Just over two weeks ago, May 17th, it was announced that the department of Jewish Philosophy at Bar-Ilan University had invited Prof. Daniel Boyarin to give a lecture to the general public.
Following the announcement of his lecture, activists from Im Tirtzu appealed to the university to cancel the event. Instead, the university opted to compromise and move the lecture from in-person to Zoom.
Boyarin is one of the leading supporters of the BDS movement in the United States, a member of Jewish Voices for Peace, calling for an academic boycott of Israel, and has testified in the past as an anti-Zionist. He has been quoted as saying Israel is, “reminiscent of the Nazis,” and, “guilty of destroying human rights and democracy.” Additionally, he co-authored the book, The No State Solution, in which he calls for the end of the State of Israel.
Coordinator of Im Tirtzu at Bar-Ilan, Adiel Cohen, said: "I am shocked that a university that prides itself on its Jewish-Zionist flag invited an anti-Semitic and post-Zionist lecturer who relentlessly encourages a boycott of Israel."
"We are glad that the decision was made to cancel the open lecture, however, holding his lecture on Zoom is still unacceptable. There is no place in academia for someone who supports a boycott of Israel."