I am writing in response to an article written by staff writer Bob Makin which appeared on Dec. 9 bearing the headline: ADL: Rutgers must respond to anti-Semitic allegations against employee; University, Jewish students say allegations are false.
The article quotes two Jewish Rutgers students who, Makin wrote, "have come to the defense" of a Middle East Studies Department employee who is the subject of charges of anti-Semitism. The charge is alleged in legal actions brought against the university by the Zionist Organization of America and an investigation opened by the U.S. Department of Education.
The reporter clearly linked Rutgers Hillel to the aforementioned allegations of anti-Semitism. Rutgers Hillel is not, in any way, a party to the ZOA or DOE actions.
Hillel is an umbrella organization that provides a Jewish context for both religious and secular Jewish students. As a point of fact, both of the students have participated in various Hillel activities, while claiming to be anti-Zionist.
Rutgers Hillel is extremely proud that the university administration pointed to Shalom/Salaam and the Middle East Coexistence House as examples of campus efforts that bring together Jewish and Muslim students. Both of these initiatives were originally founded under Hillel auspices, by Hillel student leaders.