The David Project Center for Jewish Leadership
Encyclopedia
The David Project, is a non-profit educational organization
located in Boston
, Massachusetts
, with satellite offices in New York
and Israel
. The David Project's stated aim is "to educate and inspire strong voices for Israel through dynamic educational seminars, workshops, and curricula." It was founded in 2002 by Charles Jacobs
, who served as its president until August 2008. The current Executive Director is David Bernstein. Bernstein, previously Program Director of AJC, began leading the David Project in July 2010. Marilyn Goldman serves as the Assistant Executive Director Operations and Finance, Lori B. Gans serves as the National Director of Institutional Advancement, and Todd Young serves as the Director of Education.
In 2010 the David Project hired David Bernstein, from the American Jewish Committee
, as executive director. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency described this as a "continuing bid to transition from campus rabble rousers to more mainstream educators". The founder and former head of the David Project, Charles Jacobs, opposed this change in direction, writing "It was precisely the failure of Jewish mainstream organizations on America’s campuses that inspired the David Project’s birth."
The film has been screened at numerous film festivals, winning the "Best Featured Documentary" at the Warsaw Jewish Film Festival in 2006 and "Best Documentary Film" at the 2007 Marbella International Film Festival.
's Middle East studies program that, according to the organization, prevented "free and open [academic] inquiry." The film featured the testimony of "students charging that they were intimidated and harassed by professors" in order to give "voice to students who have experienced incidents of academic abuse and intimidation" at the school. Ultimately, "the goal of the film was to alert Columbia University to the issue so that they could resolve it internally" since "students could not lodge complaints through the appropriate channels at Columbia." Opponents of film characterized it as "academic intimidation" and an attempt to stifle open academic debate, although the David Project argued that "the video supports academic freedom by exposing the suppression of dissenting views in the classroom."
The contents of the film spurred Columbia's President Lee Bollinger
to create an ad hoc faculty committee in order to address student charges "that they were being intimidated by faculty members and being excluded from participating fully in classroom discussions because of their views." While the committee's findings did not lead to any broad-based change in university policy, Columbia Professor Joseph Massad was criticized for inappropriate classroom conduct in an incident in which he reportedly yelled at a student, "If you're going to deny the atrocities being committed against Palestinians, then you can get out of my classroom!" After investigation, all allegations against Professor Massad were found to be unsubstantiated.
to reject funds from Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of the United Arab Emirates
, who funded and lent his name to an anti-American, anti-Semitic think-tank based in Abu Dhabi
. The campaign, led by The David Project's Rachel Fish and her student supporters, contributed to Zayed's decision to shut down the Zayed Center in August 2003, saying that it "had engaged in a discourse that starkly contradicted the principles of interfaith tolerance."
In July 2004, the campaign concluded when Harvard decided to reject the $2.5 million donation from the Sheikh "in light of the Zayed Center's having promoted activities in evident conflict with the purposes of the gift." Through her activist work, Rachel Fish was named one of the "Forward Fifty," a list of the 50 most influential Jews in America, in 2003.
Educational organization
Educational organization has multiple meanings according to the field and setting in which it is being applied.In educational psychology, educational organization is organization within the scope of education...
located in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, with satellite offices in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The David Project's stated aim is "to educate and inspire strong voices for Israel through dynamic educational seminars, workshops, and curricula." It was founded in 2002 by Charles Jacobs
Charles Jacobs (political activist)
Charles Jacobs is the co-founder of the American Anti-Slavery Group , which campaigns against slavery worldwide, and a co-chairman of The Sudan Campaign , a coalition calling for an end to slavery in Sudan...
, who served as its president until August 2008. The current Executive Director is David Bernstein. Bernstein, previously Program Director of AJC, began leading the David Project in July 2010. Marilyn Goldman serves as the Assistant Executive Director Operations and Finance, Lori B. Gans serves as the National Director of Institutional Advancement, and Todd Young serves as the Director of Education.
Mission
From the website of The David Project, "The David Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring strong voices for Israel through dynamic educational seminars, workshops, and curricula." They offer curricula on Israel for over 100 Jewish high schools and middle schools. According to their website, The David Project "provides students and adults with the knowledge, strategies and skills to ensure that effective support for Israel thrives on campuses and in our communities."In 2010 the David Project hired David Bernstein, from the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
, as executive director. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency described this as a "continuing bid to transition from campus rabble rousers to more mainstream educators". The founder and former head of the David Project, Charles Jacobs, opposed this change in direction, writing "It was precisely the failure of Jewish mainstream organizations on America’s campuses that inspired the David Project’s birth."
Campus
- Campus Fellows Seminars - four-day Israel education, activism and leadership seminars
- Campus Support - Regional campus coordinators work closely with students to develop and implement effective strategies for Israel activism
Curricula
- "The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Educating Ourselves, Educating Others" curriculum for Jewish high school students
- "Jewish Identity Curriculum" for Jewish middle schools
- "The Forgotten Refugees" curriculum for Jewish high schools and middle schools
The Forgotten Refugees
The David Project and IsraTV produced the documentary film "The Forgotten Refugees" in 2005. The film "explores the history and destruction of Middle Eastern Jewish communities, some of which had existed for over 2,500 years. It chronicles the impact of the Arab Muslim conquest, the development of Judeo-Arab culture, and the modern rise of Arab nationalism that drove out hundreds of thousands of Jews from their homes and communities."The film has been screened at numerous film festivals, winning the "Best Featured Documentary" at the Warsaw Jewish Film Festival in 2006 and "Best Documentary Film" at the 2007 Marbella International Film Festival.
Columbia Unbecoming
In 2004, the David Project produced a documentary film entitled "Columbia Unbecoming". The purpose of the film was to respond to Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's Middle East studies program that, according to the organization, prevented "free and open [academic] inquiry." The film featured the testimony of "students charging that they were intimidated and harassed by professors" in order to give "voice to students who have experienced incidents of academic abuse and intimidation" at the school. Ultimately, "the goal of the film was to alert Columbia University to the issue so that they could resolve it internally" since "students could not lodge complaints through the appropriate channels at Columbia." Opponents of film characterized it as "academic intimidation" and an attempt to stifle open academic debate, although the David Project argued that "the video supports academic freedom by exposing the suppression of dissenting views in the classroom."
The contents of the film spurred Columbia's President Lee Bollinger
Lee Bollinger
Lee Carroll Bollinger is an American lawyer and educator who is currently serving as the 19th president of Columbia University. Formerly the president of the University of Michigan, he is a noted legal scholar of the First Amendment and freedom of speech...
to create an ad hoc faculty committee in order to address student charges "that they were being intimidated by faculty members and being excluded from participating fully in classroom discussions because of their views." While the committee's findings did not lead to any broad-based change in university policy, Columbia Professor Joseph Massad was criticized for inappropriate classroom conduct in an incident in which he reportedly yelled at a student, "If you're going to deny the atrocities being committed against Palestinians, then you can get out of my classroom!" After investigation, all allegations against Professor Massad were found to be unsubstantiated.
Harvard University
The David Project was instrumental in pressuring Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
to reject funds from Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, who funded and lent his name to an anti-American, anti-Semitic think-tank based in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
. The campaign, led by The David Project's Rachel Fish and her student supporters, contributed to Zayed's decision to shut down the Zayed Center in August 2003, saying that it "had engaged in a discourse that starkly contradicted the principles of interfaith tolerance."
In July 2004, the campaign concluded when Harvard decided to reject the $2.5 million donation from the Sheikh "in light of the Zayed Center's having promoted activities in evident conflict with the purposes of the gift." Through her activist work, Rachel Fish was named one of the "Forward Fifty," a list of the 50 most influential Jews in America, in 2003.
See also
- The Forgotten Refugees
- Israel Campus RoundtableIsrael Campus RoundtableThe Israel Campus Roundtable is an umbrella organization of pro-Israel groups in the New England area.According to the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "The Israel Campus Roundtable is a coalition of 14 organizations that provides students with resources and support for pro-Israel programming on...
(member) - Israel On Campus CoalitionIsrael On Campus CoalitionThe Israel on Campus Coalition is a pro-Israel umbrella organization founded in 2002 under the auspices of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life...
(member)
External links
- The David Project Official website
- The Forgotten Refugees Official Website
- Columbia Unbecoming Official Website