Hillel, one of the only Jewish presences on the campus of Concordia University in Montreal, has been shut down by the Concordia Student Union. The reason? Hillel members allegedly distributed a flyer for Mahal, a volunteer IDF program for overseas students.
The new ruling revoking Hillel's "funding and tabling privileges" means that the Jewish organization will not be able to hold events or set up displays and information tables. The Student Union voted that Hillel must apologize and be investigated by the Concordia administration if it wishes to be reinstated. Palestinian activist Samer Elatrash objected to the material, saying it supports "a military brigade set specifically to guard settlements." The motion passed by an 8-1 margin; only Chairperson Omar Badawi said that Hillel had not been forewarned. "If we don't do anything about this, how do we know we won't be held responsible?" asked President Sabine Friesinger.
Jewish students of Concordia, announcing that "war has been declared on us," have begun a campaign to have the decision revoked. "This is a dangerous escalation in the war against Jewish students on campuses across North America," they write, and ask that those who are upset by the Council's vote register their displeasure in phone calls and faxes, on radio shows, and letters to the press. Concordia was the site of a violent demonstration that forced the cancellation of a scheduled speech by former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu three months ago.
The new ruling revoking Hillel's "funding and tabling privileges" means that the Jewish organization will not be able to hold events or set up displays and information tables. The Student Union voted that Hillel must apologize and be investigated by the Concordia administration if it wishes to be reinstated. Palestinian activist Samer Elatrash objected to the material, saying it supports "a military brigade set specifically to guard settlements." The motion passed by an 8-1 margin; only Chairperson Omar Badawi said that Hillel had not been forewarned. "If we don't do anything about this, how do we know we won't be held responsible?" asked President Sabine Friesinger.
Jewish students of Concordia, announcing that "war has been declared on us," have begun a campaign to have the decision revoked. "This is a dangerous escalation in the war against Jewish students on campuses across North America," they write, and ask that those who are upset by the Council's vote register their displeasure in phone calls and faxes, on radio shows, and letters to the press. Concordia was the site of a violent demonstration that forced the cancellation of a scheduled speech by former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu three months ago.