Students gathered in Red Square on Monday, Nov. 25 in response to the recent remarks of Norman Finkelstein, a Holocaust historian who spoke on campus Nov. 18, and Professor Hisam Sharabi, a Professor Emeritus who made controversial remarks in a speech in Lebanon.
The Georgetown Israeli Alliance, the Jewish Student Association and supporters from local universities rallied to show the solidarity of the Jewish community.
According to GIA President Julia Segall (CAS ‘05), Finkelstein and Sharabi’s remarks were “not appropriate for a learning environment.”
“These statements really shocked and disgusted me as a member of the Jewish community,” Segall said.
A GIA press release noted the group’s dissatisfaction with the comments Finkelstein, who spoke on campus on Nov. 18. According to the press release, Finkelstein qualified the Holocaust as “Nazi experiments in demographic engineering,” and disparaged the field of Holocaust studies as being “replete with nonsense.”
The Daily Star, a Lebanese newspaper, reported that Georgetown Professor Emeritus Hisham Sharabi stated at a lecture at the University of Balamand in Lebanon that Jews and Americans are involved in a conspiracy against Arabs. “Jews are getting ready to take control of us [Arabs],” Sharabi was reported to have said.
Such statements play into “old, anti-Semitic stereotypes that encourage intolerance and intimidation of Jewish students,” Segall said.
Young Arab Leadership Alliance board member Samer Oweida (SFS ‘04) said that YALA, one of the groups that sponsored the Finkelstein speech, is not planning a response to the rally.
“We’re in favor of a demonstration to show tolerance, but it’s unfortunate that it turned into a pro-Israel rally. To do it in the name of intolerance and intimidation is a distortion. It’s sad that there is such a feeling of intimidation regarding a speaker [Finkelstein] that spoke about policy and not the Jewish religion,” Oweida said.
Oweida said that the distinction between attacks on Zionism and attacks on Judaism should be acknowledged.
“I think labeling the Finkelstein speech as anti-Semitic is a blatant distortion. There were plenty of anti-Israel comments, but no anti-Semitic remarks. When we attack Zionism, we are not attacking Judaism,” he said.
According to Georgetown University Assistant Vice President for Communications Julie Green Bataille, Sharabi’s remarks do not represent the views of the University.
“We have no independent knowledge of the content of Professor Sharabi’s remarks. As a Catholic and Jesuit University, Georgetown University is committed to academic freedom, rational inquiry and ecumenical dialogue,” Bataille said.
In a statement recently released to the University community, President John J. DeGioia emphasized Georgetown’s condemnation of anti-Semitism.
“Georgetown University promotes respect, inclusion and understanding and has a proud history and a strong commitment to inquiry into Jewish civilization and culture as evidenced by numerous academic endeavors and campus activities,” the statement reads.
Both the Norman Finkelstein speech and the reports of Professor Sharabi’s speech moved the GIA and the JSA to organize the Jewish Solidarity Rally.
The event involved guest speakers, performers, music and dancing with an estimated 100 individuals participating. The rally ended with a solemn rendition of “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem.
According to organizers, the rally received a largely positive response.
“I thought the rally was great. It’s really important that people realize it’s not about politics. It’s just us standing with our friends against people saying horrible things at our University,” said Martha Heinemann (SFS ‘05), who participated in the rally.
Segall, JSA President Dan Spector (SFS ‘04), senior Jewish chaplain Rabbi Harold White and several others spoke in support of Zionism and against the comments made by Finkelstein and Sharabi.
Former Visiting Professor in the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding Charles Chartoumi, who was present at the rally, said that he thinks Sharabi should be held accountable for his comments.
“[Sharabi] should be asked about his statements, if he has said such things. Then Georgetown should take measures against him. Hate speech should not be condoned. You can disagree with Israel, but this type of speech should not be tolerated,” Chartoumi said.
Segall stated that both students and the administration have been supportive of the efforts of GIA and JSA.
“Georgetown is not at all an anti-Semitic campus, it’s a great place to be Jewish, and it’s surprising to hear about these types of events and sentiments on campus,” she said.
