As members of Jewish Voice for Peace who created a sukkah to celebrate Sukkot and honor Palestine, we express our gratitude to the Tribune for its coverage and offer context and clarification (“Northwestern removes cabin honoring Jewish holiday, cites policy; A group of Jewish students calls this action anti-Semitic. » October 19).
On Wednesday and Friday evenings, JVP built a sukkah to celebrate the holiday. Both nights included rituals, some led by renowned Rabbi Brant Rosen. Northwestern had the structures removed, alleged that we had violated the code of conduct, and retroactively informed us that our members were under disciplinary investigation.
Northwestern aims to stifle free speech expressing solidarity with the 43,000 Palestinians killed by Israel. He has spent the last year claiming to protect Jewish students, but his current actions make it clear that he does not and is prepared to ban their religious rituals if they dare mention Gaza. This is a direct violation of our First Amendment right to practice our religion.
The Tribune article does not explain the significance of the sukkah, incorrectly calling it a “hut.” Sukkot is the week-long harvest festival reminiscent of the historic persecution against Jews, making Northwestern’s actions even more ironic. The sukkah is built to commemorate our escape from slavery in Egypt. We cannot help but connect this to the millions of displaced Palestinians fleeing their homes. Jews are obligated to remain in their sukkah for the duration of Sukkot, one of the most sacred rituals in our religion.
We also want to clarify that the “pro-Palestinian campus protests last spring” were not anti-Semitic; the encampment was a space of religious inclusion and security. Students organized Shabbat services in which hundreds of interfaith people participated and celebrated together. As Jews, we felt more supported and connected to our Jewish faith at camp than ever before.
Northwestern believes it can disguise its suppression of free speech as protection for Jewish students, but its desecration of Jewish religious practice proves that this was never true.
Our faith calls us to speak out against injustices committed in our name and to stand in solidarity with Palestine.
— Isabelle Butera, Evgeny Stolyarov and Sarah Wachs, Evanston
Misuse of Jewish observation
The article on Northwestern University’s removal of a sukkah asks for clarification.
The removal of the sukkah displaying anti-Israeli slogans does not constitute an attack on Judaism. Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) seeks to use Jewish symbols for its anti-Israel agenda. Northwestern University’s implementation of its policies was appropriate and any allegations of bias are unfounded.
The JVP’s actions at Northwestern grossly misrepresent Jewish tradition and misrepresent the Israel-Hamas conflict. The group’s “Sukkah,” supposedly created for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot but intended to “honor Palestinians” in the Israel-Hamas conflict, cynically manipulates a sacred Jewish holiday for political purposes.
The JVP has a troubling record, as evidenced by its support for Rasmea Odeh, a convicted terrorist. Recently, an organization that JVP has partnered with, Samidoun, was labeled by the US Treasury as a “sham charity” funding terrorist groups. The Anti-Defamation League has identified JVP as a bigoted group that promotes anti-Semitism.
Sukkot celebrates Jewish resilience, commemorating the exodus from Egypt and God’s protection. Misusing this celebration to demonize Israel and support groups aligned with Hamas, a terrorist organization, deeply offends Jewish tradition.
Allegations of anti-Semitism regarding the removal of the sukkah are also misleading. Northwestern has enforced its standard policies, which apply to all student groups. JVP is not even a recognized student organization at the university.
As an institution required by federal laws to protect students from discrimination, Northwestern must not allow fringe groups like JVP to misuse religious symbols for divisive political purposes.
— Orete Harkavy and Professor Richard Silverman, on behalf of the Northwestern Coalition Against Anti-Semitism
Who are the excluded?
Regarding Paul Sereno’s letter to the editor (“Blame the Palestinians for the war” October 22): This is typical blaming the victim talk. This almost sounds like something that would come from one of our esteemed left-leaning institutions of higher learning.
Again, who exactly are the oppressed and disenfranchised?
A path to lasting peace? Hamas should release the hostages (at least those who have not yet been murdered, in cold blood, with a bullet to the back of the head) and lay down their weapons.
So let’s talk about “peace”.
—Mike Roche, Naperville
Glad to see many early voters
My wife and I went to our polling place in Lincoln Park on the first day of voting in our precinct. I was delighted to see the long, winding line that stretched to the lobby of the Lincoln Park branch library. Although the wait was a little over an hour, poll workers were on top of their game and kept the lines moving.
I hope the strong turnout is a harbinger of positive things to come for our city, state and country.
—Michael Oakes, Chicago
A social worker helped veterans
I was pleased to read about the success of health care for homeless veterans at the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center and its partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the HUD-VASH program (“‘Change life'” September 18).
In my 44 years as a clinical social worker at the Hines VA Hospital, I have seen many of the same types of success stories with veterans assisted by the Hines Veterans Health Care Program homeless and support and housing units on the Hines VA grounds. Then-President Barack Obama made ending homelessness among veterans one of his top goals.
But there is one key figure in the creation of this highly effective program who has been forgotten, Annie Pope, the retired head of Hines’ social work department. Pope was an innovative leader, always looking for new and unique ways to serve veterans through social workers. She used her many connections in the community to form an alliance with the Chicago Housing Authority to create a Section 8 program for 50 veterans in exchange for the Hines Social Work Department’s assignment of two licensed social workers. Hines master’s degree as case managers for these veterans.
Pope has always looked for ways to better serve veterans with VA resources.
—Frank Vozak, Oak Park
What is the city doing about rats?
Lately we’ve been reading and hearing a lot about the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Teachers Union, the Board of Education, and the CTA. What about rats?
Once again, Chicago tops the list of cities with the biggest rat problem. It’s to the point where the evening news is doing stories celebrating the wild cat heroes with the highest death rates, much like baseball batting averages. It’s not just that these vermin are scary; they represent systemic issues facing our city, from health to sanitation to housing.
Being the “seediest city” in the country isn’t a good moniker for tourism either. Rat control is a high priority on the policy and action agendas of most cities. It must be more than the often outdated “Target: Rat” posters you see in the alleys of Chicago.
There has to be a sense of urgency. What’s the plan, Mr. Mayor?
-Lindsay Resnick, Chicago
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