Letters to the editor
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University presidents: Will you lead?
The Feb. 26 riot at U.C. Berkeley, where a mob violently disrupted an Israeli speaker’s event, is a chilling reminder that antisemitism is surging in our nation, and college campuses are proving to be dangerous breeding grounds (“Some 200 anti-Israel activists force evacuation of Berkeley event,” online, Feb. 29). Jewish students were subjected to threats, insults and physical violence. Officials canceled the event after protesters smashed two windows and a door.
Our nation’s university presidents publicly wring their hands and say they are committed to “doing the work” to reduce antisemitism on their campuses, but that it is slow and difficult work. It is not.
When a speaker, in this case, Ran Bar-Yoshafat, is silenced by an antisemitic mob, the university president should simply immediately reschedule the talk, at the president’s invitation. The office of the president should host the talk. And the university president should attend the talk. This would demonstrate the university’s values and draw an unambiguous line against antisemitic hate.
University presidents: Will you tolerate antisemitism, or will you lead?
Todd L. Pittinsky
Port Jefferson, New York
Temple Sinai article hit the spot
Thank you so much for the recent article, “Rodef Shalom, Temple Sinai and ‘A Marvelous Example.’” My wife and I were members of Temple Sinai for many years before moving to Florida.
While I knew that TS was founded by members of Rodef, I never heard the back story until now. As these two congregations are now exploring collaboration a look at their history provides context for these talks.
My only complaint about the article is that it didn’t continue into the 1950s and beyond.
Bob Shumaker
Boynton Beach, Florida
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