I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the Passover holiday.

Yesterday, JPRO, our Jewish community professionals’ group, held a beautiful Passover lunch together. It was an important opportunity for those who work in the Jewish community to come together for the holiday – and to recognize the incredible work each is doing on behalf of our Jewish community.

I am going to assume that in some way Israel, Gaza, Palestinians, the hostages, and perhaps the student protests were a part of your seder conversation. Especially when we read the Haggadah passages about freedom.

This year, my family used a Haggadah written by our synagogue when we lived in Baltimore. This passage launched our discussion:

“The Haggadah teaches us that political freedom is a basic requirement for a meaningful human life. Without the ability to have control over our own basic life choices, we are not free. Therefore, we teach our children a lesson of freedom.”

Suddenly, we were in a challenging conversation. This led to a discussion on the pro-Palestinian activities at universities across the country, with Columbia University at the epicenter. Encampments have been established. Hundreds of students arrested and suspended. And there are various accounts of the aims and goals of these protesters.

Here are two provocative articles about the protests/protesters:

What the backlash to student protests over Gaza is really about

‘Pro-Palestine’ campus mobs think Jew-hatred is progressive

Before I get into what is happening nationally, let us focus on the local scene. One week ago, a group of student protesters at Reed College interrupted several courses, shouting anti-Israel messages at the students inside and, in some cases, opening the door to the classrooms, leaving students upset and some unable to finish their class. Reed College was quite direct – “Those who disrupt Reed’s academic program will face disciplinary action in accordance with our college procedures.”

Plus, an encampment is forming on the Park Blocks near Portland State University with a Palestine Solidarity Rally scheduled for Monday. And next week we may see an encampment develop at the University of Oregon. Our Hillel leaders are in touch with university administrators at both schools.

What we are seeing today are protest rallies on college campuses that have morphed into broader campaigns: From “Ceasefire Now” to the categorical claim that Israel is guilty of “genocide” and “war crimes;” from demands that universities divest from Israeli companies and any American company selling arms to the Jewish state to universities fully cutting ties with Israeli academic institutions. (As one community member inquired, have we asked how much money is funneled to these universities for professors, programs, and student clubs from Middle Eastern countries -- Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, etc.?)

Students have the right to protest and assemble! At the same time, protesters do not have the right to assemble on school property to disrupt the functioning of the university or intimidate students on the way to class.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, Columbia University’s Rules of Conduct say this about protests: “Every member of our community retains the right to demonstrate, to rally, to picket, to circulate petitions and distribute ideas” and to “express opinions on any subject whatsoever, even when such expression invites controversy and sharp scrutiny.” The code of conduct protects speakers’ rights even when “ideas expressed might be thought offensive, immoral, disrespectful, or even dangerous.” I agree with that.

But Columbia’s code of conduct also says a person violates the rules when they “engage in conduct that places another in danger of bodily harm,” or “uses words that threaten bodily harm in a situation where there is clear and present danger of such bodily harm.”

Those on the inside of these encampments say things are peaceful. There are Jews in those encampments who even held a Passover seder. People say that most of the anti-Israel protesters do not engage in antisemitic harassment. And, let me be clear, speech critical of Israel and supportive of the Palestinian cause is protected. However…

Several protesters, including those who are participating in the encampments or have demonstrated in support of the encampments, have expressed explicit support for Hamas terrorism and urged Hamas to commit further violence against Israel. On social media, you can find footage of crowds taunting Jewish students to “Go back to Poland!” and chanting, “We don’t want no Zionists here!” There was a masked protester with a sign that read “Al-Qassam’s Next Target” with an arrow pointing at Jewish counter-protesters nearby. Al-Qassam is the military wing of Hamas. A protester screamed at Jewish students, “The 7th of October is going to be every day for you!” Another called out, “Attention, everyone! We have Zionists who have entered the camp. We are going to create a human chain where I am standing so that they do not pass this point and infringe on our privacy.”

Students involved in the protests say, “We are not anti-Jewish, not at all.” For many Jewish students who are encountering these protests on campus the words, chants, and actions feel BOTH anti-Israel and anti-Jewish.

It sure would go a long way if we heard one protester demand, “Let the hostages go!” Or, “Free Gaza from Hamas!"

Adam Lehman, CEO of Hillel International, said, “However well-meaning some of the protest activities may be, they are fostering a culture of harassment and intimidation focused on Jewish students, Israeli students, and in some cases even leading to physical assault. This current wave of protest activities is trafficking in discriminatory, exclusionary, and sometimes violent language that we would not tolerate if it were being directed at any other minority population or group.”

I can only imagine how I would feel if my child was attending Columbia University, USC (which just canceled commencement due to security concerns), University of Texas, Reed College, or too many other universities in this country. I can only hope that school administrators stand up and support Jewish students -- and all students -- so they feel safe. College is a time for exploration, growth, and learning -- not fear and intimidation.

Shabbat shalom and enjoy the remainder of the Passover holiday.