The Associated Students University of California Senate has taken up the issue of divesting from Israel once again. On Wednesday evening the Senate will vote on an anti-Israel bill calling on the UC Regents to divest from some companies doing business with Israel. The passing of this bill will tarnish the reputation of a leading world institution and unfairly singles out Israel. The students have shown amazing leadership and passion in their preparation for the Senate meeting. We have assured them they are not alone and they have asked us for our help.
The students are asking for your help in garnering support to defeat this bill. Currently there are two letters that people can sign which will be delivered to the Senators on Wednesday night. If you are alumni you can click here to sign the online letter and make your voice heard, as alumni of a leading world institution. For those that did not attend Cal but would like to voice your concern to the Senate, there is an online petition at change.org that you can sign by clicking here. Along with signing one or both of these letters we ask that you distribute these petitions and letters to as many people as possible.
If you are on Facebook you can follow major updates through a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/STOPDivestment
Please open up your 'rolodex' and send the link to the letter and petition to all those that care deeply about Israel and the Cal community. It is critical to show the Senators the negative impact this will have on the campus as well as the greater community.
Although many of us share differing views on the Middle East, we can all agree that efforts like divestment bills, which serve to delegitimize Israel, do nothing to encourage a peaceful resolution for everyone living in the Middle East.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Rabbi Adam Naftalin-Kelman
