Weekly Commentary: Israel Can Respond To Anti-Semitism Overseas with BA
Studies In Israel For Diaspora Jews and Upgraded PR
Dr. Aaron Lerner 4 July, 2021
PM Naftali Bennett is expected to visit the United States in the coming
weeks and one of the hottest topics when he meets with American Jewish
leaders will be what roles Israel can take in addressing the massive
increase in anti-Semitism abroad.
Anti-Semitism on college campuses may have the most destructive impact on
the American Jewish community by both discouraging identification with the
Jewish community and brainwashing a generation of Jews to literally hate the
Jewish State.
Israel does not have the resources to change the atmosphere on American
college campuses. But it could offer an alternative.
Our institutions could develop BA/BS degree programs with instruction in
English and housing arrangements which can compete both academically and
financially with college in the US.
These programs could also be generous in recognizing credit hours from
American institutions so that students can transfer to college in Israel
rather than continuing to suffer in America.
Some anti-Semitism abroad has been tied to Israel and while it would be
unreasonable for Israel to put PR considerations ahead of the needs of the
nation that does not mean we cannot redouble our PR efforts.
We need to invest the resources necessary so that our story is out there
ahead of the pack and our enemy’s lies are refuted with such speed and skill
that the liars lose credibility and/or damage is kept to a minimum.
These two measures: offering Jewish students an alternative to anti-Semitic
campuses and gearing up Israeli PR to reduce Israel-related anti-Semitism
would be important Israeli contributions to addressing the problem.
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