(updated from May 14 and 15 statement with the addition of organizational signers)
Hillel Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, and ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) Midwest issue the following statement in response to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Chancellor Mark Mone’s capitulation to encampment protesters:
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Chancellor Mark Mone capitulated to protesters who violated UWM codes of conduct and state law, vandalized university property, and used harassment and intimidation to fuel antisemitism on campus. The agreement is among the most offensive and dangerous of any university agreement reached with encampment protesters over the last two weeks.
Chancellor Mone’s agreement with protesters comes after seven-plus months of him refusing to meet with Jewish students and failing to adequately respond to antisemitic incidents on campus since October 7. The chancellor’s statement provides no meaningful support to UWM’s Jewish community and fails to acknowledge the fear and pain Jewish community members have endured due to the actions of protesters during the encampment and before.
In contrast, Chancellor Mone gave protesters who fueled hate and violated school policies at UWM a seat at the table and even invited them to nominate individuals and faculty to serve on key university committees and working groups. The chancellor’s decision to grant immunity to individuals who mocked and broke school rules and the law sets a dangerous precedent for future incidents on campus. And, in another desperate attempt to appease the protesters, Chancellor Mone appears to have used his public university position to compel a private company to submit to demands of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
Chancellor Mone has been negligent in his duty to ensure all students feel and are safe on campus. We call on the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to immediately negate this agreement and take the aggressive steps necessary to ensure Jewish – and all – students are able to attend UWM and all UW campuses without the threats of harassment, intimidation and hate just because of their identity.
As of 4 p.m. May 15, 2024, the following local Jewish faith leaders have signed on with their support of this statement:
Cantor Martin Levson, Congregation Emanu-El Waukesha
Hazzan Jeremy Stein, Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Rabbi Avremi Shapiro, Jewish Youth Foundation
Rabbi Cheski Edelman, The Shul Bayside
Rabbi David Cohen, Congregation Sinai
Rabbi Dov Lisker, Mequon Torah Center
Rabbi Dovid Rapoport, Congregation Agudas Achim Chabad
Rabbi Jessica Barolsky, Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun
Rabbi Joel Alter, Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Rabbi Levi Brook, Chabad Lubavitch of Waukesha
Rabbi Levi Stein, The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin
Rabbi Menachem Deren, Chabad of Glendale and River Hills
Rabbi Menachem Rapoport, Congregation Agudas Achim Chabad
Rabbi Mendel Mann, Judaism at Home
Rabbi Mendel Matusof, Rohr Chabad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin, Lubavitch of Wisconsin and Chabad at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Rabbi Michaoel Feinstein, Chabad of the Bay Area
Rabbi Mordechai Spalter, Peltz Center for Jewish Life
Rabbi Moshe Rapoport, Peltz Center for Jewish Life
Rabbi Noah Chertkoff, Congregation Shalom
Rabbi Sholom Munitz, Bader Hillel Academy
Rabbi Steven Adams, President, Wisconsin Council of Rabbis
Rabbi Taylor Poslosky, Congregation Shalom
Rabbi Tzali Wilschanski, Chabad of Kenosha
Rabbi Wes Kalmar, Congregation Anshe Sfard Kehilat Torah
Rabbi Yisrael Shmotkin, Lubavitch of Wisconsin
Rabbi Yisroel Lein, Chabad of the East Side
Rabbi Yona Matusof, Chabad of Madison
Rabbi Yossi Bassman, Bader Hillel High
Rabbi Hannah Wallick, Camp Young Judaea Midwest
Rabbi Yonason Meadows, Manager for Clinical Pastoral Education, Mission and Spiritual Care Advocate Health – Midwest Region
Rabbi Moishe Steigmann, Own Your Judaism
Rabbi Tzvi Tornek, The Shul Bayside
Rabbi Marc Berkson, Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun