Anti-Semitic Vandalism at Simmons University

This article first appeared in Times of Israel Blogs.

Simmons University in Massachusetts has just experienced an act of vandalism on campus. Predictably, it was an act of vandalism committed on behalf of the Palestinian cause and against Israel. That is hardly uncommon these days.  It is noteworthy in that it involves vandalism not against an Israeli institution or location, rather against a Jewish religious symbol, that of the Jewish celebration of Sukkah that had been was put up by Hillel. The incident apparently occurred on the night of October 24. While it is noteworthy, it is not an isolated incident. Campus Reform and the Simmons campus newspaper, The Simmons Voice, have the respective reports here and here.

Contrary to the claims of the pro-Palestinian crowd, including, in this case, the campus chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a radical, anti-Israel organization, the act does, indeed, constitute an act of anti-Semitism. When you attack a Jewish religious symbol, it is anti-Semitic. 

First of all, I would like to note that pro-Israel students on American campuses do not vandalize pro-Palestinian displays. Nor do they attack Islam. On this aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is a one-sided battle, at least here in America.

Secondly, I would never condone someone vandalizing a mosque or any other Muslim religious institution by displaying a pro-Israeli message. As another example, let’s assume a Muslim Student organization put up a sign advertising a Ramadan event on campus and someone spray-painted, “Long live Israel” on it. I would condemn that. Not only is the act of vandalism wrong but using the Middle East conflict to focus upon and target a religious display is even more wrong. I say that even though I believe that religion plays a very large role in the Israel-Palestinian conflict and I have repeatedly stated that the pro-Palestinian movement in the US, particularly on our college campuses, is anti-Semitic. I have seen and heard too many anti-Semitic expressions on college campuses to believe otherwise. This act of vandalism at Simmons University just goes to prove me correct.

I also say that in spite of the fact that I am critical of political, militant Islam and its link to acts of terrorism carried out against innocent people. But there is a time and place for that kind of criticism, and it should be done without blaming all Muslims and while respecting their rights. With few exceptions, Jewish and pro-Israel students on our campuses have followed the rules of civilized discourse. The other side, unfortunately, has not. This latest example from Simmons University is just another example.