Slamming the doors

Sir, – With regard to “Vassar College Jewish Union rejects Hillel guidelines on dissent over Israel” (February 21), the following is the text of a letter I sent to the Vassar Jewish Union (VJU). “As a rabbi, former president of the Jewish Alumni Foundation and someone who discovered my Jewish identity while at Vassar, I am truly disappointed and disturbed by the VJU’s decision to become an ‘open Hillel.’ “I know that Vassar teaches you to embrace various viewpoints and embrace ideas that run counter to your own. But to openly welcome those who actively work to undermine the very existence of the Jewish state and promote horrific anti-Israel sentiment across the globe is irresponsible and destructive. “While some will support your decision, I write to tell you that your actions are not at all supported by me. “Some will say that opening your doors to one and all is the ‘right’ thing to do; some will say that openness will foster true community. But this could not be further from the truth. What you have done is open your doors to those who seek to hurt, undermine and/or destroy Israel while making your Hillel an unfriendly, unpleasant and unsafe place for those of us who consider ourselves committed Zionists. “In doing so, you have not created an ‘open Hillel.’ You have slammed many doors.” ANDREW M. JACOBS Fort Lauderdale, Florida The writer graduated from Vassar in 1992