Vassar Jewish Students Break With Hillel on Israel

Published February 20, 2014 on line for February 28 Edition
The FORWARD at forward.com

The Vassar Jewish Union has declared itself an “Open Hillel,” becoming the second organization to break from Hillel International over the parent group’s pro-Israel guidelines.

“We believe that Hillel International’s goal to ‘inspire every Jewish college student to develop a meaningful and enduring relationship to Israel’ does not represent the diverse opinions of young American Jews,” the VJU said in a February 18 statement announcing that it would no longer abide by the Hillel guidelines. “We believe that fostering a pluralistic community and supporting all Jewish life on campus cannot be achieved with Hillel International’s Israel guidelines in place.”

The “Open Hillel” movement joined by the VJU describes itself as “a student-run campaign to encourage inclusivity and open discourse at campus Hillels.” The movement encourages Hillel chapters to reject Hillel International’s Israel guidelines, which prohibit campus Hillels from sponsoring programs, partnering with clubs and hosting speakers who “delegitimize, demonize or apply a double standard to Israel,” or deny its right to exist. The guidelines also bar cooperation with anyone supporting boycotts, divestments or sanctions against the Jewish state.

Last December Swarthmore Hillel became the first school to publicly reject the guidelines.

Continues Here
NOTE: This and the next article deal with the same topic. What is it that actually creates a "tipping point" in history? Only time will tell, but I'll bet my max bet, a nickel, that for some reason, the "Open Hillel" movement may be the pivot. Students have been hearing about BDS and "Apartheid week" for some time and most probably rolled their eyes, assuming yet another "cute" liberal bandwagon would pass by. After all, there was always Hillel to go back to in case you needed a shabbot candle, a bagel or someplace calm to go and decompress. 

But now "Open Hillel" will allow those calm spaces to be crashed by Anti semitic speakers, BDS organizers, Nazi Sympathizers  and others who seek the end of the State of Israel. And this will not go down well with those Jewish kids who need a little shelter from the storm.