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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff

@concernedjfaculty.bsky.social

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We believe that the fight against antisemitism cannot be separated from the struggle against all forms of oppression. Read and sign our statement below: https://concernedjewishfaculty.org NION statement: http://bit.ly/3FQtFcs

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 20d

Today, we release guiding principles and concrete practices on how to meaningfully combat antisemitism, without enabling the Trump administration or sacrificing immigrants, trans people, or the rights to free speech and protest.

www.concernedjewishfaculty.org/copy-of-agai...

How to Combat Antisemitism in Massachuse | Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff

www.concernedjewishfaculty.org

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 7h

State Senator John Velis, as co-chair of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, has been one of the main forces pushing schools throughout MA to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Constituents are starting to speak back about this: sites.google.com/view/shame-o...

Shame On Velis

State Senator John Velis co-chairs the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism. And while combating antisemitism sounds like a good idea, Velis and his colleagues are trying to use ...

sites.google.com

Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 7h

Spelling correction: Akiva Leibowitz, not Liebowitz

Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 1d

Harvard's Shaul Magid on how the past two years have changed Jews' relationship to Zionism

www.theguardian.com/world/commen...

The Zionist consensus among US Jews has collapsed. Something new is emerging | Shaul Magid

Two years after the 7 October massacre and the onset of Israel’s slaughter in Gaza, American Jewry has been profoundly transformed

www.theguardian.com

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 1d

We mourn the lives cut short on Oct 7 2023, and every day since then, in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and beyond. May the memories of them all inspire us to work for a just peace.

Blue image with candle, and text: "We mourn the lives cut short on Oct 7 2023, and every day since then, in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and beyond. May all of their memories inspire us to work for a just peace."

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 2d

How to address antisemitism allegations in k12 schools in a way that is constructive rather than punitive?

CJFS member Hilary Lustick of UMass Lowell lays out a hypothetical scenario in her testimony to the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 2d

Standing by Our Colleagues in Gaza — A Plea to the U.S. Medical Community

coauthored by CJFS member Akiva Liebowitz

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Standing by Our Colleagues in Gaza — A Plea to the U.S. Medical Community | NEJM

In the face of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza’s health system and the catastrophic famine caused by the devastation, U.S. physicians have an ethical obligation to respond and support immediate ch...

www.nejm.org

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Reposted by Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff

Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 3d

I was told not to teach a class on the intellectual histories of Zionism and Anti-Zionism next year - not because they doubted I could teach it fairly, but because it would attract too many politicians scrutinizing the syllabus.

A society where that is a valid fear is no longer fully democratic.

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 3d

True. Almost certainly a choice made by the Al Jazeera editorial team.

Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 3d

Meant to say CEO of *Greater Boston* JCRC

Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 3d

To make sure your views are accurately represented, please also send written testimony via this form

forms.office.com/pages/respon...

Microsoft Forms

forms.office.com

Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 3d

Jeremy Burton, CEO of JCRC and member of MA Antisemitism Commission, is misrepresenting public testimony to the Commission.

He dismisses the >75% of testimony that was critical of their reliance on IHRA definition as "some used the space to air political grievances"

We Need You to Make Your Voice
Heard

Jeremy Burton

On Thursday, September 25, the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism convened its twelfth hearing at the State House. This session was dedicated to public comment.

The hearing brought a wide range of voices. Some used the space to air political grievances, but there were also important contributions that spoke directly to the Commission's charge: sharing lived experiences of antisemitism in Massachusetts and offering recommendations for how our schools, campuses, and state can respond.

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 3d

How the ADL's attempted alliance with the US far-right backfired, and what it means for all of us.

By @culturejamming.bsky.social

www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...

Yes, the ADL is a ‘political front masquerading as a watchdog’

And for the past two years, it has played well the ‘arsonist and the fireman’ scam.

www.aljazeera.com

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Reposted by Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff

Lizzie,MPA @lizzieinratcity.bsky.social · 4d

There’s lots of folks in Massachusetts who think they’re too smart to fall for propaganda. And unfortunately I must say that if you’re not seeing this issue of Christian nationalists pushing Israeli government propaganda as something they’re falling for right now.

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Reposted by Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff

Stephen Soldz @ethicalpsycholo.bsky.social · 4d

"Blue" state Massachusetts is using a stacked "antisemitism" commission to join the Trump administration in suppressing criticism of Israel and its genocide and ethnic cleansing. Governor Healey should be ashamed.
jewishjournal.org/2025/10/03/p...

Public commenters overwhelmingly reject antisemitism commission's findings and composition - Jewish Journal

BOSTON – Dozens of Jews and several legislators offered some suggestions for – but mostly criticisms of – the work of the state’s Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism at its public comment ses...

jewishjournal.org

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

Hilary Lustick, UMass Lowell: "Structured dialogue can help us build the stamina, in ourselves and in our children, to hold our own pain, build empathy, and create community across difference... discipline, termination, shaming, censorship, and suspension do not" static.wixstatic.com/media/d9078d...

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

Jonathan Feingold @jpygold.bsky.social Boston University: "The Commission has endorsed a definition of antisemitism that rationalizes abductions and deportations, and invites right-wing groups to hunt political speech with which they disagree.”

static.wixstatic.com/media/d9078d...

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

Jeremy Menchik @menchik.bsky.social Boston University: "By over relying on data that is widely known to be unreliable and systematically biased, the Special Commission’s work thus far has misrepresented the character and severity of antisemitism in MA." static.wixstatic.com/media/d9078d...

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

Frances Tanzer, Clark University: "Using accusations of antisemitism to defund, bully, or control universities and other institutions breeds resentment toward Jews."

static.wixstatic.com/media/d9078d...

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

On September 8, CJFS members testified to the MA Special Commission on how to combat antisemitism without enabling the Trump administration's attacks on free speech and education.

See our testimony here: www.concernedjewishfaculty.org/video-testim...

Video Testimony | Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff

www.concernedjewishfaculty.org

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

Lynne Layton: “Recommendations on antisemitism must be formulated in the context of this particular authoritarian moment... The threat of antisemitism, in fact, mostly comes from the Christian nationalist right, about which we have heard almost nothing in these hearings.”

Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

Akiva Liebowitz: “There are many of us who believe that antisemitism – not the weaponized variant being put forth by organizations such as ADL, AJC, and AIPAC – should be combated within a broader framework of anti-racial bias and hate and bigotry.”

Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

Cole Harrison of MA Peace Action: “They form the commission on antisemitism to make sure nobody can criticize Israel without being labeled an antisemite. Has any commission member spoken out against Israel’s atrocities and U.S. support for them? If not, I suggest that your commission is stacked.”

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

Testimony by Mark Gurvitch: “The commission has aligned itself with one side of an internal Jewish community conflict. This has not served the Jewish community or the people of Massachusetts.”

Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 4d

The public showed up to overwhelmingly reject the MA Special Commission's IHRA-based recommendations for combating antisemitism in k12 schools.

Will they listen?

jewishjournal.org/2025/10/03/p...

Public commenters overwhelmingly reject antisemitism commission's findings and composition - Jewish Journal

jewishjournal.org

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Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff @concernedjfaculty.bsky.social · 5d

One of these stories is Maura Finkelstein, a tenured Jewish professor fired from Muhlenberg College for posting a poem by a Palestinian on her personal social media

youtu.be/13irUYHM0_A?...

Faculty on the Front Lines: Maura Finkelstein (formerly of Muhlenberg)

YouTube video by TheAAUP

youtu.be