Penn announces new office to combat religious intolerance amid anti-Israel protests – DV Journal

University of Pennsylvania officials announced the creation of a new Office of Religious and Ethnic Inclusion to address anti-Semitism and Islamophobia on campus, one of the changes called for by the university's Task Force Against Anti-Semitism and its President's Commission on Combating Hate and Community Building.

The announcement came in the wake of anger over anti-Israel protests on Penn's campus in the months following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack. It was the site of some of the country's most high-profile pro-Palestinian protests, including an encampment of anti-Israel activists.

And former Penn University President Liz Magill's testimony before Congress about the university's handling of anti-Semitic actions on campus was so inept that she was forced to resign.

For Jewish students and their allies, the creation of the new office is an important step.

“We commend the University of Pennsylvania for establishing an Office of Religious and Ethnic Inclusion to combat anti-Semitism and Islamophobia on campus,” said Michael Balaban, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

While a search is to be conducted to appoint a permanent head of the office, Majid Alsayegh and Steve Ginsburg have been appointed co-heads.

Ginsburg, a senior executive at the Anti-Defamation League, has experience fighting prejudice and extremism. Alsayegh, who grew up in Iraq, is a member of the national Muslim Jewish Advisory Council, a bipartisan group of business, political and religious leaders, Penn University interim president J. Larry Jameson said in announcing the appointments.

Balaban also praised this step.

“Steve Ginsburg and Majid Alsayegh are extraordinary individuals, and as the University has selected them to lead this project, we are confident that Penn will become a place where Jewish community and Jewish expression can flourish.

“As we approach the first anniversary of October 7th and protests on campus continue to degenerate into harassment and intimidation of students, this office will be an important resource to ensure that all students feel safe and protected on campus,” Balaban said.

Many Jewish students at the school have said they feel unsafe, and some of them have filed suit in federal court against the Ivy League university.

In July, Jewish students testified before the Pennsylvania Senate about how they were treated on campus, including at Penn.

“I and other students wearing kippahs were called 'Nazis' and 'child murderers,'” he said. “Chants of 'Al Qassam makes us proud' (Al Qassam refers to the military wing of Hamas) were heard. Protesters told me 'Hamas should do it again' as we showed footage of the October 7 massacre, and they clapped when the video showed the rape of a woman. And they clapped again when the rape of a woman was shown,” Penn student Benjamin Messafi told the senators.

“Hillel, the only safe place for Jews on campus, had to be evacuated because there was a bomb threat against the building. Classroom buildings and libraries were blocked and occupied by non-student protesters during exam week,” he added.

The American Jewish Committee’s Center for Education Advocacy also praised Penn’s actions.

“At a time when anti-Semitism and other forms of religious and ethnic hatred have rocked many college and university campuses, it is imperative to explore new ways to encourage constructive dialogue and ensure a safe, supportive environment for all students and faculty,” the organization said in a statement to DVJournal. “We applaud this move by Penn. By using this office as a single point of contact to investigate religious and ethnic discrimination, the Penn community is now in a better position to know who will be held accountable to ensure that all complaints are promptly investigated and resolved.”

But Rav Shai Cherry, the rabbi of Adath Jeshurun ​​​​in Elkins Park, urged Jewish student supporters to wait to pass judgment until they see results.

“Fighting anti-Semitism is a good idea. Who would say that?” Cherry said. “But no one will be able to properly judge the effectiveness of Penn's initiative until we see policies and evidence of how they deal with specific incidents and complaints.”

“What happened at Columbia University was a rejection of Jewish students' sense of being threatened. Such summary dismissal is an abdication of the university's responsibility. On the other hand, a sense of being threatened is not in itself a sufficient justification for disciplinary action. There must be a third party to assess the details and circumstances of the situation. Let us hope that Penn's new office serves as a model for the rest of the academic world.”

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