Introducing the Office of Jewish Affairs
(From the Spring 1998 issue of "Shofar")
The Office of Jewish Affairs was established in May 1995, in response to a campus climate which many Jews experienced as hostile. While the situation for Jews has improved significantly in the years since this office was created, there are other groups for whom that is not the case. We remain committed to advocating for the interests of the Jewish community—that is, after all, why this office was conceived. But we are no less committed to the task of fostering a safe and welcoming climate for all those who study, teach, work, and live here. That commitment will continue to guide all of our activities.
Our Mission:
Our principal mission is to foster a safe and welcoming campus environment for Jewish students, staff, and faculty—an environment characterized by mutual respect and the absence of harassment or discrimination of any kind.
Our Philosophy:
In order to carry out this mission successfully, we must create a campus environment in which all students, staff, and faculty are valued and respected. Consequently, while educating the University community about the history, culture, and religious traditions of the Jewish people, and about the enduring anti-Semitism which has nearly resulted in the annihilation of the Jewish people, we must join with other groups to promote an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect, and to staunchly defend the dignity and human rights of all people.
We strive to accomplish these goals through a variety of educational activities, individual and institutional advocacy, and coalition building.
Educational Activities
Educate the University community about anti-Semitism and Jewish history and culture through educational programs, workshops, and individual consultations.
Develop educational resources and strategies to reduce anti-Semitism and foster greater appreciation for the religious, racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the campus.
Collaborate with faculty in developing new courses which facilitate respectful discussion of complex social issues—for example, a course on the History of Black/Jewish Relations (which should premier in the fall of 1999).
Institutional Advocacy
Advocate for institutional policies which serve the needs of all students; and challenge those policies which create specific hardships for Jews (such as the residential policy prohibiting students from lighting candles in their rooms).
Promote multicultural awareness in institutional programs, and promote the inclusion of Jewish concerns in all multicultural initiatives, where appropriate.
Advise the administration concerning anticipated or emergent issues affecting the Jewish community, and act as a liaison between the administration and Jewish organizations.
Individual Advocacy
Provide referrals and institutional support for victims of anti-Semitic and other forms of harassment or discrimination.
Provide assistance when University policies or departmental practices make it difficult for Jewish and other students to observe their religious traditions.
Coalition-Building
Promote inter-group dialogue which fosters a more informed and respectful campus climate, primarily through our Dialogue Project, which has featured public dialogues between the descendants of S.S. officers and Holocaust survivors, and between Arabs and Jews.
Support collaborative programming which brings together the members of diverse religions, racial, ethnic or cultural communities, fostering greater understanding while working toward common goals.
We are often asked, "Is the Office of Jewish Affairs part of Hillel?"
The answer is no. Hillel is a privately-funded Jewish organization which provides religious, cultural, and social programs for Jewish students. By contrast, the Office of Jewish Affairs is a University administrative office whose primary mission is to provide educational programs for the entire campus (not primarily the Jewish community) in order to improve the climate for all students. We work closely with Hillel but are entirely separate from them. The Office of Jewish Affairs is not a religious organization.
This article was originally published in the Spring 1998 issue of "Shofar"
