TORONTO — Hillel at York University has come under attack from a history professor who accused it of being an “agent of a foreign government” because of its Israel advocacy efforts.
Hillel@York’s Unity March, was held Nov. 1 in response to David Noble’s allegations.
In an Oct. 8 letter to York University president Mamdouh Shoukri, David Noble wrote that “[Hillel at York] serves as, in effect, an agent of a foreign government.”
Noble, who is Jewish but has a history of criticizing Israel and Jewish groups on campus, added: “In the case of Hillel at York [corruption of the educational mission of the university] is already well underway, with York University’s tacit approval… York University must formulate and adopt policies that would prohibit all such activities on behalf of foreign governments on campus.”
Last month, Noble dropped a defamation suit against Canadian Jewish Congress regarding a flyer he published in 2004 titled, “The York University Foundation: The tail that wags the dog.” CJC alleged the flyer contained anti-Semitic material.
The document suggested the university was influenced when disciplining pro-Palestinian activists by the board of its fundraising foundation, which the flyer stated “is biased by the presence and influence of staunch pro-Israel lobbyists, activists and fundraising agencies.”
The pamphlet set out an incomplete list of foundation board members and officers, noting their connection to Jewish groups such as UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
In addition to Congress, others sued by Noble in that case included Hillel at York University, Hillel of Greater Toronto, the board of the York University Foundation, the foundation itself, senior York officer Paul Marcus and former York president Lorna Marsden, as well as UJA Federation. The suits against those other groups and individuals are ongoing.
Calls to Noble about the Oct. 8 letter targeting Hillel were not returned by The CJN’s press time.
Alex Bilyk, York’s director of media relations, said Robert Tiffin, York’s vice-president of students, responded to Noble’s charges in an Oct. 21 letter of his own, which stated that Hillel is recognized by York because it complies with the university’s principles and policies that student groups must abide by, as well as with the “three pillars of tolerance” specified by York’s Inter-Faith Council.
“On many occasions, Dr. Shoukri has noted that it’s the right of any community member to express his or her view within the law without fear of intimidation or harassment,” Bilyk said. “This extends to the members of a student organization such as Hillel.”
Brandon Crandall, Hillel at York’s president, told The CJN that it’s “quite comical and absurd that somebody would say that anyone who supports the Jewish state or a democratic Jewish state is an agent for a foreign country.”
He noted as well that “Canada supports the State of Israel – we’re democratic allies. Hillel has had a strong presence on campus both politically and socially since the university began.”
Joshua Wais, a third-year York student and vice-president of AEPi’s Eta Pi chapter at York, wondered why Noble only focused on a Jewish campus group.
“If he were to have a valid argument that Hillel is ‘an agent of a foreign government’ then why hasn’t he targeted other student groups around campus? There are several groups around the campus that blatantly support their respective countries and their governments.”
Sammy Katz, a York graduate and managing director of the Canadian Network for Israel Affairs, called Noble’s statements “ridiculous.”
“Advocating or promoting a country on campus that isn’t Canada doesn’t mean you’re acting on behalf of a foreign state. When it comes to Israel, it means that you support democracy, you support equality, you support human rights, you support women’s rights, gay rights, all minority rights. It could be many different reasons.
“It’s laughable, because he didn’t mention any other group. He talks about support on behalf of [a] foreign government – he didn’t speak of any other group on campus.
“His claims don’t really have that much standing within the greater community, at least in our perspective.”
