“HEROES” RABBI YONAH TRIBUTE VIDEO

VOTE FOR RABBI YONAH- OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY HERO http://j.mp/rabbiyonah

JSS Rabbi Leading Hero Contest

Hi. I don’t want to be a nudnik.Thanks to your support, our initial nominee, Rabbi Yonah, has been in the top 10 pretty much since he was nominated. Rabbi Yonah as you all know, writes for Jewlicious, is the Director of the Jewlicious Festivals and is probably one of the main reasons many of you are even reading this right now. Rabbi Yonah and his wife Rachel have spent years working on behalf of the Jewish community in Poland and from their perch as Hillel Chaplain and Director in Long Beach have helped energize both the local community and untold thousands of Jews around the world – going above and beyond their job descriptions and giving freely of themselves in doing so. A vote for Rabbi Yonah is a vote for Rachel, a vote for their children and a vote for all that is Jewlicious. (You can see Rabbi Yo’s profile here or vote for him immediately by clicking here)

Look, I’m going to keep pushing Rabbi Yonah. He’s a great guy. I’ve seen him sweep garbage, I’ve seen him delirious from lack of sleep, I’ve seen him overcome obstacle after obstacle. I’ve seen Rachel sleeping under a desk, seen her open her house to over and over again to SoCal Jews. All this while never losing sight of their goals, never losing the smiles on their faces. Awesome. I want others to know about them. I want them to get at least some modicum of recognition. Rabbi Yonah will end this contest in the top 10 or else you can assume I know nothing about social media and community building. It’s not likely however that he’ll be a finalist, let alone the jury selected winner of $25k to be used for his work. We’re just not that kind of organization – you know we cuss, we’re critical and combative. We don’t make for very good poster kids… but by the time this is all over, we’ll help spread the word not just about Rabbi Yonah, but also about Eli Winkelman who inspired this project, Josh Kaplan, the coolest Federation dude ever over in Long Beach, Howie Silbiger over in Montreal, Cool Jew Lisa Alcalay Klug in San Francisco, Jewish Robot William Levin in Brooklyn, 17 year old DJ and Philanthropist Brian Brooksand on and on.

So yeah. Vote. Click on your fave heroes every day. On the right hand side of most pages there’s a graphic that says “get and share” – if you have a gmail account, use the email link and urge all your contacts to check out the site and vote! That’s it, I for one am done.

Intifada Continues at UCI

The USA campus with an active Jihad / Intifada against Israel, Jews, Western-style democracy continues. This teaser-trailer was just released. There are some similarities to the style of the Jihad Films on YouTube that promote terror and violence. What was just one week is now over two weeks long. The Jewish community in Irvine, the Federation seem unwilling to do much to stop it. The University, and Chancellor Drake in particular, has enabled it. This groups needs to be banned from campus. That will do a lot to stop the Intifida at UCI. I coined that phrase in 2007, which then turned up on their t-shirts in 2008.

Kalover Rebbe Visists College Students

This article appeared in the GW Hatchett

Media Credit: Michelle Rattinger/Hatchet photographer Senior Eric Bernstein meets with the Kalover Rebbe at Hillel on Wednesday morning. The rebbe, a religious leader from New York, is the head of the Kalov Hasidic Jewish sect and traveled to campus to meet with students.

Junior Josh Abrams stands over a table in the basement of Hillel, knees bent slightly to lower his eyes to the man seated beside him. The seated man is much older, with a dark gray beard that falls to his chest. A wide-brimmed black hat covers his long gray hair, and he wears a black jacket, tied at the waist like a robe, covered with shiny blue paisley patterns. He holds Abrams’ hand in one of his and squeezes his cheek with the other, speaking quietly into the student’s ear. Abrams, along with about 100 other students, met with the Kalover Rebbe Moses Taub Wednesday at Hillel. Rebbe is a Judaic title that denotes the leadership of a certain sect or group. Taub is the leader of the Kalov Hasidic Jewish sect and he said he has spent the past 30 years traveling across 50 countries and meeting with students to discuss their Jewish religion and heritage. “I come to bless them and to encourage them,” Taub said. “Part of uplifting them is to help them find things that they may have lost.” The rebbe said he helps Jewish students regain the most important parts of their faith. “There are a lot of Jewish students who are unfortunately not given the opportunity to know what has given strength for thousands of years to the Jewish nation – their forbearers,” he said. “These forbearers were so firm in the Torah, the mitzvah and the Commandments. Having the mitzvah and the Torah are such great benefits.” Senior Zach Cutler organized Wednesday’s event. Cutler said he first met the rebbe eight years ago at his Los Angeles high school. “I went to his office and spent five minutes with him and he knew things about me, like he could get a reading on my soul,” Cutler said. “It really inspired me. I promised him that I would start keeping Shabbat, and I have been doing that for eight years.” Cutler said he contacted the rebbe’s office two months ago in hopes of bringing his inspiration to the strong Jewish population at GW. “I think that he can really inspire people, uplift them, refresh their perspectives,” Cutler said. Abrams, who is an active member of the Jewish community on campus and the president of the Jewish Student Association, met the rebbe for the first time Wednesday. “He told me where I was in life and what my future might look like,” Abrams said. “He also told me what I might need to do to get there. To have a great future with all of these open possibilities, I need to study more.” Abrams described his meeting with the rebbe as an advising session, providing a road map for success and reminding students of the importance of their commitment to their faith. “It’s nice that he came to meet with GW students, to learn about the students and to show them what to do, according to what he believes,” Abrams said. The rebbe said he found the students he had met so far at GW to be “very fine boys.”

Holocaust Memorial at CSULB

Boycott of Israel fails to pass at CSU Long Beach and may be illegal

Protesters from Answer-LA and CSU Long Beach

Is there a nationwide boycott effort underway on college campuses? Our experience at CSU Long Beach would seem to say, “yes.” And it may be illegal

On March 18th, Zo Farooqui, an assimilated Muslim student senator (whose Facebook page features the quote “Kiss French. Wear Italian. Drive German. Drink Russian.”) submitted a sophisticated, albeit totally false set of accusations against Israel, and nearly got the Student Senate to pass the resolution.

Title: Resolution in Support of the Call for the Immediate End to the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and a Boycott of Goods and Services that Maintain Business Relations with Israel

Sponsored by: Senator Zo Farooqui

Date Submitted: March 18, 2009

WHERAS from December 27, 2008 to January 22, 2009 attacks launched by the Israeli government on Gaza have resulted in over 1,300 deaths and 5,300 injuries, with more than 60 percent of the victims consisting of women and children;1

WHEREAS schools, mosques, hospitals, ambulances, civilian infrastructure, and UN compounds have been targeted; (read the whole resolution below)

Thanks to some quick thinking Senators, they did not let their campus be a tool in the hands of the MSA – and the effort failed on the second reading.

Jewish students alerted to the issue rallied at the meeting for Israel. Community members sent dozens of letters within hours to the Senators when the word went out about the boycott effort.

Farooqui attempted to change the resolution to only target future contracts with Motorola and Caterpillar – when faced with the charge by Student Senate Treasurer, Brian Troutner, that breaking the existing contracts would cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Senator Everett Bryan of the College of Engineering spoke up and said that asking the school to boycott companies won’t have an impact on the situation in Israel, and instead there are financial side effects and social side effects. The Associated Students can’t take a side on a conflict between two groups because it is a student organization which represents both groups. The negative effect of the boycott will be felt on students, not companies. He was also bothered that there was no end-date, doesn’t think resolution is humanitarian based, instead it’s politically charged, and recommended rejection. He suggested that the MSA and Hillel to write a resolution together that isn’t a boycott and addresses loss of civillian life. (notes courtesy of Sheryl Cohen)

Congress passed a law in 1977 creating the Office of Antiboycott Compliance within the Department of Commerce, in response to the Arab boycott of Israel. It specifically makes illegal agreements to refuse or actual refusal to do business with or in Israel or with blacklisted companies.

If there is a nationwide effort among Muslim Student groups, part of the larger boycott movement against Israel, they might be breaking the law. If they are going across state lines with communications that in effect commit a crime, they can be guilty of some other nasty stuff.

And more so, if they conspire together to deprive Israel and Israelis of certain rights in the US, be they business dealings or any other, they may be guilty of racketeering and conspiracy charges too

Boycott resolution fails at CSULB. . . for now

Thanks to an outstanding showing by Jewish students at CSULB organized by Rachel Bookstein, Beach Hillel’s Director, community support, letters, and lobbying, we have successfully defeated the boycott Israel resolution submitted by Zo Farooqui.

Zero votes in favor, 4 against, and 8 abstentions. This was a huge change from the last vote on the issue that had passed.

BUT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER

There are still Senators that are looking to bring back a “revised” resolution after Spring Break. Read Below.

Boycott resolution fails to pass at ASI meeting

Amy Paradise & Benjamin Zitney

Published: Thursday, March 26, 2009

The Associated Students Inc. senate failed to pass the SR No. 25 resolution in support of the call for the immediate end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on Wednesday.

The current resolution was a revision from the previous week and called for a future boycott by ASI and 49er Shops Inc. of companies that maintain a business relationship with Israel, including Caterpillar and Motorola.

ASI Treasurer Brian Troutner reported to the Senate that Cal State Long Beach currently has a working relationship with Caterpillar, as they are sub-contracted to build the new Student Recreation and Wellness Center. According to Troutner, ending their current relationship with Caterpillar would bring about legal ramifications, as it would constitute a breach of contract.

CSULB would also have difficulty boycotting Motorola products, as they are the manufacturers of the University Police walkie-talkies. There are currently 100 of these walkie-talkies in police circulation, and replacement of them, at $300 a piece, would cost CSULB $30,000.

Senator Everett Bryan of the college of engineering encouraged the students in the gallery to draft a new resolution for future consideration.

Boycott of Israel proposed by Student Senator at CSULB

This first attempt at getting the Student Senate to boycott Israel was put forward by  a member of the Muslim Student Association.

Title: Resolution in Support of the Call for the Immediate End to the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and a Boycott of Goods and Services that Maintain Business Relations with Israel

Sponsored by: Senator Zo Farooqui

Date Submitted: March 18, 2009

WHERAS from December 27, 2008 to January 22, 2009 attacks launched by the Israeli government on Gaza have resulted in over 1,300 deaths and 5,300 injuries, with more than 60 percent of the victims consisting of women and children;1

WHEREAS schools, mosques, hospitals, ambulances, civilian infrastructure, and UN compounds have been targeted;

WHEREAS this recent act of blatant violence contributes to the 18-month blockade enforced by the Israeli government on the Gaza strip through strict patrol of its borders. The aforementioned act has resulted in the devastation of Gaza’s infrastructure up to and including the collapse of its economy, causing 80 percent of the population to rely on international aid for the basic means of survival;2

WHEREAS Israeli occupation forces have demolished electricity, gas, and water resources of the region, leaving half of the Gaza population consisting of children in an open-air prison with no option of becoming refugees;3

WHEREAS Israel’s continuous denial of medical supplies in the region constitutes a violation of their signatory obligation to the First Geneva Convention, and causes an inability to treat the wounded, resulting in otherwise preventable deaths;4

WHEREAS Human Rights Watch has found that the Israeli government has used the controversial chemical weapon white phosphorus which “sticks to human skin and will burn right through to the bone” in areas of high civilian density;5

WHEREAS the Fourth Geneva convention renders Israel’s actions a war crime based on its intent and grotesque disproportionate use of military action;6

WHEREAS arbitrary damage of property, denial of rest areas (shelters), and discrimination based on political ideology and other actions put the Israeli Government in direct violation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 5, 12, 13, 15, 17, 21 and 24; be it

RESOLVED that the Associated Students of California State University, Long Beach stand in solidarity to condemn all violence against civilians in the region and demand the removal of the blockade on Gaza, including the opening of its borders, while condemning Israel’s disproportionate aggression toward the Palestinian people; be it further

RESOLVED that ASI participates in a boycott of companies that have any economic ties to the Israeli state, be it finally

RESOLVED that ASI urges California State University, Long Beach, its foundation and its auxiliary to end all business action, including investments, and procurement with companies that maintain business with the state of Israel.

New phrase heard on campuses: “Die Jew — get the hell off campus.”

Cops quell anti-Israel attack at York U By Ron Csillag · February 13, 2009 TORONTO (JTA) –

Toronto police quelled tensions between Jews and anti-Israel activists at the campus of one of Canada’s largest universities for the second time in two weeks. Hillel@York, the on-campus club for Jewish students at Toronto’s York University, said that anti-Israel activists “isolated and threatened Jewish students” during a Feb. 12 news conference on the fallout from a three-month-long strike that ended recently at York. Jewish students allegedly were subjected to anti-Semitic slurs and physically intimidated. The anti-Israel activists allegedly barricaded Jewish students in Hillel’s office. Toronto police escorted the Jewish students out of the office to ensure their safety. Among the slurs allegedly uttered by those barricading Hillel’s office were, “Die bitch — go back to Israel” and “Die Jew — get the hell off campus.” Last week, police were called to York during a physical altercation involving an anti-Israel activist. “The climate on York’s campus of aggressive intimidation, violent rhetoric and physical harassment is unacceptable,” said Daniel Ferman, President of Hillel@York. “The hostile environment demonstrates contempt for all students — not only to Jewish students.” B’nai Brith Canada has requested an “urgent” meeting with York University officials to discuss security for Jewish students. http://jta.org/news/article/2009/02/13/1002990/cops-quell-anti-israel-attack-at-york-u

Inside Higher Ed on Jewish Students in College

Inside Higher Ed on Jewish Students in College. Wow have the times changed.

Why More Colleges Want Jewish Students

At Chicagoland Jewish High School, “What I’m seeing is, new names are popping up all the time,” says Bruce Scher, the academic dean and director of college counseling.

“Outside of the stereotypical or the standard colleges that already have strong Jewish populations, we’re seeing a lot of other schools recognize the value and recognize the contribution that these students are making to a college campus,” says Scher, who’s also co-chair of the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s special interest group for Jewish students. “Even schools like Knox [College], you know, in central Illinois, they absolutely are connecting to Jewish students.”

College counselors and colleges alike – particularly small liberal arts colleges – are reporting explicit efforts to attract more Jewish applicants or build Jewish student life on campus, or both (since the two goals go hand in hand). For instance, Washington and Lee University, a decidedly Southern-influenced institution in Virginia, has identified “recruiting and supporting Jewish students at W&L” as a fundraising priority, and is constructing a $4 million Hillel House.