An Open Letter On Anti-Semitism At Queens College
Dear Editor:
My name is Aaron Boehm. I’m currently a freshman at Queens College. I am of Eastern European descent. During the Holocaust, my great-grandparents were forced to escape their homes, arriving in America as penniless foreigners. They learned English, integrated, and became contributing members of American society. They rebuilt their lives, opening businesses and founding charities and schools. My grandparents, first-generation American citizens, became doctors, teachers, and entrepreneurs, and still strive to continuously improve their communities. My ancestors came here with nothing and worked to build the life I have today, setting an example of self-determination. I grew up in Queens and always planned on one day attending Queens College, a school known for its general education and liberal arts program. Queens College prides itself on its diversity, and I’ve made new friends from many different backgrounds. I was optimistic about college – until October 7.
When I heard about the atrocities Hamas inflicted on my people, I couldn’t finish my schoolwork that day. I was gratified, however, to see Queens College President Frank Wu immediately release a statement condemning the violent terrorism of Hamas. On October 11, the QC Jewish organizations held a vigil to mourn, support, sing, and pray. The vigil was rescheduled and relocated to be less obtrusive. I was again gratified to see President Wu show his support.
On October 18, pro-Palestinian students hosted a protest, as is their first amendment right in this country. After their protest, I spent hours discussing Israel with open-minded students willing to engage in dialogue. On November 2, another pro-Palestinian protest occurred, again blaming Israel for the horrors of Hamas. On November 7, the Queens College Muslim Student Association (QCMSA) posted horrifying stories to their official Instagram, denying the hell of October 7, and justifying the violence of Hamas (a US-designated terror group). Since then, the QCMSA has continued to share vile, anti-Semitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories, causing further division on campus. I was again gratified to see the administration release a statement cautioning clubs to maintain the code of conduct in all official social media accounts and launching an NYPD investigation into the posts. Immediately, the Muslim Student Association baselessly accused the administration of Islamophobia and intimated that any police involvement was racist. Results of the investigation are still pending.
On November 13, the Queens College branch of Students for Justice in Palestine (QCSJP) – an organization banned in some states and college campuses, and an unofficial, non-club entity – organized a protest in front of Kiely Hall. For my own well-being, I avoided the area, but that didn’t save me. For the next week and a half, every time I walked on campus – by the Library, the Quad, the Student Union, Powdermaker Hall, and Kiely Hall – I was subjected to racist, anti-Zionistic, anti-Semitic graffiti. Buildings and Grounds did not remove the graffiti or even cover it up. Nothing was done to show the Jewish students that their well-being matters. Posters of hostages were torn down; no other signs were affected.
On November 15, Queens College organized an interfaith dialogue. I and many other Jewish students attended, hoping that we and our Muslim and pro-Palestinian counterparts could de-escalate the rising tensions by focusing on our shared campus and desire to learn. The event was a failure. Pro-Palestinian students blamed Jewish Queens College students for military actions in Israel. Screaming ruled the day. Audio experts confirmed a recording of a student yelling, “Kill all Zionists.” One Jewish girl who spoke during the event felt so unsafe and targeted after the event that she wanted to ask security to escort her out but didn’t feel safe asking them. This student, and many others, are being continuously harassed on social media. Meanwhile, the QCMSA and QCSJP continue to spread hate.
On November 27, the Jewish student clubs organized a solidarity rally, to show support for Israel and each other. We spoke about persecution and sang of faith and unity, hope and happiness. A pro-Palestinian counter protest, with anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic messaging, yelled, cursed, and hurled slurs at us, subjecting us to harassment, racism, anti-Semitism, and hate. Chants of “Khaybar, Khaybar ya yahud” – calling for a repeat of the massacre of the Jews of the Khaybar oasis – were caught on video along with calls for Jews to “go back to Poland, go back to Germany.” When we moved to walk around the Quad, these Palestinian supporters moved onto the area we had college permission to use and began tearing down our flags and pennants, destroying private property. One Jewish student attempting to save his belongings was mobbed by students fighting to destroy his property. One girl shoved a sign into his personal space, and after he moved it out of his face, the girl claimed he assaulted her. There is video evidence of the interaction and there was no physical contact. A police report had to be filed because the Jewish students feel abandoned by QC administration.
I’m not here to write about the violence and destruction of October 7. I’m not here to write about media bias or social media misinformation. I’m not here to write about the rampant ignorance being spread by uneducated people. I’m not here to lecture about the definitions of genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes, proportionality, or other terms being used incorrectly and inaccurately to vilify Jews. I’m not here to write about the history of Israel, the Middle East, and the British Palestinian Mandate. I’m not here to point out the disparity between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian events. I’m not here to talk about discussions I’ve had regarding rising anti-Semitism on college campuses with my elected officials.
I just want to talk about my personal experiences at Queens College. I want to discuss the hate I’ve experienced, the anti-Semitism I’ve witnessed, and the fear I have felt, all at Queens College. Colleges around the country are failing their Jewish students in their obligation to keep them safe. Schools around the country are failing their students with their lack of education about hate, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust. Human life is sacred. We live in a country that guarantees human rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and freedoms of speech, assembly, and religion. We live in a democracy. I’m not here to ask anyone to support America’s ally in the Middle East, the only Middle Eastern country with the same values as the United States. I’m here now because CUNY is failing its students. Queens College is failing its students.
Let Queens College set a positive example. Let Queens College become a beacon of hope. Let Queens College defend their Jewish students and promote inclusivity. Hate has no place on our campus!
With an open heart and a trembling hand,
Aaron Boehm
Dear Editor:
I heard the following second-hand story, but it was from Rabbi Shay Schachter, so the veracity of it is not in question.
Hatzalah recently responded to a call at an elderly woman’s home. During the course of treating the woman, one of the medics referred to the numbers tattooed on the arm of the lady as something inflicted on her by the Nazis. This agitated the woman and she explained why. She told him that when you refer to atrocities as “committed by the Nazis,” you make it sound like they were exceptional; that it was a minority group of uniquely evil people committing horrible atrocities. That is incorrect. The Germans did this to me. Every German knew what was being done to the Jews. And almost every German was okay with it.
Often, fellow letter writers and columnists refer to Israel’s war against their current enemy, as “Hamas.” This is erroneous. Israel’s enemy is much broader than that, and includes all of Gaza. Let’s examine the facts:
1) Gazans voted in Hamas to rule over them. 2) Gazans teach their young children that all Israelis are evil and need to be killed. I recently saw a video of a kindergarten graduation ceremony in Gaza where little kids took part in a play that reenacted a suicide bombing. 3) Polling data revealed an overwhelming majority of Gazans approved of the 10/7 attacks. For Jewish lefties and all the wokesters who hate Israel, the same polling shows they hate America and Western values, too. 4) Non-Hamas Gazans took part in the 10/7 attacks by looting the ransacked neighborhoods, celebrating the attacks in the streets, and howling with delight at the sights of bloodied and beaten Jewish hostages being paraded through Gaza, including physically attacking some of the victims. There are tens of hours of this footage. I have yet to see footage of any Gazan protesting or doing anything to prevent what occurred.
I understand why many are confused on this issue, as Israel is currently only targeting Hamas members, and it is certainly not politically correct today to refer to 2.2 million people as an enemy worthy of destruction. But let’s be real: Finishing off Hamas may provide a measure of long overdue revenge for the murderous rampages of 10/7, but will do little to solve the long-term issue of dealing with a population of millions that are hellbent on the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people.
Jason Stark
Dear Editor:
Here is one way to pay for a border wall with Mexico. This could help deal with illegal immigration along with the smuggling of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into our nation. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris (assigned by Biden to be his border czar, eyes and ears, to solve this problem with no success to date), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Department of Homeland Security Chief Alejandro Mayorkas claim that our southern border is secure. Under the Biden administration, we are on track to surpass a record six million people illegally crossing into our country by the end of December 2023.
Why not place a small tax on all the funds that millions of immigrants send back home to families. It is estimated that $800 billion was remitted in 2022. This amount may be even greater in 2023. This tax could be pennies per dollar. It could raise the necessary funding over time to complete building a wall to secure our border with Mexico.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Liar, Liar!
Dear Editor:
Our elected leadership in government finally decided that corruption, which includes living in a fantasy world of fake academic credentials, sporting phony accomplishments, invented family histories, as well as using an elected position to enhance personal wealth, is grounds for expulsion.
No, folks, Congress did not finally impeach and convict Joe Biden. They merely expelled Representative George Santos. Given the similarity of their misdeeds, I am struggling to understand why that is.
Jonathan Goldgrab
Dear Editor:
Let me preface this letter by stating that I don’t understand the true meaning of stress. Right now, only the families of the hostages and of the chayalim are familiar with stress. Instead, I am going to talk about normal stress that many of us (okay, me) face daily and have to deal with.
When I make a phone call to get information, and I hear, “You can go online.” I immediately freeze up and freak out. I explain that I want to talk to a human being. I once needed five years of bank statements and explained to the 20-year-old banker that I didn’t care how much the print copies would cost, but I was ready to pay anything (until I was told the actual astronomic cost).
Yes! I finally got my senior citizen transit card, which means I pay half-price for the subway and express bus. It “only” took four weeks to get it. However, it’s accompanied by a letter informing me that I can switch to OMNY Reduced-Fare. Huh? I have to go online, create an account, and follow three more “complicated” steps. Of course, there’s a video that can help me. Once again, I feel the stress rising.
Finally, there’s the visit to the medical doctor, who of course is the greatest expert in ____. However, prior to my actually seeing her, I have to fill out a detailed five-page questionnaire concerning my medical history, which covers every conceivable part of my body (248?). The PA basically says, “Wow!” and not in a good way. She then wants such a detailed medical history that I thought she’d go back to 18th century ancestors. The bottom line was: I didn’t even see the doctor because she was called away to an emergency.
Let’s all experience just shalom and a lot less stress.
Debbie Horowitz
Dear Editor:
One can understand the emotional response to what George Santos did, but why would you set a terrible precedent that will now be used against you? The Long Island Republican Representatives led the call for the removal of Mr. Santos from the House of Representatives. This was a foolish reaction and is very upsetting on a couple of levels.
First, there was no due process. For those who aren’t Constitutional scholars, this principle can be found in the Fifth Amendment. He was not convicted by a jury to be guilty. If every member of Congress was brought up on ethics charges, three quarters of the House would have to be removed! There are no “ethics” in Government. Our President, Secretary of Homeland Security, and FBI Director lie to us all the time. Lying by itself is not a crime worthy of this kind of punishment.
Second, the Democratic Party would NEVER do this to one of their own. Adam Schiff of California lied to us repeatedly during the Russia hoax. Eric Swalwell, also of California, slept with a Chinese spy. Rashida Tlaib (Michigan) and Ilhan Omar (Minnesota) are Marxist, anti-American anti-Semites. They all should be thrown out of Congress under this new standard. Which brings us to Jamaal Bowman of New York. He pleaded guilty to a crime! He should be removed just on that fact alone. Why should we let those who defy our laws represent us and write them?
George Santos clearly was going to lose the 2024 primary election after what he did. To set up a special election for his seat with such a slim majority was just stupid. Why give the Democrats another tool to destroy our traditions, government, and country?
Shalom Markowitz
Dear Editor:
It’s wonderful to see all of the friends and allies that Israel and the Jewish people have among the politicians during a crisis, but for politicians to ignore, on a routine basis, the necessary fundamental pillars to a sound educational system, or for an effective criminal justice system, and then wake up when the rot and danger of each of these rear their ugly heads, strikes me as being highly cynical and hypocritical.
We understand that more robust funding to yeshivos and shuls is why Kew Gardens Hills and other Orthodox communities are married to the Democratic County establishment, but let’s not pretend that this partnership and alliance is without its perils, in that if society becomes unstable enough, the cracks in the foundation give way to a collapse. I wonder whether Mayor Adams could ever protect this community if there was, G-d forbid, a 2020 riot that got triggered from our neighborhood, such as what happened in Crown Heights under Mayor Dinkins.
Abe Fuchs
Dear Editor:
I would like to respond to Warren Hecht. He blames the Republicans for not passing an aid bill for Israel, when actually the opposite is true. The Democrats in the Senate are blocking any aid to Israel because of their concern that Israel is harming civilians in Gaza. Schumer pretends to support Israel and then blocks the aid.
Warren wants us to believe that the majority of Democrats support Israel. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Pramila Jayapal, the head of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, has made a moral equivalency between Hamas and Israel. She stated that we must “be balanced” when we criticize the October 7 massacre. So, I guess Jews are subhuman and don’t have a right to defend themselves.
Kamala Harris also jumped in and condemned Israel for killing Palestinians. She left out the fact that Hamas is trying to maximize civilian casualties by using them as “human shields.”
As violence against Jews is ramping up throughout this country, the Biden administration is ignoring anti-Semitism and focusing on Islamophobia. In addition, the Biden administration and the Dems continue to release funds to Iran. For some strange reason, the Dems want to support Iran’s terrorism and nuclear ambitions. This is insane. Any Jew who votes for the Dems must be suicidal.
Martin Berkowitz
