Rabbi Klayman’s shares with you two pieces of correspondence
#1. A post I sent to FB in response to an alumni email I received from Columbia University: The email purports to assure the Jewish community that Columbia is supportive of its Jewish students. The email also includes a declaration from Columbia's President as well as an announcement about a new Task Force on Anti-Semitism.
Unfortunately, I find the University lacking on all counts.
First (as you see from my post), the University does not focus exclusively on recent fears of Jewish students. Instead (as typical when it comes to Jews and Israel), the email addresses ALL forms of discrimination. There is a place for general statements but not here.
Second, the email attaches a copy of the weak and ineffective declaration of solidarity made by Columbia's President. There is no mention of Hamas and no focus on Jewish students and faculty.
Finally, Columbia does not require a task force, but an emphatic response to any verbal and physical threats against its Jewish community.
I responded directly to Columbia University, but as Social Media is the most effective means of reaching large numbers, I posted a more elaborate note on Facebook.
#2. Excerpts from a donation request (made by an Israeli colleague) on behalf of a bereaved family, whose young mom was murdered on October 7 by Hamas:
The mom, Adi, leaves behind two young children.
I recommend this request for several reasons:
-To highlight the lon- term traumas and challenged to be faced by Israeli families, who will need many resources to re-build their lives
-Adi's mother (that is the grandmother to the two, young children) is someone I remember from our Junior college year in Israel. We were not good friends, but when I heard the family name, I identified the family immediately. Even if indirectly, so many of us throughout the Jewish world have a connection to individuals and families murdered by Hamas.
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FIRST MY FACEBOOK POST RE COLUMBIA UNIVERISTY
This week I received an alumni email from Columbia University, informing us about all Columbia is doing to protect its students. The letter began with the following:
The Hamas' terrorist assault on Israel and its atrocities against civilians have directly and indirectly impacted so many of us. I know all of our hearts ache for those massacred on that day, and for those kidnapped. It has been equally difficult (emphasis mine) seeing the death and suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza caught up in the war.
I feel for any loss of life and certainly no innocent Gazan should become a victim. Once again however, the notion of EQUALLY DIFFICULT gives the impression that stories and reporting about Israel's existential war against Hamas demand BALANCE. Reading the statement AS IS might lead many to support a CEASE FIRE, in the name of sparing the 'equally difficult' scenarios playing out in Gaza. Cease fire will only benefit Hamas, as they will eventually restock their weapons supplies (of course, near and under civilian locations) and still not give a damn about the citizens they purportedly serve.
When it comes to Israel there is always an ALTERNATIVE side. and always a need for BALANCED commentary and opinion. There is never just a statement condemning an assault on Israel by a barbaric organization, and subsequent support for Israel's doing whatever is necessary to destroy a terrorist organization which murders Israelis and severely oppresses its own, suffering Gazan civilians.
Unfortunately, there is always the explicit or implied comment about two equal sides.
In addition, the email included the lukewarm STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY, authored by Columbia's President: A statement which neither mentions Hamas nor acknowledges that the attacks on Jewish students demand a unique and exclusive statement without lapsing into generalities. When it comes to Jews, always balance...
Finally, the email reveals a new TASK FORCE ON ANTI-SEMITISM.
In my opinion, Columbia does not require a task force, but a forceful statement (and subsequent action) to convey emphatically, how Jewish/Israeli students and faculty are valued. Columbia must embrace a zero tolerance position toward anyone or any organization verbally or physically threatening the safety of Jewish students. Instead, when Jews are attacked, future statements must always convey BALANCE.
And the dignity of Jewish students is compromised and diminished.
For the record, I have always believed that the path toward permanent peace lies through a future Palestinian state-on condition that no such state can exist until all terrorist organizations are obliterated and all recognize and protect the right of Israel to exist within secure borders.
Unfortunately, such a vision will remain elusive because Hamas is resolute about its objective: To destroy Israel. Such is a topic for another post...
Alumni of universities which fail to show backbone, should (at least temporarily) suspend all financial and social ties with those universities. The variety of assaults on Jewish students are intolerable and unless the crisis is thoroughly addressed through university action, these colleges do not merit our support. University Presidents need to be brazen, not balanced...
Just my opinion...
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THE DONATION REQUEST
I am writing this letter on behalf of my very close friend Jacqui Rivers Vital, whose daughter Adi z”l was murdered on that notorious Shabbat of October 7th at Kibbutz Holit along the border of Gaza.
Adi was an incredible, humble, giving, loving, precious, and accomplished soul who died a hero – protecting her children and her father until her last breath. She leaves behind her dear husband, Anani, and her two young sons, Negev (age 4) and Eshel (6 months).
Adi was a Canadian and an Israeli citizen who lived with her family in the peaceful Kibbutz Holit in southern Israel. In the early morning hours of October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists entered the kibbutz and began going from house to house, slaughtering innocent civilians, including entire families. Adi was hiding in her shelter with her 2 children while Adi's father was hiding in a shelter in the house across the way.
Adi warned her father not to open the shelter door under any circumstances, even if the people on the other side claimed to be IDF soldiers. The Hamas terrorists tried to lure her father out of her three times in this manner and by listening to Adi, she saved his life. Adi was murdered in her safe room while protecting her two sons. It is a miracle that they survived. Eshel and Negev were finally reunited with their father when he thought he had lost them too.
The family has created a memorial fund for Adi's children, Negev (age 4) and Eshel (six months). Here is the link to the fund.
https://www.geerz.site/en/project/adi-kaploun-vital-memorial-fund/
Tax deductible receipts are available for donations in the US, Canada, Israel and Great Britain.
Tragically, the family lost everything on October 7th , and more so - their home, their income, the working of the land that was Anani's job on the kibbutz - and their very dear and special mother. How does one go on from here? How does one put a price tag on a life? And yet, the family and friends embracing Anani, Negev and Eshel are determined to provide them with the basic needs so that they can move forward.
We are looking to expand the pool of people who will be moved by this story to become part of helping the family get on their feet after such a loss.
On behalf of the family, I thank you. We have witnessed an outpouring of support and solidarity in these that few weeks. I pray that may see better times for Israel and for the Jewish people.
Rabbi Klayman