Derek Penslar, a distinguished scholar and director of Harvard’s Center for Jewish Studies, has been chosen to co-chair the university’s Task Force on Antisemitism. However, not everyone is pleased with this decision. Bill Ackman, a billionaire Harvard alumnus who led a campaign against the university’s former president, criticized Penslar’s appointment. But the controversy surrounding Penslar’s role is not just about combating antisemitism; it is about the freedom of speech when it comes to discussing Israel and Palestine. Pro-Israel funders and opponents of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are working together to stigmatize any criticism of Israel as antisemitism. This campaign aims to silence scholars like Penslar and restrict critical thinking in American universities.
The attack on Penslar is not only aimed at him as an eminent scholar but also at the American university as a whole. Republican politicians and conservative media organizations are exploiting this issue for political gain. The recent resignation of Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay, and the subsequent creation of the Task Force on Combating Antisemitism are part of the university’s damage control efforts. However, the controversy surrounding Penslar’s appointment shows that the battle is not just about combating antisemitism but also about what faculty and students are allowed to say about Israel and Palestine.
The smear campaign against Penslar was led by Ira Stoll, a veteran of right-wing Jewish agitprop websites. Stoll criticized Penslar for his views on settler colonialism and the number of Palestinians expelled by Israel during the War of Independence. However, Stoll provided little to no evidence to support his claims, and none of his attacks have been endorsed by significant members in the field of Jewish or Israel studies. On the other hand, Penslar has received strong support from 300 scholars who signed a petition condemning the campaign against him.
Overall, the controversy surrounding Penslar’s appointment highlights the ongoing battle over freedom of speech and critical thinking in American universities when it comes to discussing Israel and Palestine. Pro-Israel funders and opponents of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are working together to stigmatize any criticism of Israel as antisemitism. This campaign aims to silence scholars like Penslar and restrict the academic freedom of faculty and students. However, Penslar has received support from scholars in the field and has made it clear that he will not bow down to the smear campaign. The outcome of this controversy will have implications for the future of academic freedom and critical thinking in American universities.
