Letters
Advice to the college-bound
It was heartbreaking to read the letter by Chloe Schreiber, “For college should I stay inside the bubble?” (May 25). That a student must consider the fact that she is an Orthodox Jew or has positive feelings for Israel that may affect her physical, emotional, or academic well-being in a school should be a non-starter.
My advice to you and your parents would be to choose a school that will satisfy your needs academically, will get you where you want to be upon graduation, and will not break you financially. Your safety is also paramount, and this should be the responsibility of the institution you will attend. It will also be your responsibility to make sure the school is doing the job they are required to be doing.
Prepare yourself for battle, not to go looking for a fight but to be ready if one is thrust upon you. Start associating with pro-Israel groups you agree with, attending meetings and workshops. Be familiar with the student handbook and any another material containing the rules and regulations of the school you will attend. Keep a detailed journal of what is going on in classrooms or on school property to have a record of what has happened to you or others where you feel discrimination or bias has occurred. Too many places of higher education have abdicated their responsibilities to govern their schools to mobs.
If you are at a lecture that has been prevented from taking place due to the disruption by others, you should document it with pictures of the disruptors, faculty in attendance, and any security personnel and detailed notes. The media, Jewish organizations, and the school administration must be contacted. Your parents must support you in any actions that should be taken. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.” If follow-up is not continued until the action you want is taken, things may never be corrected. Lawsuits may be the final action that should be taken.
Jewish organizations should have a group of lawyers available to press for the protection of the rights and obligations of our community on campuses and any other site where our interests must be defended. Too often they don’t.
Do not search for a “Jewish bubble” for protection. Unfortunately within our own community there are those raising a “Jewish umbrella” to stand under while they attack the interests of those they claim to be part of.
Good luck in your choice of school. Good preparation will often make life a lot easier.
Howard J. Cohn
New Milford
‘Gaza Kaddish’ deserves derision
The response of a London Jewish taxi driver to the “Gaza Kaddish” was effective and appropriate (“Gaza victims’ kaddish,” June 1). This was a normal response to such an obscene and vile display. Jews who would not say kaddish for their own dead, let alone for Israelis, loudly recited the prayer for the dead for 50 eliminated terrorists hell-bent on slaughtering Jews. Sadly, self-hating Jews are a phenomenon that has been around for a long time. These are Jews who are uncomfortable with us being anything other than the doormat of history.
As long as we are subjugated and servile, the extreme left-wing is happy. Their problem always starts when Jews raise themselves up in freedom and defense. The fact that the extreme left-wing ideology afflicting Jews marches noisily to its place on the ash heap of history is not important; however, they actively undermine their fellow Jews in Israel and abroad. They confuse our allies and aid our enemies. They engage in actions and discourse far outside the realm of possibly acceptable. Indeed, the far left-wing Meretz party supported this disgusting display and their writings often appear in the pages of this very paper! The shock expressed by the promoters of the “Gaza Kaddish” over the backlash to their grandstanding is ridiculous, given that their intent was to offend and set themselves apart from the Jewish people. They deserve whatever their fate may be.
Scott David Lippe, M.D.
Fair Lawn
comments