Before I get into this next blog, I want to make something very clear. I am a big fan of the JFNA GA and the Jewish Federations. All criticisms in previous blogs are in the spirit of improvement and encouraging people to really think about and evaluate these issues. In no way are they meant to “bash” the system.
Ok now that that’s said, moving on....
I am so sick of sweeping generalizations! I know we’re all offenders of this nature every once in a while - like just there, I just generalized that everyone does this at some point - but it really irritates me in some contexts.
So what does this have to do with “stop putting words in my mouth”? It seems whenever it comes to issues affecting the Jewish community, more specifically the Jewish university community, everyone is making generalizations and commenting on the entire community’s behalf.
Yes there is a huge issue of anti-semitism and anti-zionism on university campuses today, but that is only a part of the world of a Jewish university student. Not every school that has this problem is a bad school with bad administration. Not every student on these campuses is faced with these issues everyday. However, there are organizations in this community, with such tunnel vision towards the situation, who would have everyone else believe our universities are the breeding grounds for all terrible things in the Jewish world.
As an alum of York University in Toronto, I know what Jewish life is like on campus. I know that you can choose to be a part of it or ignore it and never deal with it. You can be faced with anti-Israel activity or be completely oblivious to it. As a student, also an involved member of Hillel, I would get angry when I would see the “apartheid wall” put up by SAIA (Students Against Israeli Apartheid) but coming home on Friday nights and hearing my Bubbie ask questions about campus life and make comments in the form of sweeping generalizations angered me almost as much!
These issues are definitely ones that deserve attention, but they are not ALL there is to these universities and as a proud York U alum, it is very upsetting that the community doesn’t read anything beyond how awful it is to be Jewish at York - I’m also pretty sure that’s not the response you’d get if you asked a student not involved in Jewish life on campus. Not to take away from the importance of this situation - that does fluctuate in severity - but shouldn’t the community also be concerned with other campus issues? For example: The lack of Jewish participation in Jewish campus activity; The Jews who are siding against Israel; The great programming (not focussed on Israel) that campus groups are offering.
I realize that this post could benefit from some evidence to support my claims of generalizing. Fortunately, I suppose, my following is still small and forgiving and that will give me time to organize some of that. I will link some articles soon.
What do you think? How do these incidents make you feel?
I suggest and request that those of you not currently active on a university campus take the time to see the big picture rather than simply focus on the details in the middle. Know that there is more going on, that the students on these campuses are intelligent and strong, and they are certainly not victims.
