More than a dozen buildings are still closed during university final exams.
MINNEAPOLIS — Final week at the University of Minnesota feels different. More than a dozen buildings, including the main library building, stand quietly. Around them, students' chants of support for Palestine echo loudly.
The university issued a statement saying it would close these buildings due to safety concerns.
Hillel is normally closed on Jewish holidays, but they decided to keep their doors open.
On Friday, Jewish student groups held a press conference citing concerns about the protests. They talked about flags, chants and messages they considered anti-Semitic.
Video also surfaced last week showing clashes with students protesting in support of Israel.
Hillel spoke with the Jewish Community Relations Council about how he believes the language used at the rally is contributing to an increase in complaints of anti-Semitic bias.
Molly Seligman said she feels it's important to speak up to encourage people to think about the words they chant and the signs they carry.
“People don't understand the conflict that's going on,” Seligman said. “I hope that once people understand that there is a lot of nuance to this, and that people recognize and understand that this is about the government, not the people, there will be less hate. ”
She was among the Jewish students who voiced concerns about their safety during the protests.
On Tuesday, other Hillel students said they felt conflicted about the sentiment surrounding the protests. Ari Helfand was in the middle of her finals when the building where she was taking the exam was shut down amid protests.
“In the middle of the test, someone came down and said, 'Everyone has to leave by 2 p.m., so the finals have to stop by 1:45,'” Helfand said. Ta.
There was a part of Helfand that was relieved. Although he did not have to answer true or false questions at the end of the final, he thought it would be quite difficult. But it made him feel a little uneasy.
“I'm very Jewish, and as someone who has family in Israel, I have a deep connection to that country,” Helfand said. “And I find it strange that people are attacking it. But on the other hand, I look at what's going on in Gaza, the occupied territory of the West Bank, and I hear what the protesters are saying. When I see something like that, I think, “That's like something.'' That's a good perspective. '”
Helfand said she feels safe overall on campus, but Riley Gallagher, another Jewish student at UMN, shares a similar sentiment with some protesters. Despite this, he said he was nervous.
“Ever since I was a child, I've always been seriously involved in political protests,” Gallagher said. “The same goes for people on the left. And it's a big deal when a community that you were a part of starts to incorporate anti-Semitic rhetoric into their rhetoric. It's very alienating, both as a Jewish student and as a leftist.” I feel it.”
“I wish people would listen to each other more,” she says. “Mentally I think it's tough. Physically I feel safe.”
Some Jewish students, including Imogen Page of Jewish Voices for Peace, are resistant to pro-Palestinian rallies themselves.
“Being able to show up on campus as a proud Jew for Passover and participate in the encampments and demonstrations was so meaningful and so sacred,” Page said. “Many Jewish students are not enrolling in spite of being Jewish, but because we are Jewish. And because our Jewish values protect life and genocide, Because it is against.”
Skylar Strudwick was among those at Hillel cramming for an upcoming test. She feels as if her own voice is not being heard.
“As a Jewish student who sympathizes with the Palestinian cause, I have heard anti-Semitic rhetoric and have expressed my concern for students of justice at the Palestinian protests because of the misunderstandings that are occurring between students and students. I don’t feel like going to help.’ I do,” Strudwick said.
Strudwick said he thinks there could be more emphasis on efforts to promote peace between the two suffering groups.
“I can only speak for myself and the Jews I know here, but no one wants what is happening in Gaza,” she said.
Hope W. is a student employee at Hillel and will be graduating on Friday.
“I think my biggest thing is I want to make sure everyone is safe,” Hope said. “We want to make sure that people are actually thinking about this issue holistically, and using their voices to make sure that students are seeing the world and not being safe on campus anymore. There is a conflict between wanting to support students and wanting to speak out against injustice.”
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