Spring Break
OP-ED: Stop accusing our school of being a Jewocracy
by Aviv Luban
Op-Ed | 5/20/08
Posted online at 6:23 AM EST on 5/20/08
In my four years here, I have heard students express various shades of antipathy toward the "Jewishness" at Brandeis. I've heard the Jewish presence described as overwhelming, shocking and suffocating .
I do not wish to address nuanced and sticky issues like the timing of Passover break. What concerns me is the way in which some students, Jewish and non-Jewish, relate to the Jewish face of Brandeis' identity and student body. Even among some of those who favor a vigorous Jewish life on campus, one can hear statements of sympathy for students who were not warned about an overpowering Jewish presence before coming here. They also express the sentiment that it is totally understandable to feel overwhelmed by this presence.
Among those who are less favorably inclined toward the prominence of Jewish life on our campus, I frequently hear the idea that we should start thinning the Jewish concentration. This, they say, is more favorable toward a diverse student body. Implicit in this statement is the idea that the lack of diversity is a result of a putative Jewish monopoly and that it can only be rectified through the elimination of the Jewish majority. In its more extreme expressions, I sense in this sentiment an a priori opposition to the existence of a Jewish majority or a conspicuously Jewish character.
I'd like to unpack this idea of Jewish life at the expense of diversity. Perusing the pages of student newspapers, I rarely get the sense of a muscular Jewish presence, let alone a dominating majority. The social and intellectual discourse outside of classes does not generally revolve around Jewish issues except in a proportionally small set of social circles. Even from the standpoint of demographics, Brandeis is not overwhelmingly Jewish; the student body might be less than half Jewish depending on which statistics one follows. Even among Jewish students, most are not identifiably Jewish in appearance, lifestyle or religious practice. Broadly speaking, the idea of a Jewish monopoly on campus life is a myth.
I do not wish to address nuanced and sticky issues like the timing of Passover break. What concerns me is the way in which some students, Jewish and non-Jewish, relate to the Jewish face of Brandeis' identity and student body. Even among some of those who favor a vigorous Jewish life on campus, one can hear statements of sympathy for students who were not warned about an overpowering Jewish presence before coming here. They also express the sentiment that it is totally understandable to feel overwhelmed by this presence.
Among those who are less favorably inclined toward the prominence of Jewish life on our campus, I frequently hear the idea that we should start thinning the Jewish concentration. This, they say, is more favorable toward a diverse student body. Implicit in this statement is the idea that the lack of diversity is a result of a putative Jewish monopoly and that it can only be rectified through the elimination of the Jewish majority. In its more extreme expressions, I sense in this sentiment an a priori opposition to the existence of a Jewish majority or a conspicuously Jewish character.
I'd like to unpack this idea of Jewish life at the expense of diversity. Perusing the pages of student newspapers, I rarely get the sense of a muscular Jewish presence, let alone a dominating majority. The social and intellectual discourse outside of classes does not generally revolve around Jewish issues except in a proportionally small set of social circles. Even from the standpoint of demographics, Brandeis is not overwhelmingly Jewish; the student body might be less than half Jewish depending on which statistics one follows. Even among Jewish students, most are not identifiably Jewish in appearance, lifestyle or religious practice. Broadly speaking, the idea of a Jewish monopoly on campus life is a myth.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
A moderate
posted 5/21/08 @ 10:21 PM EST
Thank you Aviv. This article is a breath of fresh air from the acrimonious comments I commonly hear on the Brandeis campus. Comments that disparage Jews, Zionists and especially Orthodox Jews are levied constantly and they stink of prejudice. (Continued…)
Emily
posted 6/25/08 @ 3:48 PM EST
I don't think the comments about the "Jewishness" of Brandeis are completely unfounded. I'm Jewish and sometimes it surprises me to hear about how far the school goes to accommodate Jewish students but not students of other religious/ethnic minorities. (Continued…)
Goy
posted 7/03/08 @ 3:00 PM EST
As a non-Jew, I find that while Judaism is omnipresent on campus, which is certainly a unique trait of the university, it's by no means smothering.
Some complain about the 'preferential' treatment for Jewish students on campus, but, really, isn't that sort of to be expected? It's no secret that the student body is roughly 60% Jewish, and while the rights of the minorities should be protected. (Continued…)
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