On Oct. 15, students and faculty came together to discuss antisemitism and anti-Zionism. Trinity University’s Students for Justice in Palestine (TSJP), hosted an event in Dicke Hall 104 titled “Understanding the Difference: Anti-Zionism versus Anti-Semitism.” The numerous professors and students in attendance allowed TSJP to reach their aim of informing students on the history of Zionism, how it has become connected to Judaism and why the two concepts should not be equated, according to TSJP.

The event featured panelists from the national organization Jewish Voice for Peace who shared their experiences with antisemitism, and guided the discussion on how it differs from critiques of the state of Israel and anti-Zionism. The four panelists included Judith Norman, chair of the philosophy department, Sarah Pinnok, professor of religion, Sarah Beth Kaufman, associate professor of sociology and anthropology and Brielle Insler, managing partner and creative director at Düable Brand Trust, an organization that works with campaigns, organizations and nonprofits through digital advocacy.

TSJP organized the talk in question-answer format. Pinnok moderated and presented students’ questions to the other three panelists. Many questions that Pinnok addressed to Kaufman led to discussions about the history of conflict that occurred in the Gaza Strip and the assimilation and acceptance of Jewish people in the U.S.

“Some Jewish scholars were really worried that by insisting that there should be a Jewish state, Jews were positing themselves as outsiders in the United States,” Kaufman said during the talk.

This led her and Norman into a conversation about making a distinction between Jewish culture and Israeli thought. Norman also read a statement from Jewish students in TSJP at the beginning of the event: “Jewish students and faculty in TSJP are working to create spaces on campus for Jews who believe that as a diaspora, will never support an ethno-state based on genocide against millions of Palestinians and the torture of Jewish activists.”

TSJP President Julia Williams, junior international studies major, introduced Norman. During the event, SJP members also passed around note cards to people in the audience to write down questions. Williams encouraged critical questions from all points of view.

The event ended after Norman discussed the goals of Jewish Voice for Peace. She also addressed the presence of security at the event, and while faculty of TUPD and TU Risk Management are “fine individuals,” she said the event did not merit that level of security.

*Update: San Antonio Hillel declined the Trinitonian’s request for comment. The second sentence in the first paragraph was added to to more accurately attribute the statement. The second sentence in the fifth paragraph was updated to reflect that Norman read the statement from Jewish students in TSJP.

*Julia Williams is the advertising director for the Trinitonian. She is not on the Trinitonian’s editorial team and did not read this piece prior to publication.