“I was very happy
that we had people
of all ages attend the
event and share their
concern about the rise
in anti-Semitism and
also ideas on how to
fight this plague.”
- ZOA Florida Board
Member Dr. Dan
Layish
65
FLORIDA
Orlando Parlor Meeting
Focuses on Combatting
Campus Anti-Semitism
In February 2019, ZOA Florida Board
Member Dr. Dan Layish and his wife Staci
opened their Orlando home to host a parlor
meeting on the important topic, “Combatting
Anti-Semitism on Campus: What You Should
Know and How You Can Help.” Moderated
by ZOA Florida Executive Director
Sharona Whisler, the program featured Susan
Tuchman, director of the ZOA’s Center for
Law and Justice, and Jake Suster, a ZOA
Campus fellow at the University of Central
Florida and the president of the university’s
pro-Israel group, Knights for Israel.
The standing-room-only crowd learned
about the reinterpretation of Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students,
which was triggered largely by the ZOA’s
work. Ms. Tuchman talked about how Title
VI can be a useful tool in holding universities
accountable for failing to respond effectively
to campus anti-Semitism. She described some
examples of how anti-Zionism is being used
as a cover for anti-Semitism, and pointed to
the U.S. State Department’s definition of
anti-Semitism to help make the distinction
between legitimate criticism of Israel and
anti-Semitism. The State Department’s definition
provides that when Israel is delegitimized
or demonized, or when Israel is held
to a standard not applied to other countries,
these are manifestations of anti-Semitism.
Questions directed to Jake Suster focused
on empowering Jewish students with pride
in Zionism and highlighting successful pro-
Israel initiatives. Dr. Layish said of the event,
“I was very happy that we had people of all
ages attend the event and share their concern
about the rise in anti-Semitism and also ideas
on how to fight this plague.”
Hollywood and Golden
Beach Parlor Meetings
Target Anti-Semitism in
Congress
The following month, ZOA Florida Board
Member Liz Brauser and her husband Joel,
and Board Member Keith Wasserstrom and
his wife Jessica, hosted Dan Pollak, director
of ZOA’s Government Relations department,
at a parlor meeting in Hollywood, regarding
“What to Do When the Anti-Semite is
a Member of Congress.” The next night,
National Board Member Dr. Paul Tartell and
his wife Jodi hosted the same program at their
home in Golden Beach.
The subject matter was timely: Congresswoman
Ilhan Omar’s anti-Semitic tweets and
statements were only meekly condemned by
her congressional colleagues and without any
disciplinary action. The day she was sworn
into Congress, Rashida Tlaib posted a map in
her congressional office replacing Israel with
Palestine. Both Congresswomen have pledged
their support for the anti-Semitic Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement
against Israel.
Ms. Brauser praised ZOA’s important work
and gave a thorough and inspiring summary
of ZOA’s VIP Leadership Mission to Israel,
from which she had recently returned. Dr.
Tartell welcomed his guests in Golden Beach
with similar praise for ZOA’s fight against
anti-Semitism.
Director of ZOA's Gov. Relations department
Dan Pollak and ZOA Florida Executive Director
Sharona Whisler with Donor Society members
at a ZOA Florida parlor meeting