The Jewish Federation continues to be inundated with calls from parents and students about anti-Israel activities in local schools and universities. Since April 1 (and this does not include every incident):

A Beaverton elementary school held its annual cultural night and despite concerns about last year’s program, it turned into a political evening with anti-Israel displays. The principal of the school wrote to families, “I know there is more work to do to ensure this event is not only one in which everyone has a voice, but also one in which everyone feels safe and seen in a way that does not cause harm to other community members.”

The principal also noted, following conversations with the Jewish Federation, the Beaverton School District’s Equity Advisory Committee will be convening to develop guidelines for the celebration of culture without the potential for harm of another culture. 

A Portland High School 9^th grade “US History: Ethnic Studies” class shared this presentation on the “aftermath of October 7th,” which included three slides about what happened on October 7 followed by 44 slides demonizing Israel. No balance or other perspective. Parents filed a bias report, and the Jewish Federation was in contact with the superintendent and chief of schools.

An Oregon State University professor teaches a class on “Peace Strategies.” In a post to students, the professor wrote about the university's upcoming Holocaust Memorial Week (OSU has proudly observed Holocaust Memorial Week every year since 1987 with a full breadth of speakers and program offerings) and shared, “Please hold the Holocaust and the unrelenting slaughter of innocent Palestinian children and families in an active genocide today in your minds at the same time.” I, personally, find the comparison between the two events inappropriate. The professor then offered students extra credit for attending multiple anti-Israel rallies.

A religion professor at University of Oregon taught a class on “Modern Judaism.” You can see on this slide how the professor described different types of Jews. What do you think?

Oregon Hillel has been a great partner. Both university administrations have responded that these incidents are under investigation and any information they are able to share will be communicated (however, due to privacy laws, we might not be made fully aware of any sanctions to these teachers).

On April 28, the Beaverton Education Association (BEA), the teachers’ union, will hold a workshop on Teaching Palestine, the same one-sided curriculum the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) tried to introduce last year. The Beaverton School District has been very responsive and made clear that this curriculum is not approved – yet we are greatly concerned it could enter the classroom.

One Beaverton parent wrote to the BEA – “Why is a one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a necessary workshop for Beaverton teachers? This is not part of our curriculum. And if the goal is to provide teachers with better education into this complex conflict, why would this be your material of choice? Would you consider hosting a similar workshop to teach the Israeli perspective of history? Among the world's many conflicts, why focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at all?” You, too, can share your thoughts with the BEA at BEAPresident@Oregoned.org.

Students and parents are our “eyes and ears” on the ground in schools. In each case, the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) responds and is deeply involved in conversations with superintendents, district leadership, schoolteachers, university administrators, and parents. Fortunately, we have the relationships to do so.

On a national level, we continue to monitor the administration’s approach towards rooting out antisemitism and discrimination against Jewish students at universities – threatening to withhold billions of dollars of federal funds and arresting/deporting foreign students. Earlier this week, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, three of the four main denomination movements, and two other national Jewish organizations stated, “We firmly reject the false choice between confronting antisemitism and upholding democracy. Our safety as Jews has always been tied to the rule of law, to the safety of others, to the strength of civil society, and to the protection of rights and liberties for all.”

Deborah Lipstadt, the Biden administration’s antisemitism envoy and renowned Holocaust historian, said she does not oppose the enforcement of visa rules or accountability for students who cross legal or institutional lines. But she warned that "such measures must be conducted with restraint and fidelity to due process."

The Jewish Federation does not seek to restrict free speech rights on campus or elsewhere, but we have and will continue to seek action against those who incite hate against Jewish students. Whether the cases that are currently before the courts are examples of such incitement will be determined with due process.

History has made it clear that our safety as Jews is inextricably linked with inclusive, pluralistic democracy and with the rights and safety of all people. When the rule of law and democratic norms are threatened, antisemitism invariably increases and Jews – and other communities – are made less safe.

Sadly, all of this is happening prior to Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, starting next Wednesday night. Yom HaShoah coincides with the 27th of Nisan (on the Hebrew calendar), which marks the beginning of the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, when Jewish resistance fighters defied the Nazis and fought for freedom and dignity. There will be a special service Wednesday evening conducted by the Oregon Board of Rabbis at Congregation Neveh Shalom at 6:15 p.m. Please join with Survivors, their families, and community members to honor this occasion.

The next day, communities around the world uphold the memory of victims of the Holocaust through the Reading of the Names, a public recitation of Holocaust victims’ names, ages, and birthplaces. Join the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education at Pioneer Courthouse Square from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as community members and elected officials read the names of those murdered in the Holocaust.

Thursday evening, Beit Haverim will hold a special exhibition and service for Yom HaShoah starting at 6:00 p.m.

Shabbat Shalom, enjoy the conclusion of the Passover holiday, and then go have some pizza!