Monday, March 14, 2011

Brandeis U. Hillel Rejects Local JVP Membership; Opponents Say Hillel Should Accept Jewish Group

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency website reports today (March 14, 2011) that last week Brandeis University Hillel voted not to accept the membership bid of the local campus chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) -- an organization that has been criticized for its support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign targeting Israel.

"While we understand that JVP at Brandeis considers itself a pro-Israeli club, based on positions and programming JVP has sponsored, we do not believe that JVP can be included under Hillel's umbrella," Brandeis senior Andrea Wexler, president of the 11-member Hillel student executive board that rejected the application of JVP, wrote in a letter explaining the board's decision.

Fellow Brandeis senior Lev Hirschhorn -- who presented JVP's case to the Hillel board -- said Hillel should not exclude any Jewish student group.

Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, Brandeis University is primarily a liberal arts Jewish-oriented university, with approximately two-thirds of its students being of Jewish background.

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