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available to help protect Jewish students, as
the result of the ZOA’s legal efforts. Susan also
explained how this legal tool should now afford
better protection to Jewish students, after
the Office for Civil Rights recently reopened
the ZOA’s Title VI case against Rutgers University
and decided that it will now use the
U.S. State Department’s excellent definition
of anti-Semitism when it assesses and decides
Title VI cases.
Susan gave parents and students several practical
tips for responding to campus anti-Semitism
when it arises. Those in attendance were
riveted and asked many questions after the
presentation, including about the anti-Israel
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)
movement, and about Students for Justice in
Palestine (SJP), one of the groups largely responsible
for creating a hostile campus environment
for Jewish students.
This was a wonderful opportunity for people
to learn in greater depth about ZOA’s legal
efforts and achievements to protect Jewish
college students, as well as for ZOA staff to
meet our constituents on the beautiful North
Shore of Long Island. Thank you to Mark and
Sandy Gold for their generosity on so many
levels in making this very important Long Island
kickoff event come to fruition!
ZOA Long Island Makes Inroads
Further East
Earlier in the fall, following the success of the
ZOA’s 120th Louis D. Brandeis Award Dinner,
Susan Tuchman and Deborah Peretz presented
an educational program at Dix Hills Jewish
Center, a Conservative synagogue, further east
on Long Island.
Despite it being a Sunday night of a holiday
weekend, the event was well attended by parents,
grandparents and even students. Deborah
gave an overview of the ZOA and the work we
do. Susan introduced the evening’s topic, and
then showed an excerpt from the full-length
documentary called “Hate Spaces: The Politics
of Intolerance,” which depicts the campus
problems in graphic detail and also features the
ZOA. Following the film and Susan’s presentation,
there was a spirited Q and A session.
Many stayed after the program to talk until we
were informed that the synagogue had to close
for the evening.
Dix Hill’s Jewish Center is strongly committed
to building up its Israel education programs
and is looking forward to continuing to work
with the ZOA. Both Rabbi Howard Buechler
and Cantor Steven Hevenstone attended the
program and expressed their appreciation of
ZOA’s work.
Thanks to Dr. Robert Gluck and Dr. Harvey
Finkelstein for their efforts in working with us
to organize this program.
Looking Toward the Future
As of this printing, the region is planning a
follow-up program in Great Neck for ZOA Donor
Society members, as well as other engagement
programs throughout Long Island. As
part of the NY metro area, Long Islanders are
encouraged to take part in programs available to
them at ZOA’s national headquarters in NYC.
ZOA Long Island is excited to hear from you!
For comments, ideas, or questions, please contact
Deborah Peretz at dperetz@zoa.org. Stay
tuned for upcoming programming and events!
New England
ZOA New England Launches Israel
Ulpan – Teaches and Celebrates
Jewish Roots in the Land of Israel
After receiving requests from a number of
constituents following regional parlor meetings,
Rabbi Jonina Pritzker, executive director
of ZOA New England, launched a comprehensive
Israel Ulpan. This intensive class was
designed to provide participants with the actual
history of Israel, presented in ways to engage
with students with a variety of backgrounds
and knowledge levels.
The goal of ZOA New England’s Israel Ul-
Dix Hills Jewish Center (photo credit: Facebook/dixhillsjewishcenter)
Following the
film and Susan’s
presentation,
there was
a spirited Q
and A session.
Many stayed
after the program
to talk
until we were
informed that
the synagogue
had to close for
the evening.
New England
link