The story is not new to those of us in Long Beach or at CSULB, but the word is out about Kevin MacDonald and it is making its way around the non-racist, anti-bigotry circuit.

The Southern Poverty Law Conference report earlier this year was followed by CSULB faculty and Departments denouncing and distancing themselves from the infamous Prof.

In large measure we can thank Prof Jeffrey Blutinger for his taking the lead on campus among faculty. His efforts have taken an issue that was a “well known dirty secret” of CSULB that was generally shrugged off with a “what can we do - its an academic freedom issue” to a situation where people are no longer afraid to use their own freedom of speech to condemn the racist and academically false and morally bankrupt opinions he spouts.

As Beach Hillel and Jewish students and supporters celebrate the 60th anniversary of the modern state of Israel the CSULB MSA showcase the worst in anti-Jewish stereotypes: Going full force with a guerrilla theater presentation of Jewish soldiers beating CSULB students dressed as Muslim school children, a pregnant woman and an unarmed docile man… Film Footage will be on YouTube later today. VIDEO BELOW

Promoting hatred with classic anti-Jewish blood libel tactics is protected free speech on campus.

I wonder how students and administrators would react to a theatrical presentation of a Native American scalping a white woman if it was presented by the Minute Men, or a forced Clitoral Excision or Honor Killing of Muslim girl at the hands of her family? I doubt it would be accepted with such calmness.
Pictured here: Hillel Students Jolene Ilkey and Ashley Austin speak with MSA women.

Israel Information tent and Birthday Cake
Psych Quad 11-2

Come get information on Israel, travel to Israel and more

Plus yummy “birthday cake” for all!

Documents: U.K. tried to ship Holocaust survivors back to Germany
By The Associated Press

Newly released documents at Britain’s National Archives show how the government tried to send thousands of Palestine-bound Jewish survivors of the Nazi genocide back to postwar Germany, where the final solution had been hatched, without inflaming world opinion.

Could it be done? The answer was no. The British decision to turn away the more than 4,500 Jews on board the Exodus refugee ship turned into a humanitarian and public relations debacle.

Hat tip to Prof. Blutinger
Read the rest of this entry »

UNSETTLED: Israelis & Gaza Disengagement
Multi Cultural Center F03-03
Mon, May 5th 12:00, 2:00 screenings, FREE
UNSETTLED a film by Adam Hootnick

“Before summer ends, three young Israelis will be forced from their homes, two soldiers will be sent to evict them, and one activist will fight to help her country avoid a war.”

UNSETTLED- The story of a generation on the front lines of a nation’s battle against itself.

“Remarkable for the balance of its compassion, and for the range of youthful
intelligence it reveals on both sides of a heartbreaking issue. An extraordinary film.”
- Kurt Loder, MTV

“I think this film is very important for people in the Muslim world to see,
because they will see Israeli people – Jewish people – as human.”
- Professor Akbar Ahmed, former Pakistani Ambassador to the UK

Don’t let the week go by without celebrating the 60th Birthday of the State of Israel.

CSULB ISRAEL WEEK
Israel Poster Exhibit
60 Posters for 60 Years
On CSULB Campus all week

Lunch Time Israel Film “Unsettled”
Monday, May 5, Noon, Multi-cultural Center, FO3-302
UNSETTLED is a story about religion and democracy, soldiers and civilians, and the kids on the front lines of a battle where there is no enemy.

Learn Hebrew in 45 Minutes
Tuesday, May 6, 4pm, USU suite 103
Join our Hebrew Class and learn this ancient language of the Bible.

Visit Israel Info Tent & Eat Cake!
Wednesday, May 7, 11—2pm, next to University Bookstore
Study abroad, free trips, volunteer programs – tons of info!

Community Celebration of Israel’s 60th B’day
Thursday, May 8, 5-8pm, Alpert JCC, 3801 E. Willow St. 90815
Join the LB community for music, food, fun

Dude, I love Israel! Shabbat Dinner
Friday, May 9, 6:30pm, Hosted by the Booksteins

CSULB Birthday Party & Concert
Tuesday, May 13, Noon, SW Terrace, University Student Union
Hip-hop rapper Kosha Dillz & DJ 360, food, henna, prizes

The Long Beach Jewish Community Federation and agencies invite all who wish to honor and remember to our communal gathering in commemoration of Yom Ha Shoah.

The Jewish Studies Program issued its statements about Dr. Kevin MacDonald a month ago. Since then, it has been joined by statements from the History Department, the Anthropology Department, and now the Psychology Department (where MacDonald teaches).

Here’s the new statement from Psychology Dept.

A majority of Psychology Department faculty members approved the following statement.

While the Department of Psychology highly values academic freedom, many faculty members are concerned that our Department and University are being seen as supporting the work of our colleague, Dr. Kevin McDonald. This work on ethnic/racial differences, more specifically the conclusions he has drawn on Jewish culture, has been embraced by certain extremist groups, and used by some as a rationale for their ideology.

Concerns about how Dr. MacDonald’s research is being used by extremist groups led to a forum in December 2007 during which Dr. MacDonald was invited to present his work. During this forum and subsequent on-line discussions, faculty raised a number of concerns. Faculty were particularly concerned that Dr. MacDonald’s research on Jewish culture does not adhere to the Department’s explicitly stated values on academic freedom, responsibility in research, and human diversity (see the Department’s position statements at http://karl.papubs.csulb.edu/cla/psychology). Faculty also raised concerns about potential violations of the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct (http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html) and a variety of conceptual and methodological issues. It was also noted that many of these writings have appeared in other media rather than in psychological journals that require peer review and rigorous scientific and psychological methodology.

As a result of these concerns, the department wishes to dissociate itself from the controversial writings of Dr. Kevin MacDonald. We respect and defend his right to express his views, but we affirm that they are his alone and are in no way endorsed by the Department of Psychology at California State University, Long Beach.
Statement approved by ballot 23 April 2008.

Click here for links to articles on MacDonald and our Hate Crimes forum: Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to the generosity of the Alevy family Beach Hillel is hosting a Passover Retreat right here in Long Beach! We have a MASSIVE HOUSE with a pool, playground and sunbathing lawn.

There are boys and girls sleeping areas for the retreat. RSVP for a spot.

Lotza Matza!
Get your Matza Here!
Wed., April 16, 11a-2:30p
Psych Quad
Get you own hand made matzah and Passover guide. Fun for the whole family!

The Great Shabbat
Dinner - Fri, April 18, 7-11p
Lunch - Sat, April 19, 1:30p
Bookstein Home

Passover Seder Schedule
Sat April, 19, 7:30p 1st Night of Passover
Spend some time with your family and enjoy your own traditions, or Hillel can set you up with home hospitality.

1st Day Passover Lunch
Sun, April 20, 1:30p
Bookstein Home

Beach Hillel Student Seder and sleep-over
Sun April, 20, 7:30p - 2a
Alevy family Passover Retreat
Amazing participatory seder with friends! Join Hillel for an unforgettable Seder experience. Bring your pillow and sleeping bag because it is going to be a long night of celebrating freedom!

FREE TO STUDENTS:RSVP for directions
(562) 426-7601x 1424 or (562) 985-7068

2nd Day Passover Lunch
Mon, April 21, 1:30p
Bookstein Home

Monday Night Havdallah & Dinner
Mon, April 21, 8:30p
Bookstein Home

More Matza!
Passover Lunch in the Interfaith Center All Week
April 21-23
Tues, Wed and Thur: 11-1:30
Good company and lunch fixing’s
USU 103

Hebrew Hammer Passover Edition
Tues, April 22, 5:30p
Softball and Matzah Pizza Party
Party Location TBA

Hebrew Class Passover Edition
Tues, April 22, 4pm USU 103

Last Days of Passover
Passover Feast
Fri, April 25th, 7:00pm
Bookstein Home

Shabbat Lunch
Sat, April 26th Lunch 1:30pm
Bookstein Home

Saturday Night Feast,
April 26th 7:30pm
Join us for an evening of stories, song and inspiration.
And food, let’s not forget that!

Sunday Lunch
April 27th, 1:30pm
Bookstein Home

Passover Havdallah: Bring on the Chametz!!!!
Sunday April 27th,8pm
Pizza and Pool Party
Alevy Passover Student Retreat house
Music and fun by the pool.
Fresh Pizza and more!

FREE TO STUDENTS:RSVP for directions
(562) 426-7601x 1424 or (562) 985-7068

Dr. Sarah Schrank from the CSULB History Department will be speaking next Tuesday night at the Alpert JCC. Her topic is “Social Equality and the Artful Kabbalah: Jewish Artists in Los Angeles, 1937-1957,” and her talk will focus on the artwork and politics of two significant LA artists, Myer Schaffer and Wallace Berman, who were involved in WPA murals and later Beat-era art. Both produced urban artwork that brought together themes of social justice, community, and spirituality.

April 14th 7:15pm
FREE

On Wallace Berman: “. . .all his images have about them a texture of tough bodily concentrated realism mixed with demonic funk-sense of the forlorn and violent eros of wanderers in the lush Los Angeles night of the ’60s. . .”

– Jack Hirschman

As always, there will be coffee (and hopefully tea) available at 7:15 and the talk will start at 7:30pm