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Happy New Year!
January 2018
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The end of 2017 was marked by new milestones in the fight against anti-Semitism. Bal Harbour, a municipality in Florida, became the first government body in the United States to adopt the U.S. State Department's definition of anti-Semitism. The Australasian National Union of Students also adopted a similar definition. Universities such as Virginia Tech and Rutgers demonstrated the precise need for the definition's existence. These issues and more are discussed in this edition of the Brandeis Brief. As the year comes to a close, we once again thank you for your tax-deductible
donations
and acknowledge that without you our work could not be done.
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Bal Harbour's Anti-Semitism Definition Ordinance Gets Overwhelming Support
Sergio Carmona, Florida Jewish Journal
Bal Harbour Mayor Gabriel Groisman describes the support he's received from the South Florida community regarding the recent passage of the village's anti-Semitism definition ordinance, which expands police officers' ability to investigate such anti-Semitic incidents as hate crimes, as overwhelming.
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Breach of Duty or Legal Overreach?
Elizabeth Redden, Inside Higher Ed
In 2014, the American Studies Association voted by a nearly two-thirds majority to adopt a resolution backing a boycott of Israeli universities, but a lawsuit opposing the resolution filed by four of the association's current and former members rages on.
In March, a federal judge allowed the plaintiffs' claims of corporate waste, breach of contract and violation of the D.C. Nonprofit Corporation Act to proceed.
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Why Can't American Students Show Common Sense on Anti-Semitism?
Mitchell Bard, The Algemeiner
American students seem to be unable and unwilling to accept the definition of anti-Semitism. They should take a cue from their peers in Australia, who condemned anti-Semitism and pledged to counter its rise on university campuses.
The National Union of Students in Australia did not accept the arguments made in the US, such as suggesting that anti-Semitism is in the eye of the beholder or that the word is used to silence critics. They agreed on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism.
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After a blog called IsraeliCool first reported the anti-Semitic social media habits of Rutgers professor Dr. Michael Chikindas, the university's leaders announced that they were taking action.
While Jewish groups welcomed the action, they called on the school to take a stronger stance against attacks on Jews. They plan on continuing to put pressure on the university to heed their concerns, which also involve two other faculty members the Rutgers administration did not condemn last week.
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Campus Anti-Semitism and Psuedo-Intellectual Activity
Rachel Hirshfeld, ISGAP
Academics promoting pseudo intellectual studies have sought to advance the notion that anti-Semitism in the contemporary context, and specifically on college and university campuses, is a mere illusion, created by a group of alarmists, attempting to exaggerate the severity of threats against the Jewish community.
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Daily Stormer Style Guide Reminds Writers "Always Blame the Jews"
Edward Kunz, Brandeis Blog
A seventeen page document, leaked from a confidential neo-Nazi online chat room, presents stylistic tips to would-be alt-Right Nazi writers, including examples like: "[a]s Hitler says...all enemies should be combined into one enemy, which is the Jews."
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Anti-Semitism at Virginia Tech
Malcolm A. Kline, Accuracy in Academia
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U.S. Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing for LDB President
Brandeis Center
Brandeis Center President and General Counsel, Kenneth L. Marcus, has been nominated for the role of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education. On December 5, Mr. Marcus appeared in front of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for a hearing on his nomination.
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Why Anti-Semites Oppose the Marcus Nomination
Naomi Friedman, PJ Voice
Kenneth Marcus, founder, president and general counsel for the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, has dedicated most of his career to fighting for civil rights. Marcus was recently nominated by President Trump for the position of assistant secretary of education for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Since then, Anti-Israel groups have been aggressively working to block Marcus' confirmation.
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Australian Student Union Adopts Definition of Anti-Semitism
Edward Kunz, Brandeis Blog
On Thursday, December 14
th
, the National Union of Students in Australia recognized the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism. This adoption was part of a
resolution
, proposed by the Australasian Union of Jewish Students during the union's National Conference. The broadly stated goals of the resolution include a condemnation of anti-Semitism, as well as a pledge to counter the rise of anti-Semitism on university campuses within Australia.
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Support LDB
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The Louis D. Brandeis Center is a nonprofit organization supported by individuals, groups and foundations that share our concern about Jewish college students. Contributions are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. To support our efforts to combat campus anti-Semitism, please contact us at [email protected].
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Kenneth L. Marcus
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Can We Help You? |
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The Louis D. Brandeis Center stands ready if we can help you to combat anti-Semitism in higher education.
Please contact us if you are a student or professor who needs our help. We are also available to provide technical assistance to university administrators who are interested in achieving legal compliance and best practices for eliminating campus anti-Semitism.
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