I just staring at my screen because it finally happened and they actually did it which is honestly wild since I thought we were going to be shouting into the void forever. We kept the conversation open despite everything the higher ups tried to throw at us and I really …
February 15, 2014
Final supporters
On December 8, the Student Board of Swarthmore Hillel declared themselves an "Open Hillel." The unanimous resolution stated that Swat Hillel's goals of "fostering a diverse community and supporting all Jewish life on campus cannot be met when Hillel International’s [Israel] guidelines are in place," and therefore the organization "will host and partner with any speaker at the discretion of the board, regardless of Hillel International’s Israel guidelines."
Hillel International President Eric Fingerhut called Swat Hillel's move to create inclusive dialogue and promote free speech "unacceptable" and threatened that anyone who didn't meet the "guidelines" would not be permitted to speak under the Hillel roof, under any circumstances.
Swat Hillel is standing up to the exclusive and censoring policies of Hillel International -- and they could get kicked out because of it. Show President Fingerhut and Hillel International that they can't silence student voices and suppress the political diversity of young American Jews and the communities in which they reside.
Stand with Swarthmore Hillel and sign the petition!
See Swat Hillel's resolution (http://on.fb.me/1cop4nw) and open letter (http://bit.ly/1fjCmp4), and President Fingerhut's letter (http://bit.ly/J5MuXc).
Updates
December 15, 2013
I just refreshed the page and saw we hit one thousand signatures which feels wild because when I started this I honestly thought maybe a dozen people would care. It is actually overwhelming to see this kind of support for the students and it makes me wonder what Fingerhut is thinking right now as he sees all these names piling up.
Reached 1,000 supporters
December 14, 2013
December 13, 2013
I just looked at the screen and saw the number one hundred sitting there which is honestly kind of surreal because I started this just to see if anyone else felt the same way about the Hillel situation. It is wild to think about that many people actually clicking the link and agreeing that the students should get to decide who speaks on their own campus without someone in an office far away telling them no.
December 13, 2013
I keep refreshing the page and watching the numbers climb because it honestly feels like we are right at the cusp of something big. If everyone here just grabbed their phone and sent the link to just one person who cares about campus free speech we could blow past that one thousand mark before the sun sets today. Please help me make sure they cannot ignore how many people are actually watching this.
Reached 100 supporters
December 11, 2013
458 Comments
My support and admiration to the principled Swat Hillel students, bringing the Jewish tradition of inquiry and debate back to Hillel. For shame, president Fingerhut. You besmirch the Jewish tradition that Hillel should stand for.
My family has long-time Swarthmore connection. We do not believe in guilt by association or suppression of freedom of ideas. The student board of Swarthmore Hillel has taken a brave, principled stand which my family and I applaud.
I am an alum of the Swarthmore Hillel Board, and I fully stand with their decision to create a space for open dialogue. I couldn't be prouder to have worked with the Swat Hillel Board and to know such wonderful and dedicated people.
Hillel International's guidelines are too restrictive in excluding supporters of BDS, so I stand with Swarthmore Hillel's declaration of themselves as an Open Hillel. While I personally don't support BDS, I don' t believe they are beyond the Pale of civil discourse.
I applaud Swarthmore Hillel for being open to voices that oppose the Occupation, and for being willing to stand up to Hillel International in the process. The Open Hillel movement is a credit to the American Jewish Community.
we honor judaism our fore fathers religion to be superior on top AND Zionism must be at the bottom never the other way around.Israel must be a land of all people who want to live in peace harmony and love ZIonism stands in the way of all those.Change must come soon i am tired of loss of life blood and deaths..................................nothing is greater nor Bigger nor Sweeter than PEACEA for all....?
we honor judaism our fore fathers religion to be superior on top AND Zionism must be at the bottom never the other way around.Israel must be a land of all people who want to live in peace harmony and love ZIonism stands in the way of all those.Change must come soon i am tired of loss of life blood and deaths..................................nothing is greater nor Bigger nor Sweeter than PEACEA for all....?
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
I just staring at my screen because it finally happened and they actually did it which is honestly wild since I thought we were going to be shouting into the void forever. We kept the conversation open despite everything the higher ups tried to throw at us and I really …
February 15, 2014
Final supporters
On December 8, the Student Board of Swarthmore Hillel declared themselves an "Open Hillel." The unanimous resolution stated that Swat Hillel's goals of "fostering a diverse community and supporting all Jewish life on campus cannot be met when Hillel International’s [Israel] guidelines are in place," and therefore the organization "will host and partner with any speaker at the discretion of the board, regardless of Hillel International’s Israel guidelines."
Hillel International President Eric Fingerhut called Swat Hillel's move to create inclusive dialogue and promote free speech "unacceptable" and threatened that anyone who didn't meet the "guidelines" would not be permitted to speak under the Hillel roof, under any circumstances.
Swat Hillel is standing up to the exclusive and censoring policies of Hillel International -- and they could get kicked out because of it. Show President Fingerhut and Hillel International that they can't silence student voices and suppress the political diversity of young American Jews and the communities in which they reside.
Stand with Swarthmore Hillel and sign the petition!
See Swat Hillel's resolution (http://on.fb.me/1cop4nw) and open letter (http://bit.ly/1fjCmp4), and President Fingerhut's letter (http://bit.ly/J5MuXc).
Updates
December 15, 2013
I just refreshed the page and saw we hit one thousand signatures which feels wild because when I started this I honestly thought maybe a dozen people would care. It is actually overwhelming to see this kind of support for the students and it makes me wonder what Fingerhut is thinking right now as he sees all these names piling up.
Reached 1,000 supporters
December 14, 2013
December 13, 2013
I just looked at the screen and saw the number one hundred sitting there which is honestly kind of surreal because I started this just to see if anyone else felt the same way about the Hillel situation. It is wild to think about that many people actually clicking the link and agreeing that the students should get to decide who speaks on their own campus without someone in an office far away telling them no.
December 13, 2013
I keep refreshing the page and watching the numbers climb because it honestly feels like we are right at the cusp of something big. If everyone here just grabbed their phone and sent the link to just one person who cares about campus free speech we could blow past that one thousand mark before the sun sets today. Please help me make sure they cannot ignore how many people are actually watching this.
Reached 100 supporters
December 11, 2013
458 Comments
I would like to participate in Hillel activities but feel uncomfortably isolated in my opinions about the Israeli occupation. This speaks to the root of the injustice of Fingerhut's statement, which intertwines religion with politics inappropriately.
My support and admiration to the principled Swat Hillel students, bringing the Jewish tradition of inquiry and debate back to Hillel. For shame, president Fingerhut. You besmirch the Jewish tradition that Hillel should stand for.
My family has long-time Swarthmore connection. We do not believe in guilt by association or suppression of freedom of ideas. The student board of Swarthmore Hillel has taken a brave, principled stand which my family and I applaud.
I am an alum of the Swarthmore Hillel Board, and I fully stand with their decision to create a space for open dialogue. I couldn't be prouder to have worked with the Swat Hillel Board and to know such wonderful and dedicated people.
Hillel International's guidelines are too restrictive in excluding supporters of BDS, so I stand with Swarthmore Hillel's declaration of themselves as an Open Hillel. While I personally don't support BDS, I don' t believe they are beyond the Pale of civil discourse.
I applaud Swarthmore Hillel for being open to voices that oppose the Occupation, and for being willing to stand up to Hillel International in the process. The Open Hillel movement is a credit to the American Jewish Community.
we honor judaism our fore fathers religion to be superior on top AND Zionism must be at the bottom never the other way around.Israel must be a land of all people who want to live in peace harmony and love ZIonism stands in the way of all those.Change must come soon i am tired of loss of life blood and deaths..................................nothing is greater nor Bigger nor Sweeter than PEACEA for all....?
we honor judaism our fore fathers religion to be superior on top AND Zionism must be at the bottom never the other way around.Israel must be a land of all people who want to live in peace harmony and love ZIonism stands in the way of all those.Change must come soon i am tired of loss of life blood and deaths..................................nothing is greater nor Bigger nor Sweeter than PEACEA for all....?
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I would like to participate in Hillel activities but feel uncomfortably isolated in my opinions about the Israeli occupation. This speaks to the root of the injustice of Fingerhut's statement, which intertwines religion with politics inappropriately.