Jewish student leaders unite to speak out
'Coming together on this important statement is a showcase of our commitment to foster Jewish unity globally'
Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) president Alissa Foster said it was “crucial” for Jewish student leaders to come together and speak out against the views of Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli.
In a letter penned by European Union of Jewish Students president Avital Grinberg, Union of Jewish Students in the UK and Ireland president Joel Rosen and Foster, Chikli was accused of making disparaging remarks about Reform Jews and pride parades.
“In a time when Jewish youth are facing increased antisemitism and hostility on university campuses, many find themselves confronted with the task of defending their Zionist identity when those outside our community question them for it,” Foster told The AJN.
“Therefore, it was crucial for us to stand up against the mainstreaming of division and hatred in our own spaces, and speak loudly for our Jewish values of inclusiveness, unity and love as proud and unapologetic Jews. We are each elected in our respective unions to represent all Jewish students, including reform and queer Jews and we cannot stand idly by when Chikli, whose job is to engage and represent the views of the Diaspora, is jeopardising the core values we hold so dear.
“As elected student leaders we bear the responsibility to speak out against hatred and incitement against those we represent, no matter where it comes from. Coming together on this important statement is a showcase of our commitment to foster Jewish unity globally.”
In June last year, Chikli posted on Facebook that he was glad that gay people “no longer need to be ashamed of their sexual preferences”, but that this “does not mean that it should be a reason for pride”.
In the letter the students said Chikli “does not speak for the Diaspora”.
Contacted for comment by The Times of Israel, Chikli said, “I’m used to attacks. I accept them with love.”
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