“Your city, in the 1980s, gave birth to Al-Qaida in America,” terrorism expert Steven Emerson stated before an audience of nearly 500 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center Monday. The statement referred to the Tucson connection found in FBI agent Kenneth Williams’ “Phoenix memo,” warning of the existence of a group of radical Muslims in Arizona, some of whom were attending flight school in the state. According to Williams, terror suspects had lived in Tucson even before the establishment of Al-Qaida and had helped create the organization.
Emerson’s visit to Tucson was marked by controversy, and attendees were greeted by a group of demonstrators bearing large sign with the words “SCAPEGOATING HURTS US ALL.” Regarding the protesters, Emerson said, “My attempts to expose the threat of radical Islam is now the subject of a protest outside [and] these protestors would be better served if they would spend their energy opposing terrorism.” His remark drew a wave of applause from the audience.
Critics have argued that Emerson’s writings, which include the bestseller Jihad in America: The Terrorists Living Among Us, have helped foment a climate of Islamophobia in the United States. Well aware of these criticisms, he acknowledged the existence of “Jewish, Christian, and Islamic terrorists.” However, he continued, “in recent years, the preponderance of terrorist attacks have been carried out by Muslim extremists.” He argued that “while not all Muslims are terrorists, the radical Muslim Brotherhood has taken control of the established Muslim community in recent years.”
Emerson also charged that the Council on American-Islamic Relations, along with other mainstream Islamic organizations, “has a modus operandi which is to allege hate crimes” which are mostly “exaggerated, misrepresented, or fabricated” in order to create allegations of a “war on Islam.” He went on to denounce CAIR’s “fatwa against Muslim extremism and terrorism” as a media campaign aimed at diverting attention from what he said is the organization’s indirect support of radicalism.
According to Emerson, this indirect support comes in the form of “cultural jihad,” and the portrayal of organizations such as Hamas as organizations of “resistance” rather than “terrorism.” He referred to the gathering of demonstrators outside as examples of the phenomenon, for their “support, implicit or explicit, of terror attacks as part of resistance against the West.”
Following Emerson’s presentation, Near Eastern Studies professor and Muslim convert Scott Lucas gave a 5-minute rebuttal. “My first point,” he said, “is that alliances change.” Just as the U.S. once supported the Taliban and the Hussein regime, Lucas argued, the majority of Muslims who lent support to radical Islam in the 1990s have since changed their minds due to repression on the part of radical governments. He went on to say that “the vast majority of American Muslims believe that the killing of civilians is wrong,” whether in the form of terrorist attacks on Americans and Israelis or in the form of Muslim civilians killed in military operations. “Here is my modest suggestion,” he said, concluding “Muslims need to learn more about Judaism and Jewish culture, and I hope this series will accomplish just that.”
Posts by vsaturen
Steven Emerson on Radical Islam
Published by Valerie Saturen December 15th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 CommentsLGBT Response to Ruling Mixed
Published by Valerie Saturen December 14th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 CommentsAmong Tucson’s Jewish LGBT community, reaction to the Conservative movement’s decisions on gay and lesbian inclusion last week has been mixed. While most agree that the decision to move toward greater inclusion constitutes a step in the right direction, some express frustration with the movement’s passage of two responsa that condemn homosexuality and suggest reparative therapy.
Jenny Schultz, the new coordinator of the LGBT Jewish Inclusion Project, told CampusJ:
I think this recent decision will have a strong impact on young people. There are many who have been eager to study as rabbis and now they have the opportunity to study within the Conservative movement, to lead congregations openly and with out shame or secrecy. Young people will be able to have commitment ceremonies and feel comfortable connecting all the aspects of their lives.
The LGBT Jewish Inclusion Project already enjoys a partnership with two local Conservative congregations, Anshei Israel and Bet Shalom. The organization’s Traveling Gay Chavura visits different congregations in the area each month, strengthening the relationship between the Jewish LGBT community and the larger Jewish community.
Ben Cook, Hillel’s 2006-2007 Grinspoon Fellow, told CampusJ that while the progressive elements comprise “a small step in the right direction,” he is disappointed by the regressive elements:
The Conservative movement constantly misses opportunities to take strong, cogent stances on today’s issues. These rulings, and the decade of squabbling and avoiding the issues it took to reach these decisions, is a perfect example of how the movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards lacks the spine to take Conservative Judaism down a well defined path. I can tell you that if this is as far as the Conservative movement is willing to take equal rights for homosexuals, that when I get married (someday, b’ezrat ha’shem) it will be in a Reconstructionist synagogue, not a Conservative one.
R’ Motty Berger on Relationships
Published by Valerie Saturen December 6th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 CommentsLove is selfish, says Rabbi Motty Berger of Aish HaTorah, and that’s okay. Monday evening, Berger gave an engaging talk entitled “The Ultimate Relationship Manual,” describing the Torah’s instruction for humanity’s relationship with God as a model for relationships between individuals.
Berger began his talk by describing God as “infinite,” and explaining that “it is impossible to do anything for an infinite being.” What this has to do with romantic relationships became clear by the end of the talk. First, however, the rabbi established the premise that people choose to marry for inherently selfish reasons—they marry because they believe their partner will make them happy. As a healthy relationship progresses, each partner becomes devoted to the other’s well-being, but even at this stage there exists an element of self-interest: each partner thinks, “the happier my partner is, the better off I will be.”
Once he established this basic premise, Rabbi Berger elaborated that this desire to give, though motivated by self-interest, leads to love. “The more you give to someone,” he explained, “the more you will love them.” As an example, he pointed out the relationship of parents to their children; parents love their children more than children love their parents because it is the parents who are on the giving side of the relationship. In other words, he continued, “you don’t give because you love someone, but rather you love someone because you give.” Drawing on the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself,” he defined love as “your ability to expand yourself to a higher ‘you’ that includes others, one that is not only a ‘you,’ but rather an ‘us.’” When this happens, he explained, a person’s fundamental self-interest evolves into a desire to help someone else.
According to Berger, there are three necessary ingredients in a healthy relationship. The first is the ability to choose. The second, which comes with the ability to choose, is the ability to say “no.” Here again he used the parent-child relationship as an example: while the child is helpless and dependent on the parents, the parents choose to have — and take care of — their children. However, “relationships are only as strong as the one who wants them least.” In interpersonal relationships, this means that if one partner does not want to get married, the marriage will not happen. In a person’s relationship with God — on the assumption that God will always want a close relationship with humanity — the closeness of that relationship is determined by the person. The third ingredient is similarity; the more similar two partners are, the better they can relate to each other. When people use the Torah as a guide for their relationships, Berger said, it follows that they should aspire to love their partner as God does—they must become “infinite” by expanding their sense of self to include others, and in turn, they must give and want nothing in return.
UA Jews on Facebook
Published by Valerie Saturen December 4th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 CommentsFor today’s college students, nearly every segment of campus has a presence on Facebook, and the Jewish community at UA proves no exception. Though UA Jews have an active presence on Facebook, with at least 13 Facebook groups, few list their religion on their profile pages. A search for UA students who openly identify as Jewish turns up 135 results. 40 further describe themselves as Reform, 27 as Conservative, and 4 as Orthodox. Membership in Jewish Facebook groups, however, shows that Facebook is indeed a popular avenue for Jewish students to network, keep in touch with friends, and in some cases to show common support for particular causes. The following list is arranged according to membership numbers.
The Jew Crew: The most popular Facebook group, boasting 548 members. This group is active and open to Jewish students regardless of denomination, year in school, political affiliations, etc, which probably accounts for its high membership. It’s also the UA version of a national Facebook group.
Jew of A: A pretty close runner-up in popularity, with 520 members. Another somewhat active catch-all Jewish group.
Hillel: Unsurprisingly, out of all the Facebook groups affiliated with a particular non-Internet-based organization, Hillel is the most popular, with 390 members who actively post. Hillel uses the online group to keep members posted on upcoming events and trips. Apparently, one of its group members is also “looking for a hot Jewish girlfriend.”
Jewish Arizonans on Campus (JAC): The Facebook version of its on-campus counterpart and the most popular organizationally affiliated Facebook besides Hillel (182 members). JAC describes itself as “a new organization on campus committed to spreading Jewish pride to college students throughout Arizona.” I recently interviewed one of its co-founders, Rabbi Eli.
FYSH (First Year Students of Hillel): FYSH describes itself as “a Hillel group for new students to meet other cool Jews and hang out during fun events.” Its 131 Facebook members actively post and use the group to network with other students.
Jews of 2010 Who Party Hard: 120 Jewish UA freshmen who like to party.
Arizona Israel Alliance: “Arizona’s direct connection with Israel. Learning about the culture and the life Israelis live day to day.” This group of 103 members coincides with a campus organization of the same name.
CATPAC: Cats for Israel: A politically-themed organization corresponding with its on-campus counterpart, which is the UA chapter of AIPAC. “CATPAC: Cats for Israel brings together politically active students on campus to educate them about Israel and the importance of the U.S-Israel relationship” There are 97 members of this group.
Shabbat Uncensored: Shabbat Uncensored is an on-campus project that gives Jewish students an opportunity to create their own Shabbat experience, especially if they have not celebrated Shabbat before. Students who sign up receive free challah, candles, juice, and other Shabbat supplies. The group is on Facebook with 86 members, and also has a corresponding MySpace group.
Greek Jews: According to the group, “Gamma Eta Kappa will enhance your Jewish and Greek experiences by opening you up to a new social, academic, and professional network of your peers.” 73 Jewish members of various fraternities and sororities.
Jews Who Love Booze: Surprisingly small group (hey, this is UA) of 33 members. The UA version of this group corresponds with a global Facebook group of the same name.
Jewish Wildcats: A small group of 16 members, this group does not feature any active posting at the moment.
Kedma: The Facebook version of the UA’s Orthodox student group, with 16 members who actively post about events, searches for kosher roommates, and other subjects.
STAND: This group, Students Taking Action Now: Darfur, is not a Jewish group, but it deserves an honorable mention because it has a very high proportion of Jewish students among its 127 members.
In addition to these groups, which consist exclusively of UA students, there are numerous national and global groups that are popular with Jewish students here. These range from Jewish organizational groups (such as USY) to general Jewish groups (such as I Love Jewish Geography, 60,000 Jews, and I Am a Victim of a Jewish Mother) to pro-Israel groups (such as Top 10 Reasons Why I Support Israel and IDF Support Our Brothers).
Get Lit Chanukah Party
Published by Valerie Saturen December 4th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 CommentsCan’t get home for Chanukah? Or simply looking for a fun way to celebrate the end of the semester that involves delicious latkes? On December 5, starting at 7:30 PM, there will be a “Get Lit” Chanukah party at Trident Bar & Grill. The party will be Israel-themed and will include free food, music, dancing, and a raffle. Everyone is welcome (though must be 21 to drink) at this opportunity to enjoy the holiday with friends old and new.
Trident is located at 2033 E. Speedway.
5 Questions With…Rabbi Eli Adler
Published by Valerie Saturen November 28th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 Comments
Rabbi Eli is a familiar figure to many students at UA, helping students learn about Judaism, leading trips, and co-running the organization Jewish Arizonans on Campus (JAC). The picture is from JAC’s Web site.
How did you get involved with the Jewish community at the University of Arizona?
After moving to the Valley, I began working with high school teens and programs in September 2004. About a year after my initial involvement with the Jewish youth scene in Arizona, Rabbi Brumer asked me to help with one of his shabbatons, and from this I was inspired to continue my involvement not only with high school students, but also the collegiate community, which I felt had a yearning for greater Jewish teaching resources. There were already established youth groups on Tucson’s campus, Hillel for example, and we built relationships with these organizations to foster the growth of these young Jewish students. JAC is especially proud of the close relationship it has established with Hillel over the past five years, and as a point of fact, only recently began using the title ‘JAC’.
What does JAC do, and how did the idea for the organization come about?
This organization came about not because of anything that we personally have done, but rather because of the students’ ardent desire to have this type of Jewish resource on campus. Our strongest asset is the students who not only provide the heart for the group, but a continued longing that ensures JAC will have an extremely significant and lasting impact on the collegiate Jewish community.
We engage students on various different levels of Judaism. From the basic social interaction and schmoozing between Jews, to trips for Shabbat and to Israel, to one-on-one directed study, JAC attempts to answer the questions Jewish students approach them with.
You are involved in leading the discussion group “Shmooze, Eat and Learn” at Hillel. Are there any particular topics that you feel students are most eager to talk about?
It actually depends on a student’s background. JAC is composed of a diverse range of students, from those born religious to those that are simply attempting to discover exactly a previously ignored Jewish heritage. So, the questions run the gamut. For those initially approaching Judaism and religious study, sex is a common question. However, it is not the only question. Once we get past the first few topics, which really seem to be college kids testing limits and boundaries, the students feel more comfortable asking the big, deep, philosophical questions that will have a far greater impact in shaping their future.
Can you tell us about the trips that JAC is offering to UA students, and what you hope students will get out of visiting these particular places?
This winter we have trips planned to London, New York, California and Israel. It isn’t about the destinations, it is about the experience. And literally, to a person, everyone has said that the trips are fantastic experiences.
The key thing to remember about these trips is that they allow the students freedom. It isn’t solely about traveling to an exotic locale and neither is it solely about studying. The trips show that the religious and the secular do not have to be in opposition. Rather, one can be as religious as one wants and still participate in the world as a whole. We provide study if participants want and we show students what a Shabbat is. This last concept is important. If a person has not yet experienced the songs and warmth associated with Shabbat, this trip will show them what it is truly all about.
The JAC website mentions that you have a background in music and that you were a regular on the New York Jewish music scene. Is there a connection between your musical background and your current role in the Jewish community?
Well, this is a rather complicated question. Looking at all the different tunes used in prayer shows that music is an integral part of the Jewish experience. As for myself, music has always inspired me to grow and to explore; it was an essential part of my personal growth and exploration into what I consider to be true, and I couldn’t imagine not sharing this with others. The more you share the more it inspires you, so yes, the music has inspired me to take a larger role in sharing and participating with and within the community and ultimately getting others to explore our rich, shared heritage.
Alternative Spring Break
Published by Valerie Saturen November 18th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 CommentsWhile other students head to Mexico or Florida for a carefree spring break, a group of Jewish UA students will join peers from around the country to help rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. These 10 students will be selected to participate in Hillel’s Alternative Spring Break, travelling to the city of Sidell, La., which lies outside of New Orleans, for one week.
They will wake up at dawn each day to work with the National Relief Network gutting houses damaged by flooding. They will also meet representatives from various organizations participating in the rebuilding process, such as FEMA and the Red Cross, which will help students better understand the infrastructure behind hurricane relief.
Trip co-organizer Shira Weinstein says that even though over a year has passed since Katrina, “The devastation still looks like it happened last week.” By dedicating themselves to helping repair the damage from a natural disaster that has since left the public eye, the group of students will gain the opportunity to learn firsthand the Jewish principle of tzedek, or social justice.
During their stay on the Gulf Coast, students will stay at a church campsite provided by the organization Operation Blessing, which was formed in response to the hurricane. According to Weinstein, life at Operation Blessing will be simple and communal, “like living on a kibbutz in Israel.” Each day of work will end at 4 p.m., and the group will have opportunities during that time to participate in activities such as city tours and sightseeing. At the end of the trip, the group will attend a music festival in New Orleans.
Thanks to a grant from the Barness Foundation, organizers say that the cost to each student will not exceed $150, including transportation, food, and lodging. Registration for Alternative Spring Break ends January 15, and prospective participants will complete interviews with the trip organizers between now and then.
“Just For A Day” In L.A.
Published by Valerie Saturen November 16th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 CommentsOver the weekend, 70 UA students traveled to Los Angeles to join a group of 1,000 Jewish peers from 22 participating schools in a day of philanthropy. With the Hillel-affiliated Just for a Day program, the students helped clean the beach, feed the homeless, work with people suffering from addictions, and spend time with children and the elderly. Through these diverse social justice activities, participants had a chance to learn firsthand about the Jewish value of tikkun olam, or healing the world. After a hard day of working in the community, the group was treated to a special performance by the Massechusetts-based band Guster and the band The LeeVees, perhaps known best for their album “Hanukkah Rocks,” at the Henry Fonda Theatre. Asked about the show, Hillel President Adam Frankel reports that it was “amazing.”
Israeli Film At UA
Published by Valerie Saturen November 15th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 CommentsToday at 1:30 p.m., the new Israeli thriller Frozen Days will be shown on campus at the Gallagher Theater. The movie centers around a lonely young woman who survives a suicide bombing and subsequently moves into the apartment of one of its victims. She assumes the victim’s identity, and as she does so, she starts to lose her grip on reality. The movie will be followed by a Q & A session with the filmmaker, Danny Lerner.
New Program Promotes Jewish Education
Published by Valerie Saturen November 9th, 2006 in University of Arizona. 0 CommentsThis spring, UA students will be able to participate in the Heritage Scholars Program, a month-long series of workshops aimed at introducing a variety of Jewish topics to Jewish students with limited Jewish education. The series will consist of one-hour classes held once a week in the Hillel building, and upon completion participating students will receive a $150 voucher/scholarship that can be used for future enrollment in Jewish programs or redeemed for cash. Each class will feature a different leading Jewish educator and will focus on topics ranging from Jewish values and ideals to current events. During the series, students will be expected to complete an online journal reflecting on their experiences. Applications are available on the program’s Web site.
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