As I head back to the University of Michigan this fall, I am grateful for a summer on the Hill learning the ins and outs of the political system during one of the most tumultuous times in modern American history. And yet, I anticipate my year on campus to be more chaotic than my time in DC. The University of Michigan, with thousands of Jewish and Arab students alike, is a microcosm for the greater tensions in the US surrounding the war in Gaza.
Antisemitism is certain to be a recurring issue, and the campus-wide debate on Israel will undoubtedly rage on. Our large, pluralistic, and non-monolithic Jewish community will need unprecedented support. I, and many of my progressive Jewish friends in particular, will need this support, too. We will need many things from our rabbis and Jewish community leaders: emotional support, words of wisdom, and even free food to name a few.
Among all else, we will need a commitment to ideological diversity. Disagreement is, in fact, remarkably Jewish. As the saying goes, when there are two Jews, there will be three opinions. When it comes to identifying and combating antisemitism and engaging with Israel relations, this absolutely holds true. We need our Jewish leaders to foster this disagreement in a productive way, rather than ostracizing those with visions ostensibly outside the mainstream.
Progressive Jews can and should be just as strenuous in our fight against antisemitism, even if our framework rejects efforts to stifle free speech and assumes good intentions when reasonable. Likewise, progressive Jews can and should be just as proudly pro-Israel, even if our conception of being pro-Israel involves criticizing its government, military offensive in Gaza, and occupation of the West Bank. We will continue to reject false choices between Israeli and Palestinian civilians, right-wing efforts to weaponize antisemitism, and calls for war; we will continue to understand that security, peace, justice, and freedom can only be truly obtained when they are mutual; and we will continue to champion that this moment is not “us vs. them”, but rather all of us — together.
We know people will disagree with us; that is more than okay. What we need from our rabbis and communal leaders is a commitment to defending our views and working with us. At Michigan and around the country, we have a chance to be venerated for our dialogue efforts and coalition building. These efforts must not be seen as antithetical, but rather emblematic, of our Jewish values.