Dear Editor,
Dear President Pinto,
Earlier today I saw a statement put out by SJP in regards to the need to speak out regarding attempts to “stifle academic discussion, free speech, and unfairly equate criticisms of the Israeli government’s policies with Anti-semitism.”
While there are so many factual inaccuracies (and I only base discussion off facts, like any rational person should do) in SJP’s official statement, I’m not here to give a history lesson. I am here to tell you that as a Jew in the Cincinnati Jewish community with very close ties to the University of Cincinnati, I was personally, very hurt not only by the distasteful and extremely upsetting (and INCREDIBLY anti-semitic) “Spooky Zionist” party that SJP decided to promote, but that you, President Pinto, of the University of Cincinnati, came out and said absolutely nothing about it. This is the equivalent to a Russian student organization hosting a “dress as your favorite Ukrainian monster” party. Utterly disgusting and unimaginable. There is a difference between exercising freedom of speech, which I wholeheartedly believe in and respect, and speech which incites violence. A crime in the United States. The Secure Community Network (SCN), an organization that coordinates security for Jewish communities across the United States, reported on Friday “an alarming uptick in antisemitic incidents concentrated on college campuses” since the events of October 7 and the breakout of war in Gaza. And regardless of college campuses, have you seen what’s happening in Russia as I’m writing this?
Having lived in Israel for ten years, I am the first to criticize Israel’s government. I’ve seen what it is on the ground. What it looks like to prosper in peace and what it looks like when policies are put in place that hinder that process. And I protest. I demand accountability. I demand justice. I demand from my government to do what’s right. And thank God Israel is a country that allows me the freedoms of a democracy to do such. I am an American and an Israeli. And I understand the fractions that have been created in both countries. Administrations we don’t agree with. Specific politicians we can’t fathom made it to office. What I don’t see SJP doing is condemning Hamas, who currently represents the Palestinian people in Gaza. Why can’t they hold Hamas accountable for the brutal murder of 1,300+ innocent Israeli civilians? Why can’t they demand that Hamas surrender and release the hostages if they’re so passionate about a ceasefire for Israel? Why can’t they look me in the eye and say I’m sorry your friend, his wife, and their 3 beautiful girls were butchered and burned to ashes in their home? A whole family erased. Why is that so hard to condemn? What is missing from SJP’s academic discussion is accountability. There’s a difference between criticizing a country and calling for its extinction. I am here for open, academic discussion where we can both mourn ALL civilian lives and the atrocities specifically Gazans have been living through under the conditions of Hamas. But only if we can condemn terrorism in all of its forms.
This is what was written as the caption of SJP’s official statement “Let’s set the record straight: Zionism is a political ideology, not immune to criticism. It’s our duty to address the consequences of this ideology, which has led to the displacement of millions of Palestinians and ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
So let’s set the record straight. I implore you to actually look at fact based information and condemn the misuse of language that is incredibly offensive to Zionists, and Jews as a whole.
The definition of Zionism: Zionism is the movement for the self-determination and statehood for the Jewish people in their indigenous, ancestral homeland, the land of Israel. This is how JEWS define Zionism. It’s important to differentiate how anyone not connected to the movement redefines Zionism as some political movement relating to Israel’s government right now. But it was actually coined in the late 1800s while Jews were being massively persecuted throughout Europe and there was a call to return to their brothers and sisters in the land of Israel where they could live freely. Jews have been in the Land of Israel for 3,500 years. Zionism is NOT a new “thing” and highly correlated to the Jewish identity of 95% of the Jews in the world.
The definition of genocide: According to the UN, they define genocide as “a crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part.” While I think that is a very skewed definition (specifically in the in part aspect), I want to make it abundantly clear that since the founding of the State of Israel, there were around 750,000 Arabs who identified as Palestinian (1.1 million by 1960) and now in 2023 there are around 5.3 million. You unequivocally cannot believe that Israel is committing a genocide if the Palestinian population is growing at a tremendous rate. You can say that they have been provoked to engage in many wars which unfortunately result in many civilian casualties. Which, if you speak to ANY Jew or Israeli, they will say their heart breaks every time. As does mine. Incredibly. Precise military campaigns on terror targets is NOT committing genocide. What’s happening in China to the Muslim population is an actual genocide. Can we talk about that? Israel is a Western democracy with an army that is held accountable. And punished. And unfortunately, when up against a terror organization the fight isn’t always fair. Hamas terrorists were actually rewarded for every hostage they brought back. So, if you actually think Israel is committing genocide, then congratulations, Hamas’ terrorist propaganda is working on you.
Not only did I live in Israel for many years, but for 8 of those years I served as a captain in Israeli intelligence. It’s important for me to state that the Jewish and Israeli community as a whole want the Palestinian people to thrive. To have economic security and to prosper financially under their own democratic government in their own democratic state. This is why in 2005, Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon ended what was an Israeli occupation of Gaza. The IDF forced 9,000 Israelis out of their homes in Gaza with the hope that Gazans would thrive under their own leadership, grow economically and prosper as a nation. All Israel asked for was the intention for peace among the nations. Peace only comes with democracy. We are always looking for ways to unite against terror. Against Hamas. An organization that clearly does not care about peace, nor civilians on either side.
We are on the front lines of this war right now with two missions only: to eliminate terror and protect civilian lives (which includes rescuing ALL of the hostages).
Terrorism is terrorism. On that I hope we can all agree. I challenge us to unite on this front and all other fronts in regards to the best interest of Palestinian civilians. Keep the Jewish community a part of the conversation. Do not alienate us.
We are not asking SJP to stop standing up for the rights of innocent Palestinians. The contrary. We are asking them to do so in a respectful and productive manner free from hate and harmful rhetoric. And especially in a way that is not threatening to the Jews on your campus who are hurting and in fear and do not feel supported by your leadership. Did you know the cousin of the Israel fellow at UC Hillel was murdered at the Nova peace festival? Did you reach out and offer your condolences? These are your people. Your students, educators, leaders.
I hope you can find it in your heart to condemn terror in all of its forms and create a safe environment for all of your students at your university. We ask that you start by specifically condemning these activities which promote hatred instead of peace and unity. There should only be room on your campus for making the world a better place. Not inciting violence.
Praying for the strength to move forward through this tragic time and for quieter and more peaceful days,
Lainey Paul Richler
Cincinnati, OH