College
campuses
continue to
be a source
of anti-Israel
activity –
including
from some
Jewish
students.
ZOA Philadelphia activists at the Marc Lamont Hill Temple demonstration
Subsequently, Len Getz, Steve Feldman and
Chapter Vice President Naphtali Perlberger
met with the dean of Temple’s Klein College
of Media and Communication. Much to our
shock, Dean David Boardman told us that
not only was the school pleased with Hill,
but also that Jews on campus and in the
community supported Hill. The stunning
news illustrates how much work there is to
do to educate American Jews about Israel and
those who seek her destruction; it also shows
that ZOA’s voice and principled positions are
sorely needed and more important than ever.
Meanwhile, at Haverford College, 10
Jewish students affiliated with the radically
anti-Israel Jewish group IfNotNow held a
brief protest in front of the Chabad House
simply because Chabad offered students the
opportunity to participate in a Birthright trip
to Israel. It is a sad time in the history of the
Jewish people when young Jews are turning
against the Jewish homeland.
Muslim School Teaches
Students to Decapitate Jews
Earlier this year, it was revealed that an
Islamic school in Philadelphia was teaching
young children to commit violence against
Jews. The Muslim American Society Islamic
Center posted a shocking and disturbing
video to its Facebook page, which depicted its
students singing songs and reciting poems in
Arabic with violent content. The Middle East
Media Research Institute (MEMRI) found
the video and translated the lyrics and poems
into English. Lyrics and stanzas included:
“We will defend the land of divine guidance
with our bodies, and we will sacrifice our
souls without hesitation,” and “We will chop
off their heads, and we will liberate the sorrowful
and exalted Al-Aqsa Mosque. We will
lead the army of Allah fulfilling His promise,
and we will subject them to eternal torture.”
Media throughout the nation picked up
the news. The mosque and school removed
the video and as the news spread, they issued
a flimsy excuse and a tepid apology that was
accepted by most of the Jewish communal
establishment. But Greater Philadelphia ZOA
filed a report with the Pennsylvania Human
Relations Commission regarding the hate
speech and incitement. We await the results
of the Commission’s investigation.
Vigilance in Public Schools
Is Vital
With students returning to school, we
have resumed our Greater Philadelphia ZOA
textbook project, calling on parents, grandparents
and others to examine textbooks,
websites, and other materials used by schools
for evidence of anti-Jewish or anti-Israel
content. Enemies of Israel and the Jewish
people have used the public education system
to lie about and distort both historical facts
and contemporary events to diminish U.S.
support for Israel, delegitimize Jewish history,
and intimidate pro-Israel students. We must
be vigilant in exposing and combatting
anti-Semitic and anti-Israel factual distortions
and outright lies promoted in our public
schools.
Around the Country: Philadelphia 69