by Isi Leibler
April 23, 2013
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=4584
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Visiting New York this week, I sought to assess the broader implications of the recent “International Peace Award” bestowed on former president Jimmy Carter by Yeshiva University’s Cardozo Law School. This unsavory display of groveling by a major Jewish institution to a committed foe of the Jewish people is not merely a stain on the entire Jewish community but highlights a dramatic erosion of Jewish values and Jewish dignity.
Many consider it a wake-up call and believe that alarm bells should be ringing in the conference rooms of major Jewish organizations.
Yeshiva University, created 127 years ago, is the crown jewel of America’s modern Orthodox establishment. Its Rabbinical Seminary was headed by the revered Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik. Its Cardozo Law School has evolved into the one of the most pre-eminent legal educational institutions. Although it caters for all Americans, Cardozo prides itself on being a Jewish institution, serves only kosher food and is closed on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
Since his electoral defeat, Carter has emerged as one of the most vicious opponents of the Jewish state whose vile bias appears to stem from traditional Christian anti-Semitism. His theological approach even retains the odium of Jewish deicide and he is on record stating that Jews hate Christians because they are “unclean, uncircumcised” and view them as “dogs”.
He was one of the principal architects of the campaign to demonize Israel as an “apartheid state” which led to14 members of the Carter Center including his former close advisor, Kenneth Stein, resigning and unequivocally accusing him of maliciously lying about Israel. Carter meets and embraces Hamas leaders, urging the US to negotiate with them. He also opposes efforts to deny Iran nuclear weapons.
Alan Dershowitz said that he could not “imagine a worse person to honor for conflict resolution”. He accused Carter of being “significantly responsible for the second intifada… He just prefers terrorists to Israelis” and “encouraged terrorism and violence by Hamas and Hezbollah”. He accused him of having “more blood on his hands than practically any other president” and could not understand how such a person who “never met a terrorist he didn’t like” could become the recipient of such an award.
Yet the administrators of Yeshiva University refused to rescind or even condemn the award to Carter. Their principal concern was to display political correctness and avoid being accused of restricting “academic freedom” or infringing on the rights of their students.
Chancellor Richard Joel declined to endorse the decision and unlike the Dean of Cardozo, Professor Matthew Diller, Joel “courageously” announced that he would absent himself from the proceedings. But he stressed that “Yeshiva University both celebrates and takes seriously its obligation at the University to thrive as a free marketplace of ideas, while remaining committed to its unique mission as a proud Jewish University”.
Needless to say, it would have been highly unlikely for Yeshiva University authorities to have stood aside and mumbled clichés about academic freedom had one of their student affiliates sought to honor a racist or right wing extremist.
The event was announced only four days in advance because the organizers knew that honoring such an inveterate anti-Semite would enrage many members of the Jewish community.
There were major protests from Yeshiva University alumni and students. But the Jewish leadership establishment itself was incredibly restrained. Other than the Zionist Organization of America, no Jewish organization of substance called on the authorities at Yeshiva University to intervene or rescind the award.
ADL‘s Abe Foxman remarked that the award was wrong, it was inappropriate to honour Carter and that there was a need to “instill values” to ensure that “future mistakes like this will not be made”. But he stressed that “the University responded properly” by not intervening.
Even the outspoken Simon Wiesenthal Center, whilst blaming the students for failing to “exercise due diligence”, avoided calling on the University authorities to rescind the award.
In contrast, when a Jewish institution invites or honors controversial personalities on the radical political right or anyone out-of-favor with the liberal chic, there are invariably widespread protests and condemnations. This was exemplified by the recent histrionic pressures and threats employed which led to the cancellation of the invitation to Pamela Geller, the outspoken campaigner against Islamic fundamentalism, to address Jewish organizations. Had the students at Yeshiva University invited her, it is highly unlikely that the authorities would have been as accommodating as they were to Carter.
Regrettably, when it comes to those demonizing and delegitimizing Israel, the trend is for mainstream leaders to bury their heads in the sand, babble about freedom of expression and the need for dialogue and avoid confrontations. They rationalize this by insisting that the overriding objective must be to create a “big tent” encompassing the widest possible range of viewpoints, including those previously considered beyond the pale of the mainstream Jewish community.
During the Cold War, Jewish communists served as apologists for Stalinism and even applauded the execution of Jews on trumped up charges. But they were deemed rogue elements. In contrast, their successors who today engage in vicious anti-Israeli rhetoric, promote BDS and campaign to persuade the American administration to exert pressure on Israel, are becoming integrated as legitimate components of the mainstream Jewish community or simply regarded as just another facet of a “pluralistic” Jewish community.
Yeshiva University is one of the most committed bastions of the Jewish community. When its management declines to overrule the unconscionable decision of its students to honor an anti-Semite, it highlights the extent to which the rot has already advanced and penetrated organizations purportedly promoting Jewish values and Jewish interests.
Thus one should not be surprised to learn that Hillel branches on some campuses host disgusting groups demonizing Israel like “Breaking the Silence” and engage in kumbaya with Muslims hostile to the Jewish state.
Even a number of Federations have set aside funds for anti-Israeli institutions and initiatives. Increasingly, radical rabbis, synagogues and Jewish cultural organizations are hosting speakers who shamelessly defame Israel.
Most current Diaspora Jewish religious, political and cultural leaders were molded during an era when the Holocaust and the struggle to create a Jewish state still dominated public consciousness. Now, many of these are reaching the age of retirement. If they are loath to speak out when such degradation of Jewish values takes place on their watch, the situation may worsen dramatically when the next generation of leaders emerge whose background is likely to make them even less sensitive to these issues.
When Jewish leaders stand aside or remain silent as elements hostile to the Jewish people and Israel are hosted or honored within the Jewish community, this invariably impacts on their core values. It will also legitimize and embolden Israel’s adversaries to intensify efforts to impose BDS as exemplified last week when UC Berkeley student senators carried a resolution to that effect.
Jewish leaders committed to Jewish continuity who proclaim their love for Israel must agree upon certain codes of conduct. This has no bearing on freedom of expression. Nobody seeks to deny anyone the right to say what they please. But if a community fails to draw red lines for its constituents, it will face chaos and anarchy and undermine the shared values which enabled the Jewish people to survive throughout the ages.
The writer’s website can be viewed at www.wordfromjerusalem.com.
He may be contacted at ileibler@leibler.com
This column was originally published in the Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
You are correct, Indian are lovely people,and I love my Indian friend dearly.
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
Lots of caliche in Texas,the farther west one goes. We have relatives in Midland,alfull place, I much prefere sout Texas and topical Texas.
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
Lo siento,que lastima.Debemos hablar [de espanol] mas,tan no nos entienda, Yamit.
@ SHmuel HaLevi:
It is also my theory that whenever politicians anywhere blurt out something really offensive, it’s not that they ‘misspoke’, but that they are mindlessly expressing themselves in the same way they always do within their social circle, where such expressions are commonplace and well accepted. Their habit gets ahead of their reasoning.
Regarding the Israeli elite’s attitude, it’s really a disgrace. Unfortunately, the world is watching…
@ Canadian Otter:
The reason as far as I can ascertain it, is that basically the government system here, known as the combina has made mush out of the Jewish minds and certain appendices.
No soldier… would be allowed to perform self defense, let alone be allowed to destroy enemies.
In the rare occasions when they do, such as in the Marmara soon enough the “leaders” smash them to pieces.
Since Tzahal is at the center of formative directions of the whole population, castrated soldiers turn into equally endowed civilians and consequently, “leaders”.
From such trash only attacks on other Jews can be expected. And waiting anti-Semites are only too happy to join in.
My comment is on moderation. This is getting to be really frustrating. Of three three short talkbacks since last night, two of them ended up in moderation.
Years ago, when I first started following Ynet on line, I was shocked at the degree of venom in the language used by talkbackers to refer to the Haredim or the settlers. But those were anonymous talkbackers. What about these days when Israel’s Deputy Minister publicly calls the Haredim “parasites” – a term taken out of Die Sturmer and Mein Kampf? http://www.jewishpress.com/news/deputy-minister-calls-haredim-parasites-on-radio/2013/04/24/
Anti-Jewish words or acts in Israel are not as disturbing as the lack of outrage with which they are followed. If Jews were called such names in Europe, or were expelled from their homes just for being Jews, or were subjected to daily rock throwing with complete impunity – there would be an uproar all over the Jewish mediea and Israeli leadership denouncing European anti-Semitism. ~~~~~ What needs to be understood is that Israel sets the standards by which Jews are treated all over the world. People notice these things, the name-calling, the treatment of settlers as second class citizens, the violent expulsions. ~~~ Had this DM used the word parasite to refer to certain Arabs in Israel, he would have been fired. That goes to show how low certain Jews rank compared to Arabs. ~~~ The abuse and the denigration of some Jews in Israel is an important issue, I don’t know why this is being so easily brushed aside.
@ Honey Bee:
De acuerdo. Siempre que tengas esa inclinacion, hablaremos en Castellano.
My Spanish is original but not used for many years. I graduated well over half a century ago from the Escuela Nacional de Profesores “Mariano Acosta” in BA. Teaching was not my best line so proceeded to turn into Engineering, Electronics, UBA. From there to Zenith-Rauland in Chicago in the early 60’s and Spanish ended being my main.
Todo eso no quiere decir que Spanish no es mas mi idioma.
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
@ Honey Bee:
I wrote a whole post about my Dad working for Buffalo Bill and my Great-aunt living nest to Golda Mier,and my Grand-father taget practicing Bufallo Bill in the lot in back of his taylor shop. Gone in to cyber-space and the space aliens Jews are reading it.
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
These boys need an education.
@ yamit82:
Yes. If you have Spanish com questions let me know amigo. Good luck in your search.
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
Thanks
Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina.. Is this the one?
@ yamit82:
Colorin, colorado ah? You have any idea how many times I heard that whole thing from my grand parents? Anyway. If you know the family name and you do, the AMIA keeps exacting records about every Jew and his or her families. It can be traced.
@ SHmuel HaLevi:
My grandfather had a twin brother. My grandfather got to USA and his twin wound up in Argentina, I understand by mistake and not by design or intent. That’s about all I know as there is no one left of my family to ask. So somewhere there is a whole branch of Family tribe that never made a connection. Such is our history.
Colorin Colorado, Este Cuento No Se Ha Acabado!
By Diana Sotelo-Zertuche
Honey Bee Said:
Some Jews I believe are aliens, probably rejects of alien cultures and dumped here.
@ yamit82:
We have very dear friends in Los Lunas. Snyder, an Inquisition surviver family who did not know he was Jewish until I made a special connection for him with the then new HABAD Rav in Albuquerque. He was also a very high level employee of the US government, and Charlie, half Navajo. A superb Engineer. I am not sure if many people know, but the lands about the Rio Grande are criss crossed by a multitude of irrigation ditches or channels. Both Snyder and Charlie owned land including access to that water and consequently also farmed. The “caliche” subsoil is virtually impenetrable so water runs openly with very little loss. I spent many days and overnights in Los Lunas and went out horse riding with them into The Lands. I also went to Canioncito del Cacique, a marvel of nature and sacred to The People. I did not see that rock but we all knew about it and everyone at the pueblo also knew of its contents.
Incidentally. Our loved dog Natasha was born at a ranch in Los Lunas, under a combine at the barn. She was our family dear friend for 15 years incuding here in Israel.
@ yamit82:
My Dad would say Shalom to every Indian he met hoping they would answer him back. When was very young he sold newspapers and Buffalo Bill was his distributor. My Grand-father was a sharpshooter in the Russian Army in the Caucasas, he had a taylor shop in Denver, Grandpa and Buffalo Bill would target shop in lot in back of Granpas shop,my Great Aunt lived next to Golda Myer,when Golda was teenager.