Is It Time for Jews to Leave the UK?
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Don’t let antisemites achieve their goal.
In a recent article about Jewish students leaving Columbia University, the author described her reason for leaving the university. I would like to add my “two cents” into this discussion.
I have been an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Columbia University for the past 20 years. I teach at Columbia during the Spring Semester. During the rest of the year, I live and teach in Israel. I have been living in Israel since 1970 (I’m originally from The Bronx). I also received my doctorate in electrical engineering from Columbia in 1969. So, I have a very strong connection to Columbia and I also am one of a relatively few Israelis who live in Israel, and also teach at Columbia.
Until this past academic year, I always considered it an honor to be on the faculty of Columbia University, one of the great universities of the world. And I have enjoyed teaching the students who attend the school.
On the night of 6 October, Erev Simchat Torah, I went to sleep in my home in Haifa. There were no planes flying overhead, there were no sirens going off warning of an air attack. It was quiet as it should be late at night on Erev Simchat Torah.
On 7 October I woke up to news on the radio of an attack on the civilian settlements near Gaza. I woke to the voices of Israeli civilians calling the radio broadcasters asking, “Where is the army?!” They were calling from their houses and shelters before they were slaughtered, burned, baked, raped and who knows what else by thousands of Hamas terrorists.
To all those whom I have met since I arrived in the States in January, I asked the following question, “What were we supposed to do after 1200 civilians were massacred in a few hours? What exactly did Hamas and its followers all over the world, including professors at Columbia University, expect was going to happen?
Anyone who knows the Middle East knows that Hamas and its followers wanted pictures of dead Arab babies to appear on television all over the world. Their goal was to have thousands of their own people get killed to somehow show how cruel Israel is.
They not only wanted to massacre Jews but just as important were those pictures of Arab babies and new Arab refugees in Gaza, who a few days earlier, before October 7, had been living their lives as normal human beings.
And so with this in my mind, I came to Columbia in January to teach as usual.
Columbia had a movement of a few hundred students and off-campus allies and members of the faculty, bringing their hatred onto the campus and into their tent city with signs like “Free Palestine from the River to the Sea” – which translates to eradicate the Jews who live between the River and the Sea.
This was not a peace movement looking to meet with “the other side” to try to somehow overcome the immense problems in the Middle East. This was and is a movement of hatred.
In 1984 I ran for the Knesset on a ticket that tried to get Lova Eliav elected into the Knesset. He was a real peace candidate who met with many Palestinians at the time to somehow try to come up with a solution to our problems. What we have now on campus are hate-mongers.
Now to get to my main point. If many Jewish students decide to look for “Jewish-friendly” schools and do not come to Columbia, the Jews of America will be going back almost one hundred years to a time when there was real antisemitism and Jews were not allowed in many schools. That period passed sometime after the War, and Jews have been integrated in American society for decades.
Being forced to go to “Jewish-friendly” schools is a big step backwards. Why shouldn’t Columbia be open to Jews? This is the goal of these hate-mongers! The Jews of 2024 must not let this happen – not in America and not in the rest of the world, not as students and not as teachers.
Columbia has a chance during this coming semester to overcome the effects of the antisemitism of the last academic year and to return to the Columbia of earlier times. This can happen if the new administration takes command and says no to antisemitism and if the Jewish students show that they are equal to other students, as was true a few years ago. The year 2024 is not 1935, not at Columbia, not in the United States, not in Europe and not in the Middle East.
Let us act as Jews of 2024!
And if equality everywhere is not achievable, each of us will have to make our own decision as to what to do. I made mine 54 years ago.
The most effective way of dealing with them is track the primary sources of funding for these hate camps and freeze their accounts to force them into a hopefully non-partisan courtroom.
“This can happen if the new administration takes command and says no to antisemitism” - IF. It’s a big IF and the evidence to date is not encouraging. Is it worth risking your life and education on this IF - especially when there are much more viable alternatives?
The author went to CCNY ( and the EE Dept, at that!) when it was a great school with half a dozen Nobel Laureates in science among its alumni ( most Jewish!). That school's excellence was destroyed by opening it to non-meritocratic entrants. The is now becoming the case for the Ivies and other elites ( save, perhaps, CalTech) who are admitting students who will no longer reflect glory on Alma Mater. If Jewish students go elsewhere it will be small loss to the students and more loss to the continuing reputation of these schools. If the electorate wises up and takes away the tax benefits that have allowed the elite schools to accumulate enormous endowments, the process will proceed apace.I'm Columbia '57 and I didn't think of sending either my children or grandchildren to Columbia.
IMHO, students below have it right. Why should a Jew pay $100,000 to these antisemites? What kind of education are students going to get from administrations that support hatred?
While it is easy to speak as a professor of engineering, it is NOT so clear in subjects such as social sciences and philosophy. And what of the safety issue where a student might find himself barricaded in a library cowering in fear and wondering what chance for survival?
I was happier when benefactors removed donations.
DON'T stay at Columbia. Hit them in the wallet.
Think what a joke it is now to have "Columbia U." on your resume
Perhaps a pertinent fact: Professors are paid many thousands of dollars to remain at Columbia despite its discomfort; students must pay many thousands of dollars for the same 'privilege.' .
My daughter attended Jewish day school and attended Stern College of Yeshiva University. Going to Jewish school reinforced what she learned at home and at school growing up. She had an excellent education in both. Comparing public schools in our area to the Jewish schools was not even close. There were young women at Stern who were experiencing Jewish education learned who they were and from whence they came. I would not tell my child to grow a thicker skin when these demonstrator would love to see her dead.
The government did very little to control the madness in these "universities" and the DNC has the chutzpah to ask Jews to vote for them. Just like the German police stood by and watched the synagogues burn down in 1938. (Thankfully NOW they are the only police that are doing something). Only a heavy-handed approach will help reduce the criminal behavior from these students including the ones with table cloths on their heads.
You, yourself, answered the problem. You wrote "IF" the administration will do ......
Where are copies of your letters to the administration requiring them to state that they are ashamed that they did not take action to protect their Jewish students?
Where are the letters from the administration describing how they will make sure all the Jewish students are safe and secure and will not be bullied?
Apparently none of the above exists.
Why do you think you are safe?
Hate to say it but when we watched the drama at the universities, in most cases the police weren't really doing their job. Trump would have sent in the National Guard. We are dealing with venomous Muslims from various countries plus the useful idiots that have joined forces with them. Some of the westerners were even converting to islam. Yes, its that crazy. Be smart. Be careful.
Jews should be in a Yeshiva for example. As a kid I went to Talmudical Academy (Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim) in Baltimore. In Israel during the 80's I saw the American/Canadian students had no desire to live in Israel. America has changed. Attitudes have changed. You can sense the antisemitism at work and within the government. Some say its nothing new. The writing was on the wall for along time. Its global. I bet the Germans and Brits now regret their "Refugees Welcome" policies. The "Jewish Students" that support Ham-Ass need mental help. Liberalism is a Mental disorder for sure. Islamism is a real threat to our open societies and needs to countered. These Muslim immigrants hate Jews. Cant keep your heads in the sand forever.
Jews of 2024 should move to Israel. Period. Don't wait till it's to late
Not withstanding your points about not letting our enemies achieve their goal of chasing us away, which has merit, I also want to point out that going to Columbia (I am an alumnus) also funds Columbia and its antisemitic administration and staff. Somewhat of a conundrum...
Not a conundrum. Jewish intellect is not dependent on IVY League. Our work ethic, mind and body, comes with our culture which derives from free and varied conversation found on the pages of Talmud. The d.e.i. dogma has overtaken US civilization and makes study at universities wasted time and money and even worse: an entry to a fantasy based utopian pseudo religion. Jews should not stay at Columbia unless welcomed. The trustees of Columbia University have not stepped to save the University. It is their job. Jews have more than enough to do already.
Antisemitism is deeply embedded in the administration and faculty at Columbia, the Ivies and most American universities. They have been co-opted by the far-left which is antisemitic and have even convinced some secular Jews of their hateful views. I would not spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to “educate” my child in that filth. The only thing that speaks to these schools is money. Donors must stop donating and good students must stop attending these vile schools. A wholesale purge of higher education is required. We slept while the antisemites infiltrated universities across America — shame on us. Diversity of thought has been eliminated and free speech has been purged. Higher education is a tragic mess.
I should spend 100k to spend the best years of my life filling my head with garbage surrounded by Hamas lovers?
No thanks.
Their real goal? Eradication of Judaism. When I have 100 descendants living proud Judaism (which typically comes only with yeshiva education) these Hamas retards at Colombia will know they failed.
IF Jews stay at such cesspools of Islamofascism - then they should stay...ARMED! Thank God we have the 2nd Amendment. USE IT!
As Rabbi said a 22 for every Jew!
New and proper universities are needed to fix the problem. Let Harvard, Columbia etc. rot! They are tainted. There is NO desire to stop the antisemitic behavior. At American University I saw them with rags (Kefiyehs) on their heads 5 years ago. What you put in is what you get out. I don't see a future for these "universities". American public schools are also horrible for the most part.
The universities that have suffered most from their keffiya-chic brigades and the hatred they have brought to campus are the same ones that have looked the other way while their hard-left or even Marxist faculty have changed the curricula to reflect their anti-democracy, antisemitic views. These formerly revered universities have taught their students to disdain or even hate the U.S. and pervert what it has always stood for. They do not teach critical thinking skills. Even STEM classes are infected with woke ideology. For these reasons alone, Jewish students--and frankly, any students who care about getting a solid, valuable college education should look elsewhere.
Hi Judy--
I probably already said it here, but honestly there is nothing new under the sun. The antisemitic views have ALWAYS been lurking just under the surface. I attended high school in the late '60s/early '70s and I could feel antisemitic vibes beneath the "hippy type chants." On a positive note, I have heard some very encouraging facts about the State University of NY at Binghamton. I understand they have an active and vibrant Jewish population.
didnt know that the hippies where nazis too. I never cared for the hippies either. dope heads
Cant wait for Trump to send the National Guard when the time comes. Might as well have fun with it. As far as I am concerned these American Universities are TOAST!
Thank you so much for presenting a different point of view!
Even more dangerous than the anti semitism at Columbia this past year, was the atmosphere of anti G-d and assimilation before this past year. Jewish students Belong in yeshiva, learning to be proud strong healthy Jews. If you must go to college at least go to a Jewish one. Assimilation in the last 80 years has destroyed almost as many Jews as Hitler.
"The nation that dwells alone." That's us. We can only be a light on to the nations if we fully internalize through solid Jewish education what it means to be a Jew.
Many of the anti Israel protesters are assimilated Jews who got brainwashed at these universities.
There are hundreds of colleges and training institutions in the USA unburdened by contentious politics and, of course, anti-Semitisch. These are the schools Jews should attend and which to endow money. If a school tolerates rampant political activity, not to mention, an atmosphere unfriendly to Jews, persistence in attending is foolish. Let them "win". Completing a degree unthreatened or molested is wiser.
In theory the professor’s concept sounds good. Practically, why pay $70K yearly to have your child abused and existing in fear? Hopefully, the “school’s brand” will be devalued and Jewish friendly schools will have their status elevated. Also, employers need to re-assess their hiring of students from antisemitic schools- this will hit where it hurts.
Antisemitism is sent from Hashem....ein od milvado! Obviously Hashem is speaking to the Jews. Tehillim 81 tells us that as soon as Jews turn to H-m, H- makes FAST work of getting rid of the enemies. H- sends the enemies in the first place and we would be very wise to heed H-s warning!
I guess if in the midst of all the anti semitism, if one got hurt/killed, c"v, some would still believe we should stand up to the evil by staying. If we would do teshuva, that is the way to stop anti semitism.
The analogy has been made that if the students being attacked and discriminated against were African American instead of Jews the Federal and State justice system would never tolerate this hatred and shut it down immediately. Obviously this is not happening so shame on the Hochul and Biden/ Harris administrations. This should also send a message to Jewish voters that you need to reconsider your preferences.
When it comes to universities, Jewish boys and girls should go to Yeshiva, Touro, Brandeis or Jewish friendly universities like Tulane.
Or even go to university in Israel!
As Nancy says below, there's no need for any Jew to go to a Poison Ivy school.
Never, ever give your money to anti-semites!
Take back control!.
"From the River to the Sea!", was, originally, our slogan; invented by Likud.
Sing!
"From the River to the Sea!
Israel shall always be!"
I think the slogan actually originally comes from the Almighty. You can find it in this past week's Torah portion, Eikev, referring to where our Homeland's boundaries are.
Beautifully said. My brother-in-law is Jewish; my sister, who was raised a Roman Catholic went to college in Vermont and in her freshman year eloped. They were married 57 years. My sister died unexpectedly this year. My dad and he truly became best friends. And I adored them both. As a history major and as a sister and sister-in-law, I am appalled and ashamed with our country’s leadership .
IMHO No Jewish student should ever attend a non-Jewish university - and definitely no religious student! Between YU and Touro there is no reason to attend a non-Jewish university with the attendant temptations and particularly now with the rampant unbridled anti-semitism that has been unleashed on so many colleges. As a former Hillel director I was made starkly aware of the questionable behaviors prevalent on most secular colleges.
Your comment about Touro is very interesting. I have been to conferences at the law school and have immediately felt at home. Also, I think Columbia and the rest of the poison ivy league schools need to be hit in the wallet where it will hurt them the most. Finally, imo there is nothing new under the sun. The difference in 2024 is that the anti Semites are no longer being genteel as they once were.
Dilemma. Leaving or avoiding institutions hostile to Jews or indifferent to their rights & safety allows the haters to win. But even before the recent hatefests, were secular schools, primary, secondary, or post secondary, the ideal place for Jews in the first place?
I would argue that to be a Jew and live a Jewish life in a way that is meaningfully different from the non-Jewish world does not require subjecting oneself to words or acts of hatred or to the cultural pollution of secular life and popular culture. There is no mitzvah of “get a professional degree from an elite secular institution” but there is a Jewish obligation to be Am Kadosh, distinctive nation.
A Jew in galus must decide which is more important: to be a Jew, or to be like and liked by the non Jews.
The irony of this op-ed being published on a religious website.
I went back to school when my children were very young to get my law degree at an elite university. I did so in order to afford day a school education for my children. It’s much harder to get a job as an attorney if you don’t attend a top-ranked school.
I understand what you are saying re: attending top ranked law schools. However, I would think that one's grades count very heavily, regardless of where the degree comes from. Btw--I am very impressed that you completed your law degree while your children were little. I could not have done that.
There is nothing inherently wrong with post-secondary or graduate education in secular studies, even at an elite school There is a problem, however, with the moral and intellectual corruption of young minds by both residential life at universities and politically radical and biased faculty.
My point is the trade off. Hopefully, someone already married, raising a Jewish family, and focused on responsibilities, will not be much affected by campus life and radical professors.
These are 18-year-old kids. Why do they have to be used as weapons to get an education?
Would leaving Nazi Germany in the '30's also be 'allowing the haters to win'?
When the government itself, starts passing laws that persecute Jews, it’s obviously time to leave. Until that point,, force governments (and educational institutions) to live up to their own rules, laws and standards.
If a student’s education is truly impaired, transfer. Otherwise, get a thicker skin and demand the university administration live up to its obligations, and use the courts and government to that end, if possible.