LDB Holds Sixth Annual National Law Student Leadership Conference

This February 17-18, the Louis D. Brandeis Center hosted its sixth annual National Law Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference brought together law student leaders from LDB chapters across the country, and educated the students on topics including international law and the Arab-Israeli Conflict; how to use legal tools to combat anti-Semitism and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel; how anti-Zionism is an attack on Jewish identity; and why anti-BDS legislation is constitutional. Additionally, the students were able to network with peers, attorneys, and legal scholars.

The LDB law student chapter initiative, launched in 2014, includes 20 chapters nationwide. LDB chapters fill an important gap in American legal education, offering programming that connects students’ legal training to pressing Jewish civil rights issues. The annual conference is an opportunity to bring students together from across the country and educate them not only on pressing issues affecting the Jewish community today, but also on the legal tools available to combat anti-Semitism.

The law students, representing 19 schools including Emory, UCLA, Fordham, Harvard, George Washington University, UVA, Northeastern, and University of Chicago, were given the opportunity to engage with each other in a continuous dialogue about the issues facing them as aspiring lawyers and proponents of civil rights for the Jewish people. The lectures, panels, and roundtable discussions featured several prominent figures in academia, government, and the legal profession. The conference was also attended by the Brandeis Center’s pilot group of JIGSAW fellows, who shared their experiences as the first cohort of LDB’s new legal initiative.

LDB President Alyza D. Lewin, opened the conference by focusing on the need for a new take in the fight against anti-Semitism on college campuses. Lewin provided a new, unique approach and articulated how anti-Zionism is an attack on Jewish identity. She noted, “In order to effectively utilize legal tools that are designed to address discrimination, we must accurately describe the attack on Jewish identity that is taking place today on university campuses. Zionism is demonized, and as a result, pro-Israel students cannot express a key component of their identity.”

Following Lewin’s opening remarks, Professor Abraham Bell took the stage. Bell, of San Diego State University and Bar Ilan University, who is an expert in international law, spoke on “The Laws of Armed Conflict,” focusing on Israel and the application of international humanitarian law to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Famed attorney Nathan Lewin gave the keynote dinner address. Lewin, whose career has spanned over five decades, spoke about his experiences litigating in the Supreme Court on behalf of members of the United States armed forces to wear yarmulkes, and battling for the right to have Chanukah menorahs in public parks Lewin’s talk was titled “Who Fights for the Jews in Supreme Court Cases?” He encouraged the new generation of lawyers to challenge bias and bigotry wherever it arises.

Mayor Gabriel Groisman of Bal Harbour, Florida spoke on, “Having the Courage to Stand up Against Anti-Semitism as a Lawyer and an Elected Official: My Story and Yours.” Mayor Groisman stressed the importance of bravery and strength in the face of bigotry. Groisman’s rousing story chronicled his journey from growing up as the son of Latin Jewish immigrants in Florida, to beginning his legal career, and finally how he ended up in the world of politics. Groisman’s municipality, Bal Harbour, drafted the first city ordinance banning a city from engaging in business with organizations or entities which boycott Israel. Groisman was also instrumental in the Miami-Dade police district adopting the nation’s first city-level uniform definition of anti-Semitism for use in the investigation of hate crimes.

The second day of the conference began with Professor Eugene Kontorovich, of George Mason’s Scalia Law School, discussing “International Law and Disputing Occupation.” Professor Kontorovich described how international borders are ordinarily defined under principles of international law, and explained that by definition Israel’s conduct does not constitute a “belligerent occupation.” Professor Kontorovich noted that Israel’s opponents employ terminology that purposefully misleads the uninformed. Kontorovich also discussed state-level anti-BDS legislation, and how the BDS movement utilizes poor understandings of international law to weaponize the field against Israel and pro-Israel students.

Professor Kontorovich’s talk was followed by LDB Director of Legal Initiatives Aviva Vogelstein discussing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as other laws that help protect Jewish students on campus from anti-Semitic conduct. The discussion included a breakout session which was used to demonstrate the difficult legal nature that surrounds enforcing federal civil rights protections for Jewish students on campus.

The Vice President of Israel Engagement of Hillel International, Mark Rotenberg, then spoke about “BDS and Academic Freedom,” chronicling Hillel’s efforts to educate campus administrators, faculty, and students against the dangers of the boycott movement. Rotenberg described incidents, like the recent attempts by professors to deny recommendations to students who intended to visit Israel, as serious issues in academia that warranted stronger responses from university administrations. Rotenberg also detailed for the law students the history of the principle of “academic freedom” and advised them on how the principle can best be utilized to address anti-Semitism on campus.

Following the end of Rotenberg’s talk on BDS, the law students were treated to a discussion-panel with students who had participated in LDB’s inaugural JIGSAW fellowship program. The four JIGSAW fellows in attendance detailed what they viewed as a comprehensive, objective, and balanced experience which provided them with a new set of tools they could use to in order to help combat anti-Israel sentiment on campus. These tools were gained on their training trip to Israel this past December, in partnership with Hasbara Fellowships. The JIGSAW program provided a valuable opportunity, according to the students, to gain new perspective on the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as new legal and rhetorical tools. The students answered questions on the various aspects of the program, all the while highlighting how valuable they found the experience.

LDB President Alyza D. Lewin closed the conference by stressing the importance of using legal tools to combat anti-Semitism and encouraging the law students to remain engaged in this important area of law and involved with the Brandeis Center.