To my dear illini Chabad family.

We just got back from a 6 hour debate in the Illinois students senate regarding BDS resolution on our campus.

I know we all many mixed feeling right now, deep disappointment that it was passed, yet, we also saw many hours of seeing clearly how this entire thing was a sham from the start.

It makes sense to feel mixed feeling.

I want to firstly thank the HUNDREDS of students that came out, spoke, stood tall, you showed your Jewish and Israel Pride. No one can take that away from. We should all, how this was rigged from the start. You speaking up, showing up gave a strong message, we will not be defeated. We are proud and strong.

Chabad commits to increase our Jewish and Israel programming on campus, classes, events and more, and we will continue working with our Administration and University to create more partnerships, trips, classes and relationships with Israel.

I also encourage our students to get involved, run for senate elections in a few weeks, become active.

There is a lot more to write, but it is 1:30am. See below for our statement.

I also want to share we are in close touch with our administration, who immediately put out a statement how they do not support this resolution. See below.

In closing, I want to share, we are here for you 24/7, you can email me, call or text me on my cell 2178404227, Chabad is here for you. You are not alone.

AM YISROEL CHAI!

Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel
Illini Chabad





STATEMENT FROM RABBI DOVID TIECHTEL of ILLINI CHABAD

Moments ago a resolution was passed by the Illinois Student Government to divest from companies that do business with Israel. This resolution is apart of the larger BDS campaign.

Although the resolution passed, it is key to remember our campus has rejected BDS measures twice before this. BDS was only able to pass this time because the system was manipulated in the senate after ISG was stacked with anti-Israel students.

We know this vote does not represent the values and beliefs of students and faculty at the University of Illinois. Illini Chabad is proud of the hundreds of Jewish students and their allies who came out to advocate for themselves to their representatives.

Illini Chabad thanks the administration for standing against BDS, a bigoted attempt to delegitimize the Jewish homeland.

We will continue to work closely with our partners on campus to oppose the singling out of Israel and work to ensure every Jewish student feels safe on this campus.





STATEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN


Illinois Student Government (ISG) is an independent organization that can pass non-binding resolutions on any topic it chooses. It provides students the opportunity to engage in discourse on issues such as this one that have been debated around the world for centuries, but does not represent the university administration.
ISG resolutions are non-binding, and the university has no plans to act on this one. We are committed to dialogue and to supporting students as they navigate challenging conversations about diversity and inclusion, and we will continue to plan programming designed to build understanding of different perspectives on complex and divisive issues.