On June 23, as part of its Summer Speaker Series, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB) hosted Professor Oren Gross, the Irving Younger Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School and LDB Academic Advisory Board member. Professor Gross explained his recent resignation from the University’s Center for Jewish Studies (CJS) following its “deafening silence” in response to the recent unprecedented rise in anti-Semitism across the country and globally. Professor Gross explained that Jewish studies programs have been largely reluctant to respond to anti-Semitism that emanates from progressive circles, which is often disguised as anti-Zionism. Gross decried the hypocrisy of Jewish scholars who are quick to denounce other forms of prejudice such as Islamophobia but remain silent about “anti-Semitism dressed up as anti-Zionism.” As Gross has described, when the perpetrators do not “wear MAGA hats” or conform to the archetypal right-wing anti-Semite, academics remain quiet. Professor Gross attributed the silence of these Jewish scholars to the decision they have made to relinquish any connection to or support of Israel as a condition of admittance and acceptance into the progressive social justice circles of liberal academia and beyond. Effectively, Jewish scholars must “check” their Zionist identity at the door or face exclusion from the progressive community. In a discussion with LDB Founder and Chairman Kenneth L. Marcus and LDB President Alyza D. Lewin, Professor Gross shared his insights about how to respond strategically and productively to inflammatory and anti-Semitic rhetoric about Israel. The full event can be accessed here. You can register for upcoming online events here.