Berkeley Hillel

The Antisemitism Education Initiative, a pilot program at UC Berkeley, received a $25,000 grant from the national nonprofit Academic Engagement Network, or AEN, on Sept. 10.

UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ released two letters Feb. 18 responding to an ASUC bill that would have condemned a cubicle display by Bears for Palestine in Eshleman Hall that included photos of controversial Palestinian activists — some of whom had allegedly been involved in acts of terrorism.

More than 200 people attended the ASUC Senate’s University and External Affairs Committee meeting Monday on ASUC Senator Milton Zerman’s contentious bill titled “Condemning Bears for Palestine for Their Display in Eshleman Hall Glorifying Violent Terrorists.”

While many Jewish students think of Berkeley Hillel as a welcoming community space, some have expressed discontent with how it represents their community.

On Friday, a group of Jewish American students associated with the IfNotNow movement staged a sit-in at Berkeley Hillel, asking it to break ties with the Birthright Israel program.

Coming to terms with a cultural and religious identity is a long process, but I’m determined not to let anyone else’s perception of Jewishness dictate how I define my Judaism.

More than 100 people gathered Sunday night outside Sproul Hall to hold a vigil honoring the victims of the recent shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The prayer service and candlelight vigil were organized by Jewish community organizations on campus.

Jewish communities need to be more open to debate about Israeli policies. And progressive campus organizations need to more explicitly welcome Jewish students, with the understanding that being Jewish is not always about blind support for Israel or even about Israel at all.