OPINIONS

Letter to the Editor: On “Stanford Birthright trips stir controversy among students”

Op Ed

By: Op Ed

Regarding Sarah Wishingrad’s Feb. 23 article, “Stanford Birthright trips stir controversy among students,” the debates on listserves, at Hillel and across the campus testify to the curiosity and passion of Stanford students who seek respectful and transparent opportunities to learn more, and particularly want to explore the complexities of Israel.

In an era in which the University offers students few opportunities to travel to the Middle East, Hillel@Stanford supports diverse trips for all Stanford students who are interested in seeing, hearing and learning on their own terms about the developments and challenges facing Israelis and Palestinians. Hillel@Stanford’s George and Charlotte Shultz Fellowship in Modern Israel Studies encourages student research on issues relevant to modern Israel and the betterment of Israeli-Arab relations. Four fellowships were awarded this past year, including two focused on energy and environmental research. In addition to Birthright trips – free, 10-day trips to Israel – Hillel@Stanford facilitates tech and other internships, as well as volunteer and study opportunities to experience first-hand Israel’s geography, cultures, politics and religions.

– Rabbi Serena Eisenburg

Contact Rabbi Serena Eisenberg at serenae1 ‘at’ stanford.edu

mxm123

In my opinion, An Agency for Israeli Apartheid, is what the Hillel will be known for when history books are written.

To pretend that it’s some kind of objective and impartial source of opportunities when it comes to Israel is a cruel joke. Do we have to ignore the open censorship and discrimination that is practiced by the Hillel.

Let’s be clear Birthright and these other trips, if run by the University, would be subject Federal Civil Rights scrutiny which the Hillel can avoid as a private organization. And yet the Hillel portrays itself as an extension to the University. Birthright trips are nothing more than discriminatory propaganda tours, to say the least. Just like the Soviets had Young Pioneers ???, to pretend to whitewash their malarkey.

Unfortunately, for the Hillel, the more their propaganda, the less they’re are believed. The last gasps of an Apartheid Agency (IMO).
Mike

Are the Hillel sponsored Birthright trips inclusive of Palestinian students as well?
Prg234

It is mystifying to witness the anti-Israel (and some times anti-Jewish) comments in this and other college newspapers. With all its faults (and certainly there are many), Israel is the only beacon of democracy and tolerance in a geographic region torn by Islamic extremists and their ilk (including Hamas and other Palestinian institutions). Open your eyes to this reality and do not allow yourselves to be blinded by left-wing dreamers and other fools. We should be praising and supporting Israel as they try to hold an increasingly challenging line in an intolerable (and intolerant) Middle East. Federal Civil Rights scrutiny (see comments by mxm123 below)? Do not be ridiculous!
mxm123

” Israel is the only beacon of democracy and tolerance” – And for millions of stateless Palestinians ?

“increasingly challenging line in an intolerable (and intolerant) Middle East. ” – All of which are excuses to cover for apartheid.

“Federal Civil Rights scrutiny (see comments by mxm123 below)? Do not be ridiculous!” – Reread what i stated as to what the Hillel can get away with.
No, but not sure its an issue

Hillel is the center for Jewish life on campus, so it wouldn’t make much sense to advertise Israel trips to Palestinian students.

Birthright was founded and financed by private donors and the Jewish Agency who want to send Jewish youth to connect with their heritage and people. It also would not make much sense, then, for the Jewish agency or Jewish donors pay to spend whatever amount of money to send people of Palestinian descent on a Jewish heritage trip
In Response

Readers, neither mxm123 nor myself have been on Birthright, so chat with a Jewish friend of yours who has been on Birthright, and ask about their experiences before coming to conclusions about the trip

Regardless of personal opinions on the legitimacy of Israel as a state, Jews worldwide do and have for millennia considered the land and its historical sites from their ancestors to have religious and cultural significance, so there is the urge to connect with one’s faith (or in absence of faith, with heritage and history) through visiting the land, as many Christians do as well in visits to Nazareth. This is my understanding of the motivation behind the Birthright trip.
Student familiar w/Hillel

As an undergraduate who knows all the Hillel staff, as well as the process behind the decision making of the institution, I’m unsure what basis the assertion about Hillel is coming from.

Hillel does not portray itself as an extension of the university– in fact it takes no university funds exactly to ensure that it is distinct from the university.

The above assertion comes dangerously close to the ‘Elders of Zion’ sort of conspiracies we saw on campus last year at Admit Weekend when student activists held posters indicating Hillel as the puppet master of the administration– it is an outside organization that engages with students and faculty, like many others. Hillel is not meeting in backrooms plotting the course of the university.
mxm123

“In an era in which the University offers students few opportunities to travel to the Middle East, Hillel@Stanford supports diverse trips….”

Oh please, quit using the same old playbook and come up with a new one to cover for the odious censorship of the Hillel organization.
mxm123

I’ve never (nor you) was in Apartheid South Africa either. But they invented the printing press long before. I missed the World War also.

Your myths, religions are wonderful. As long as they don’t strip the rights of others. Go read online on what others have commented on the selection critieria and propaganda of these trips.
Mike

The reason I’m asking is because of this statement from the letter above:

“Hillel@Stanford supports diverse trips for all Stanford students who are interested in seeing, hearing and learning on their own terms about the developments and challenges facing Israelis and Palestinians.”
Jeremy Caplin

Any Jewish kid between the ages of 18 and 26 anywhere can apply for that birthright trip. Hillel doesn’t sponsor it. Doesn’t really have anything to do with Hillel directly. Or Stanford, for that matter.