"Our groups are concerned that federal funds under Title VI of the HEOA are being misused to promote biased, one-sided, and anti-Israel programming in our nation's Middle East studies centers," according to a  letter penned  by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and signed by the groups involved. "Congress sought to address this problem in 2008 by requiring that each recipient 'reflect diverse perspectives and a wide range of views,' among other provisions."

Lawmakers from four different Icelandic parties have co-authored a bill which would ban circumcision without, according to a report from EuroNews, a medical cause "on a person unable to provide informed consent." This bill proposes a six year prison term for anyone who is found guilty of violating the law. 

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has signed a bill into law that would criminalize references to Polish complicity in Nazi war crimes against Jews during the occupation of Poland in World War II. Considering this troubling development, it is timely to consider the comments offered by the Congressional Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism regarding the potential of this law to impose limitations on free speech. 

The Polish parliament is expected to vote on a new "animal welfare" bill. This bill includes a ban on kosher slaughter, under which violators could face a prison sentence of up to four years. Additionally, the bill would include a ban on exporting kosher meat from Poland, which would affect Jewish communities throughout Europe, as well as exports to Israel.

A Danish  petition  to ban non-medical circumcision has gathered over 20,000 signatures since it was introduced on February 1. Needing only 30,000 more signatures to force a vote in the Danish Parliament, this petition seems likely to reach that goal with ease. Proposed and promoted by the group Denmark Intact, the petition seeks to ban non-medical circumcision for boys by setting the minimum age requirement for the procedure at 18 years.

The online instruction platform FutureLearn announced a new course that will begin on March 19th entitled "Antisemitism: From Its Origins to the Present." This groundbreaking curriculum, designed by Yad Vashem--The World Holocaust Remembrance Center, is for anyone with an interest in the history of anti-Semitism. Included amongst the list of distinguished instructors is Louis D. Brandeis' own President and General Counsel,  Kenneth L. Marcus .  

The Louis D. Brandeis Center is proud to announce its new spring intern for 2018, Jacob May. Over the next few months, Jacob will assist in conducting research, writing press releases and drafting articles for the Brandeis Blog. Jacob is a senior at Cornell University majoring in Government and pursuing minors in Public Policy, International Relations, and Law & Society.