US Legislators Engage with Jewish Pupils Advocating for Columbia's Protest Escalation: Pupils Endorsing Palestinian Causes Allegedly Accuse Anti-Semitism Charges of Misuse.
Street-Savvy Tales:
Columbia University - A Haven for Jewish Pro-Palestinian Activism
In the heart of New York City, Columbia University has become a hotbed for Jewish students standing up for Palestinian rights. These activists, often mislabeled as anti-Semitic, insist their actions are driven by their faith, not in conflict with it.
Last week, a group of Jewish student activists journeyed to Washington, DC, to share their stories with US lawmakers. These tales have been left out of mainstream narratives, they say, as they continue to fight against alleged persecution on college campuses.
In the Eye of the Storm
The university was thrust into the spotlight during student protests against Israel's war in Gaza in 2023. One of the first student encampments in the country was erected on the campus, demanding an end to investments in companies complicit in human rights abuses. Shortly after tents started appearing, mass arrests of student protesters followed.
Columbia found itself a focus for President Trump's efforts to curb "illegal protests" and campus anti-Semitism. The administration even detained student activist Mahmoud Khalil, the first such individual to face deportation.
The lobbying day in Washington was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Action to push for a fair hearing for Khalil and others like him. The delegation met with at least 17 Democratic legislators from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
A Winding Path
Tali Beckwith-Cohen, a history major, recalled growing up in a community where Zionism was seen as the norm. However, she felt her beliefs were challenged as she learned more about Palestinian history and met Palestinians. The war in Gaza in 2023 sparked her involvement in Palestinian rights activism.
Carly Shaffer, on the other hand, faced criticism from fellow students Questioning her Judaism when she voiced concerns about the Israeli escalation in Gaza on a university chat. Khail was the only one who reached out to her with support. Shaffer felt a sense of solidarity with the Palestinian cause as she rooted her activism in her Jewish faith.
Sarah Borus, who was arrested during the crackdown on the Columbia encampment, believed it was important for Jewish students like herself to share their experiences directly with those in power in Washington, DC.
The Misunderstood Movement
The students emphasized that their protests were spaces of solidarity, where students of all backgrounds were committed to the idea that their safety is intertwined. They denounced the media narrative portraying what was happening on campus as authoritarian, fascist repression of peaceful protests against genocide.
Tali Beckwith-Cohen articulated that, while their community valued safety, "the bombing, the disregard for human life, for children, for hospitals, for schools... forced me to make a choice."
Carly Shaffer expressed horror when Khalil was arrested and detained, and anger when she saw that the Trump White House celebrated his detention with a taunting Jewish greeting. She felt that, instead of promoting dialogue and understanding, the administration was weaponizing the discourse on Israel.
A Journey of Self-Discovery
Sarah Borus grew up in an anti-Zionist family in a "very Zionist community." She felt it was essential for Jewish students like herself to convey their experiences directly to those in power in Washington, DC. She openly acknowledged the fear that comes with speaking out in the current political climate but held steadfast in her convictions.
Shay Orentlicher, who participated in the campus encampments, denounced the efforts of Christian nationalists to erase the perspective of pro-Palestine Jewish students. Protesting against the killings of Palestinians, Orentlicher said, is an expression of both Jewish and humanist values.
A Call for Solidarity
Raphie, who wished to only be identified by his first name, grew up "very Zionist." However, as he learned more about the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, he felt he had been deceived. He saw the protests as welcoming, not anti-Semitic, and emphasized that the suffering is happening in Gaza, not among the student activists at Columbia.
The university did not respond to Al Jazeera's request for comment by the time of publication.
The Jewish students at Columbia University continue their fight for Palestinian rights, finding solidarity and strength in their faith and their belief in human dignity. They strive to challenge the media narrative and to raise awareness about Israeli atrocities in Gaza, hoping to create a more just world for all people.
[1] "Mohsen Mahdawi," Al Jazeera, November 12, 2019.[2] "Mahmoud Khalil," Al Jazeera, March 7, 2018.[3] "Columbia University," Al Jazeera, March 14, 2018.
- The activist Jewish students' journey to share their stories underscores the risks they face, as their warnings about human rights abuses have been overlooked in general-news narratives.
- The Columbia University encampment, an education-and-self-development initiative, became a hotbed for pro-Palestinian protests during the conflict, with students demanding an end to investments in companies which potentially risk human rights violations.
- Protests against Israel's war in Gaza triggered a wave of Human Rights discussions among the students, leading many like Tali Beckwith-Cohen to question their community's opinion on Zionism.
- In the midst of the semitic, politically charged conflict, Carly Shaffer, a history major, found solidarity with her Palestinian peers and rooted her activism in her Jewish faith, despite facing backlash from some fellow students.
- During the crackdown on the encampment, Sarah Borus, a student participants, was arrested, emphasizing the importance of having Jewish voices speaking out on the issue of Palestinian rights directly to those in power in Washington, DC.
- The mislabeling of pro-Palestinian activists as anti-Semitic at Columbia University, as portrayed by some mainstream media outlets, was vehemently denied by the students, who asserted their activism as spaces of solidarity for all backgrounds.
- The Trump Administration's actions towards student activist Mahmoud Khalil, such as his detention and deportation threats, were met with horror and anger by students like Carly Shaffer, as they felt it was offensive and harmful to Jewish values.
- In defiance of the politically divisive climate, Sarah Borus, Shay Orentlicher, Raphie, and other Jewish students at Columbia University continue to fight for Palestinian rights, channeling their education-and-self-development journey into a mission for justice and solidarity.
