Hebrew University Professor Decries ‘Sickening’ Decision To Close Campus On Tisha Be’av

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JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Hebrew University professor Amiram Goldblum caused an uproar Monday when he complained about the university’s decision to close on Tisha Ba’Av in deference to the Jewish day of mourning. Goldblum, a chemistry professor at the university, sharply condemned the decision, writing that it is “Unbelievable — a shameful submission to the religious and to the Jewish religion in the State of Israel. Sickening.”

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Goldblum later added, “I thought Hebrew University had divested itself of religion, and that this was a university of both Jews and Arabs. I don’t recall the university ever closing for Muslim or Christian festivals. Perhaps we should change its name to ‘Jewish University’? That would fit in well with the rampant racism in this country.”

Channel 12 News invited Goldblum for an interview, during which the professor explained that he was “opposed to the university’s decision to obligate me to suffer on the Ninth of Av — without being able to enter my laboratory at the university, make progress with my research with my students (some of whom won’t be there due to religious reasons, and that’s fine with me). My problem is solely that of being coerced into doing things.”

He added that, “The university won’t only be shutting down its study halls and so forth on that day — it plans to shut the pool and the gym as well. I could understand them shutting the cafeteria in order not to offend those who will be fasting, but who am I offending if I want to keep fit? The only times the university shuts down entirely are on festivals and Jewish holidays. 22 percent of the population of Israel are non-Jews, but there isn’t a single Muslim or Christian holiday when the university is entirely shut. They have study breaks on Christmas and for Eid al-Fitr, but the rest of the university remains open on those days.”

Hebrew University director Yishai Frankel responded that: “Tisha Ba’Av has been a holiday in the university for many years. The Hebrew University respects the religious holidays and special events of all faiths, groups, races, and sectors and we are home to a broad mosaic of sectors in Israeli society. The day of Tisha b’Av is a significant component of Jewish identity and is therefore significant for the University as well, and we treat the day in the appropriate manner every year.”

 


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11 Comments
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Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Why doesn’t he seek employment at Gaza University? Oh right, that doesn’t exist. Professor Goldberg enjoy the day off, may I suggest you visit your beloved Muslim brothers and see how much they respect you.

JINOs have always sided with our enemies.
JINOs have always sided with our enemies.
1 year ago

Leftwing JINOs are the biggest Jew haters.

Shimon Pepper
Shimon Pepper
1 year ago

he didnt even complain that it was a nidchah,,

Jewish state?
Jewish state?
1 year ago

The Israeli declaration of independence “declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel, to be known as the State of Israel, ” As the “Jewish State”, it should uphold the Jewish religion and if those who are not Jewish don’t want to be geirim toshavim, they should leave.

Last edited 1 year ago by
just shut up and daven
just shut up and daven
1 year ago

is it just me, or is, “the hebrews,” something that jewish people are called?

exactly.

Hebrews=Jews

Sam
Sam
1 year ago

Interesting that the article never uses the words Zionism or Zionist even once. Yet of course commenters revive the old barely used term once again, ad nauseum.

just shut up and daven
just shut up and daven
1 year ago

may I add, that this is literally and clearly a lack of hakaras hatov, as is clear.
more exactly, it is a lack of hakaras hatov, becuase klal yisrael is called tov. Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov, and here he is clearly not recognizing the yisrael aspect.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Zionism is all about changing Judaism from Torah-based to godless Nationalism. So this makes perfect sense from a Zionist perspective.