal Affairs at Hillel International. Mr. Rotenberg will be explaining complex and important issues of academic freedom as they apply in the fight against anti-Semitism. Don’t forget to register and attend the event. Register here. Read more.