(JEWISH GROUP) Antisemitic Vandalism at Simmons University

Simmons University in Massachusetts has just experienced an act of vandalism on campus. Predictably, it was an act of vandalism committed on behalf of the Palestinian cause and against Israel. That is hardly uncommon these days. It is noteworthy in that it involves vandalism not against an Israeli institution or location, rather against a Jewish religious symbol, that of the Jewish celebration of Sukkah that had been was put up by Hillel. The incident apparently occurred on the night of October 24. While it is noteworthy, it is not an isolated incident. Campus Reform and the Simmons campus newspaper, The Simmons Voice, have the respective reports here and here.

Contrary to the claims of the pro-Palestinian crowd, including, in this case, the campus chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a radical, anti-Israel organization, the act does, indeed, constitute an act of anti-Semitism. When you attack a Jewish religious symbol, it is anti-Semitic.

First of all, I would like to note that pro-Israel students on American campuses do not vandalize pro-Palestinian displays. Nor do they attack Islam. On this aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is a one-sided battle, at least here in America.

Secondly, I would never condone someone vandalizing a mosque or any other Muslim religious institution by displaying a pro-Israeli message. As another example, let’s assume a Muslim Student organization put up a sign advertising a Ramadan event on campus and someone spray-painted, “Long live Israel” on it. I would condemn that. Not only is the act of vandalism wrong but using the Middle East conflict to focus upon and target a religious display is even more wrong.

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It is under investigation, but it may have been "Jewish Voice for Peace" who did this.