I’m a rabbi at Brandeis. Its decision voiding recognition for its Students for Justice in Palestine chapter was the right move

The Brandeis chapter of SJP has not been subtle in their support of Hamas. Two days after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel, SJP Brandeis declared on social media that “Palestinian resistance is a multifaceted struggle” that includes “armed resistance.” They called Hamas “resistance fighters” who “have shown their humanity” and said that they support “the resistance movements that aim to liberate our land from the river to the sea.”

SJP Brandeis’ full-throated support of terrorism echoed comments a Hamas official made earlier this month, when he declared, “We will do this again and again … we are proud to sacrifice martyrs …on Oct. 7, Oct. 10, Oct. 1 million — everything we do is justified.”

When announcing a vigil to take place in a campus student center on Nov. 6, SJP made it clear that the mourning would be for “the martyrs of Gaza” and further proclaimed “Glory to our martyrs.” The event was clearly intended to mourn not only innocent Palestinian lives in Gaza, but also the terrorists who perpetrated the violent attack.

Had SJP Brandeis planned a vigil for innocent civilians, it could have been a unifying moment on campus. The bombardment of Gaza is heartbreaking. But people of conscience should not partner with a group that aligns itself with terrorism as SJP has. If a campus group were to chant “Death to Arabs” or praise Jewish violence targeting innocent Palestinians in the West Bank (as is tragically happening), or attempt to justify such violence, then that rhetoric, too, should disqualify them from participating in campus life.

I sent an email to Hillel’s student list on Nov. 5, the day before SJP’s planned vigil, in response to concerned students. I asked students who would find SJP’s event distressing and insensitive not to attend it, and not to disrupt it. I wrote that the last thing we needed was an escalation between students on campus, and that counterprotesting would draw more attention to SJP’s message. This wasn’t a concession or a call to hide our Jewishness, but to stay above the fray. “Arguing with haters and detractors won’t serve any constructive purpose,” I wrote.