Cardozo Law School Awards Jimmy Carter in the Shadow of Holocaust
In a recent article, I quoted Professor Richard Landes who, in a very profound and insightful sentence, articulated his theory that American Jews "are subtly engaged in a proxy honor killing of Israel." Prof. Landes was describing the apathetic, progressive, and politically correct Jews who have enabled others to destroy the Jewish state for them - "people...who are embarrassed by Israel are enabling and abetting its destruction."
Sadly, the term "people" can now be replaced by "institutions," as claims of academic freedom, First Amendment rights, and other liberal values permeate the foundations of Jewish culture and infect the very core of American Jewish identity replacing the common sense, Biblical teaching, and basic human morality that has enabled the Jewish people's survival over millennia. The International Advocate for Peace Award from the Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School's Journal of Conflict Resolution will be presented on Wednesday to former President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday.
Cardozo Law School is part of Yeshiva University. YU's mission statement repeatedly emphasizes the need to bring "wisdom to life," teaching "ethical and moral values" and states, "[w]e bring wisdom to life by combining the finest contemporary academic education with the timeless teachings of Torah." Thus, it is not surprising that a group of Cardozo alum have organized and formed The Coalition of Concerned Cardozo Alumni to question the wisdom of granting an award to a man who is well-known for his anti-Israel views and pro-Palestinian advocacy and who has dedicated the past three decades to demonizing the only moral democracy in the region simply because it is inhabited by God's Chosen People. As stated on the groups webpage, www.shameoncardozo.com:
Jimmy Carter has an ignominious history of anti-Israel bigotry. He is responsible for helping to mainstream the antisemitic notion that Israel is an apartheid state with his provocatively titled book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid", the publication of which prompted mass resignations from the Carter Center. He has met numerous times with leaders of the terror group Hamas whitewashing their genocidal goals and undermining US efforts to isolate Hamas. And Carter's record of slandering Israel is so voluminous that both CAMERA and Alan Dershowitz have written books refuting his lies.
While Carter may be credited for the role he played in the Camp David Accords as President of the United States and the resultant cold peace between Israel and Egypt that ensued, that event took place close to 30 years ago. Since the end of his presidency, Jimmy Carter has exhibited extreme antipathy towards Israel - and by extension the Jewish people - that places him firmly in the camp of the likes of Walt and Mearsheimer.
It is simply unconscionable for a Jewish affiliated school to honor someone who has played such a high profile role in demonizing the Jewish state.
Noting that "[S]ilence is Complicity," the group further urges alumni to "condition any continued support of Cardozo, be it financial or otherwise, on the cancellation of this event" and to contact the Dean of Cardozo and President of Yeshiva University to express your outrage. Contact details are below.
Professor Matthew Diller, Dean of Cardozo: Tel - 212-790-0310; Email - mdiller@yu.edu
Professor Richard Joel, President of Yeshiva University: Tel - 212 960 5300; Email president@yu.edu
Elder of Ziyon continues his top-notch reporting summarizing Carter's "ignominious record" as follows:
1987: Carter intervened to help a Nazi war criminal.
2006: Carter says that pressuring Hamas economically is immoral - but pressuring Israel economically is desirable.
2006: Jimmy predicts that Hamas will be a peaceful party and that they hadn't had any terror attacks on the previous 18 months, an out and out lie.
2007: Carter quotes a fake Nelson Mandela letter to"prove" Israel is an "apartheid state"
2008: Carter claims that Palestinians in Gaza were being "starved to death" and received fewer calories a day than people in the poorest parts of Africa.
2008: Jimmy entreats Europe to ignore the official US position on Gaza terrorists and embrace them instead.
2009: Carter says Gazans are "literally starving."
2009: Jimmy reportedly asks Hamas to "Help us to help Obama to overcome the Zionist lobby"
2009: Carter was revealed to have been against a separate Israel/Egypt peace agreement.
2010: Carter praised Palestinian Arab "democracy" but casts doubts on Israel's democracy
2012: Carter blames the Jews for the Christian exodus from Palestine."
2012: Liberal Jimmy Carter has no problem with Islamists in power in Egypt where they can implement misogynist and discriminatory laws according to their religious duties.
2012: Carter says that if Iran has one or two nuclear weapons, it is no big deal.
There's lots more, of course, but the idea that YU's Cardozo should honor Carter is simply sickening.
Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and one can only hope that Jews the world over take a moment to reflect upon the events that led up to not only the Holocaust itself, but to where we are today. German Jews and their brethren in surrounding countries who were forced into concentration camps and led to the gas chambers were too integrated into their societies and too apathetic to understand what was transpiring around them. They could not recognize the hate forming around them and the implications of its mainstreaming across all aspects of society.
After the Holocaust, the world finally recognized the Jewish people's historical and Biblical ties to the Holy Land. Israel won it's first war, its War of Independence and the Jewish State was reborn. Israel has been attacked from all borders, demonized by all cultures, and fights for its survival daily. And less than seven decades later, Yeshiva University's The Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School is presenting an award to the most anti-Israel president since Israel's founding.
One can only ponder whether Nobel Prize winner, Barack Obama and Carter's apparent protégé will be next year's recipient. But Jews the world over must pray that institutions like Cardozo and the individuals naïve and progressive enough to continue to support it are few and far between. Otherwise, Yom HaShoah will one day have a roman numeral "II" after it and the need to bring wisdom to life will take on a whole new meaning.
A report issued by Tel Aviv University revealed a 30% increase in anti-Semitic violence in the past year.