The presidents of two Christian universities have prolonged an open invitation to Jewish college students to enroll at their campuses — vowing to guard their security and wellbeing amid heated anti-Israel protests at schools nationwide.
“We write to specific our profound shock and indignation in response to the surge of hate and violence directed in opposition to Jewish and Israeli people on college campuses throughout the US earlier this 12 months,” the joint letter by Colorado Christian U. President Eric Hogue and Indiana Wesleyan College President Jon Kulag mentioned.
Hogue and Kulag mentioned Jew hatred expressed on campuses following Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on Israel and the continued battle in Gaza uncovered a “profound downside ” in cultural establishments together with academia that “have to be addressed.”
“We wish to make it clear to our nation and the world that our Christian establishments is not going to tolerate this conduct,” the letter issued Wednesday mentioned.
“We additionally wish to specific our profound concern that the horrible occasions all of us witnessed on the finish of the 2023-2024 tutorial 12 months are already being forgotten.”
The leaders mentioned antisemitism counters the Judeo-Christian values of “tolerance, freedom, and human dignity” which were superior in academia for hundreds of years.
“In current days, what now we have seen is an insidious darkness encroaching upon the academy. It’s a darkness emblematic of different horrible durations in historical past,” they mentioned.
The presidents condemned different schools for welcoming golf equipment such because the College students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), which they mentioned “unfold antisemitism overtly.”
“All college directors should take decisive motion to root out the seeds of hatred on their campuses earlier than roots of hate take maintain in tutorial communities,” they mentioned.
“We wish to prolong a heartfelt invitation to Jewish and Israeli college students to affix us on our campuses. You can be welcomed, and you’ll be secure.”
A outstanding New York Jewish chief praised Colorado Christian U. and Wesleyan U. for welcoming Jewish college students, and hoped schools within the Empire State — which have been a hotbed of anti-Zionist, and anti-Jewish sentiment — would observe swimsuit.
“I hope their message will encourage different universities to supply the identical type of help. It sends a message to different universities that extra needs to be carried out to guard Jewish college students,” mentioned Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, govt vp of the New York Board of Rabbis.
Complaints of campus antisemitism impacted Columbia College and Metropolis College of New York campuses, and others throughout the nation together with Harvard.
About half of New York’s Jewish voters don’t consider New York’s school campuses will do sufficient to make Jewish college students really feel within the upcoming fall semester, a survey performed for the New York Solidarity Community discovered.
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