The prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn is facing accusations of promoting antisemitism with a proposed Israeli boycott. The Academic Senate of the college is planning to discuss and possibly vote on the controversial resolution calling for an “academic and cultural boycott of Israel” on the first full day of the eight-day Passover holiday, when observant Jews would likely not be able to participate. Jewish faculty members are being excluded from having any say in the matter due to the timing of the proposal during their religious holiday.
The proposal to boycott Israel is being criticized for its broad wording, which could potentially ban Jewish community groups such as Hillel and Chabad from the campus. The controversy at Pratt Institute is part of a larger trend of hostility against Jewish faculty and students in colleges across the country. Jewish students have reported harassment and safety concerns at various institutions due to anti-Israel protests and actions.
Rory Lancman, a representative of staff and students opposing the resolution, has sent a letter to Pratt’s leadership urging them to withdraw consideration of the proposal due to potential violations of anti-discrimination laws. He warned that the college could face legal action if Jewish staff and students are not given the opportunity to voice their opinions on the resolution. The proposal claims that Palestinians have suffered from “genocide” committed by Israel, without acknowledging the losses suffered by Israelis during conflicts with Hamas.
The resolution calls for an academic and cultural boycott of Israel, urging Pratt to end engagements with Israeli entities and divest from companies profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Lancman argues that the proposed boycott would amount to religious discrimination, as it could target mainstream American Jews who support Zionism and identify closely with Israel. He highlights the potential impact on Jewish religious observances, as many holidays and ceremonies reference Israel as the ancestral holy land.
Lancman has appealed to Pratt Institute to postpone the discussion and vote on the resolution to accommodate Jewish senators and alternates observing Passover. He has also called for the complete withdrawal of the BDS Resolution, citing violations of anti-discrimination laws at the federal, state, and local levels. Despite these concerns, there has been no response from Pratt’s leadership regarding the accusations of promoting antisemitism with the proposed Israeli boycott.
