Take Action: Protect Jewish Students From Anti-Semitism
Dear Editor:
On college campuses across the country, Jewish students are living in fear. Since the October 7 Hamas massacre, anti-Semitism has surged to alarming levels, turning institutions of higher learning into hotbeds of hate.
Professors and students openly praise Hamas and its brutality. anti-Semitic harassment, threats, and even physical violence against Jewish students have become disturbingly routine. Shockingly, university administrators – including at the most elite institutions – have responded with silence, excuses, or indifference.
This is unacceptable. Jewish students deserve to be safe. It is our responsibility to take action.
The bipartisan Anti-Semitism Awareness Act aims to be a critical weapon in the fight against campus anti-Semitism.
This legislation directs the US Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism when investigating cases of discrimination against Jewish students. By codifying this definition into law, the bill ensures that universities, government agencies, and the courts have a clear legal framework to determine when anti-Israel rhetoric and anti-Semitic behavior cross the line from free speech into unlawful harassment.
Without a clear definition, universities can continue ignoring or excusing discrimination under the guise of “academic freedom.” Passing this bill is essential to holding institutions accountable and ensuring that Jewish students are protected under federal law.
In the last legislative session, the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support (320-91) but failed to receive a Senate hearing.
This year, Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) have reintroduced the bill in the House (H.R. 1007), while Senators Tim Scott (R-NC) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) have introduced a companion bill (S.558) in the Senate.
Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office is urging our community to take action. They are calling on individuals to contact their elected officials and demand support for the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act.
Without legal protections, Jewish students will continue to face unchecked harassment on campus. We must act now.
Call or email your representatives today. Your voice can make a difference in ensuring Jewish students no longer have to live in fear.
To take action, visit: agudah.org/take-action-protect-jewish-students-from-antisemitism.
Shabsie Saphirstein
Dear Editor:
As I look forward to reading and enjoying the Queens Jewish Link, I cannot help but notice the opinions and blather of Warren Hecht.
His recent piece advises us to admire Governor Hochul and her decision to continue her vacation in Israel even as her father passed away. A bigger political hypocrite would be difficult to find anywhere.
As to his view of Elon Musk and the work he’s doing to find, expose, and eliminate the fraud, waste, and outright stealing of the American People’s dollars, Mr. Hecht as usual misses the point, and his myopic vision cannot seem to view the big picture.
Instead of applauding the efforts of Mr. Musk, and the promise of President Trump to root out these abuses, he gives us nonsense about the Courts “fortunately” attempting to thwart this necessary work. His Democrats – and to be fair, Republicans, as well – have been watching the decades-long destruction of our economy.
Mr. Hecht would serve us better by decrying the silence from his party leaders – Schumer, Nadler, Cohen, Blumenthal, Schiff, Raskin, and more – as they remain mute while the “Squad” and others openly display anti-sentiment, anti-Israel, and even anti-American Jew-hatred.
I shall continue to hope that Mr. Hecht and his ilk will eventually see the light about these and so many other issues we Jews face daily. But I won’t hold my breath.
Respectfully,
Mort Grossman
Procrastination
Dear Editor:
I’m the world’s biggest procrastinator, except for when I’m not. For example, instead of clearing off my car from last night’s snowstorm (a storm in New York terms, not Montana terms), I’m betting on waiting for the temperatures to rise and melt the snow off my car. Of course, since I’m parked on the north side of the street (Geography is not my forte either) and we expect more storms this week, that might mean waiting until April to drive anywhere.
Not to brag, but I did attempt to shovel the snow this morning. I figured if the guy down the block and across the street could do it, so could I. After all, I’m attending weekly yoga sessions, which means parts of my body are strengthening. Well, forget that logic. I could barely lift the shovel, let alone scrape the accumulating ice and snow off the car. I forget how painful shoulders can get. Better pay someone than pay for indiscretions.
Since I have nothing on today’s schedule, maybe I should make some hot soup. Maybe not. How about doing some laundry? That can certainly wait. What can’t wait is my daily reciting of T’hilim. I’m so impressed by some women who can recite all the T’hilim in one day! I certainly don’t fall under that category. I try to read ten p’rakim a day and understand what I’m reading.
That leaves preparing for the other “P” day. That’s right. Purim is approaching, and my fear of sending a decent array of foods increases. Why can’t I come up with a theme or color scheme? Wait a minute. I can worry about that another day. Now, I can check my 100 emails that I pushed off over the weekend.
Debbie Horowitz
Democratic Party’s Incompatibility
Dear Editor:
Fellow writer Shalom Markowitz has stated multiple times that being a Torah-observant Jew and a Democrat are incompatible. While his statement is correct, it is too narrow in my opinion.
Over the past few years, Democrats have defended illegal immigrants over citizens, teacher unions over students, criminals over victims, and men masquerading as women over actual women.
Yes, supporting Democratic policy is obviously irreconcilable with Orthodox Judaism. But it’s far broader than that. Supporting the insane, woke policies of the modern-day Democratic Party should be incompatible for any decent person possessing even a modicum of common sense.
Doniel Behar
Respecting the Democratic Process
Dear Editor:
This letter addresses Arlene Ross’ letter that did not appreciate my analogizing Trump’s re-election to remarrying a prior spouse. Ms. Ross appears to believe that Trump attempted to steal the 2020 election. Despite the unprecedented statistical anomalies (Trump being ahead by a significant margin until the magical overnight votes came in, Trump winning every bellwether, yet supposedly losing the election, and the biggest of all, 16 million more people supposedly voting for a candidate who already showed signs of dementia than the messiah of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama) and legal challenges, in the end Trump respected our democracy and on January 20, 2021, Trump peacefully left office.
Ironically, it appears that Ms. Ross is the one who does not respect our democracy, stating, “There is no reason that Trump should have won the nomination...” Ms. Ross, Trump’s nomination, unlike the Democrats’ DEI nominee who was foisted upon us, actually followed a democratic process and represents the will of the majority of the electorate.
Jason Stark
Goodbye, Gaza
Dear Editor:
Please, someone remind the world that Gaza, previously known as Gush Katif, belonged to Israel from 1967, when the Arab countries lost a war with Israel, until 2005. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon implemented a plan of unilateral disengagement of Israeli security forces and settlements from the Gaza Strip. He removed 8,800 Israelis from homes they had lived in for 30 years. He dismantled 21 Jewish settlements and four additional settlements in the Northern West Bank (Samaria) with the purpose of improving Israel’s security and international status in the absence of Palestinians agreeing to any of the many peace proposals. In other words, we gave up a portion of our land, agreed to give the Palestinians self-rule, and removed our military presence in order to attain peace. How did that work out?
At the time, many opposed Prime Minister Sharon’s plan. Benjamin Netanyahu resigned from Sharon’s government over the pullout. Optimistic Jews, including James Wolfenson, the head of the World Bank, paid millions of dollars to purchase for the Palestinians the amazing hothouses that the Israelis had built. Their thinking was that if the Palestinians had a way to earn a sustainable income, as the hothouses had provided for the Jews, the Palestinians would thrive, be happy, and remain peaceful. Within a couple of days of the Palestinians taking full control of Gaza, they destroyed these hothouses, ridiculously claiming they didn’t want anything from Jews. Sadly, as many predicted, Gaza was quickly taken over by terrorists more interested in destroying Israel than in creating a good life for themselves and their families.
The world should recognize that Gaza was a failed experiment. Never in history has a country that won territory in a war ever returned it. Not to mention that this land was given to the Jews 4,000 years ago. Yet, Israel voluntarily gave it up for peace. But, instead of peace, Israel has lived under constant terror. It has suffered suicide bombings, gruesome attacks, vicious rapes, unimaginable burning of human flesh, and indescribably horrific kidnappings. How dare the world say to rebuild Gaza and return it to the Palestinians, 85 percent of whom are Hamas supporters?
It is wonderful that Trump has boldly suggested that we disperse all the Palestinians and that the United States take over the Gaza Strip, and he and the world create a Riviera of the Middle East. Many countries are objecting to this proposal, but these countries should jump at this idea because, in truth, Gaza should be dismantled and returned to Israel with a sign, “We tried. The experiment failed.”
Every Arab country that refuses to take in their so-called “brethren,” whom they act so concerned about, should hide their heads in shame. Israel, which is the size of New Jersey, takes in and finds room for every Jew. Fifty-seven Muslim countries can’t take in a couple million Palestinians? They all have room, but they don’t want them. They don’t trust them. They make fortunes of money off the Palestinian plight. And sadly, many countries want the Palestinians, who have remained refugees for 70 years, to continue fighting against the existence of Israel, the only democratic country in the Middle East.
These past 50 years have been a tragic mistake – a harrowing nightmare for Israel. Absolutely no good has come of Israel gifting Gush Katif to the Palestinians. It’s time someone stood up to these countries. I am glad President Trump is doing it. I pray G-d keeps President Trump strong in his justified convictions. It’s time to rid the world of Gaza.
Ruki Renov
Dear Editor:
I checked the United States Constitution, and I can’t seem to find the Department of Education or USAID in it. Maybe Warren Hecht has a different copy he can lend me or show me where I am missing it? The only member of the Executive branch listed in Article II, as I see it, is the President. He, and he alone, is the Executive Branch, with all others subordinate to him. If the President wants to eliminate a department within the Executive Branch, he has constitutional authority to do so.
As for judges, where in the Constitution do district court judges have the authority to override anything within the Executive Branch? We have a separation of powers doctrine. The district courts were set up by Congress, but the only court mentioned in Article III is the Supreme Court. This is why every order from a district court judge blocking any executive move will be overturned in either the circuit court or the Supreme Court.
The country is $36 trillion in debt – that’s 36 with 12 zeros after it. The country was headed off a fiscal cliff. Do you, Mr. Hecht, think that taxpayer dollars should be spent on transgender anything in any country, especially one that isn’t ours? I would guess that the entire QJL readership would say no. Some of the spending uncovered by Mr. Musk is absolutely insane and infuriating. The only possible explanation for it is kickbacks to lawmakers who want it funded. How else does someone making $200,000 on a congressional salary have several homes and worth multi-millions of dollars?
The interest on the national debt is more than our defense spending. Somehow, some way, this country needed to cut spending and only spend on that which is necessary. Mr. Hecht and all the Democrats crying right now clearly wanted the status quo and destroy our country economically. Mr. Hecht, do you pay all your bills on time? Do you look through your credit card statements each month before you pay them? It’s high time that the United States does the same thing. It’s the only way we keep our country from the fiscal brink.
Shalom Markowitz
