Jewish faculty support Students for Justice in Palestine

As Jewish faculty on campus, we were saddened to learn that a group dedicated to Palestinian rights, Students for Justice in Palestine, has been accused of being anti-Semitic. To be clear, this group has never singled out anyone for religion or race or nationality. Rather it has focused its efforts on educating the Middlebury community about its view of Israeli policy toward the Palestinian people and the U.S. role in such policy.

It is extremely important as Jewish Americans that we stand firmly against the kind of rhetoric that shuts down any and all debate about Israeli policy in Palestine. It is extremely important that all Americans educate themselves on what is happening in Palestine and the role the U.S. government plays there. We even suggest you look at their website here to learn more. 

We must be able to have these conversations without everyone who supports the rights of the Palestinian people being silenced with accusations of anti-Semitism. So many Jewish Americans and Jewish Israelis are critical of the Occupation and are working to see it end. And so many people of all faiths and backgrounds can work together to support the rights of the Palestinian people by participating in organizations such as Students for Justice in Palestine.

 

Sincerely, 

Laurie Essig, Professor of Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies

Jason Mittell, Professor of Film & Media Studies

Michael Olinick, Professor of Mathematics 

Ellen Oxfeld, Professor of Anthropology

David Dorman, Professor of Mathematics

 

Laurie Essig is the director and professor of Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies and the faculty advisor of Students for Justice in Palestine. 

 

Editor’s Note: Jason Mittell is The Campus’s faculty advisor.