The David Project (TDP) was an American pro-Israel campus group.[2] The purpose of TDP was to build diverse pro-Israel support on campuses.[3] TDP began life in 2002 as an agency of Hillel International, an international Jewish campus organization. In 2017, it merged with Hillel International's Israel Engagement and Education department.[4] In 2019 it evolved into the Hillel U Center for Community Outreach.
TDP was founded in 2002 by Charles Jacobs, who previously co-founded CAMERA. He served as its president until August 2008. David Bernstein,[5] previously Program Director of American Jewish Committee (AJC), began leading TDP in July 2010 and in September 2014, Phillip Brodsky took over.
From the website of TDP, "empowers student leaders to build mutually beneficial and enduring partnerships with diverse organizations so that the pro-Israel community is integrated and valued on campus."[7] TDP focused on building student partnerships and helping Israel groups reach out to their peers to talk about Israel.
ActivitiesEdit
Major activities of TDP included:
Israel Uncovered - Sponsored ten-day trips to Israel for Jewish and non-Jewish campus Israel advocates.[3]
Relationship Building Institute – Training for students to learn Israel advocacy methods through building relationships.[8]
In 2004, the David Project produced a documentary film titled Columbia Unbecoming. The film interviewed pro-Israel students at Columbia University who complained that professors had intimidated or been unfair to them over their political views. The release of the film led to an inquiry and to United States RepresentativeAnthony Weiner to call for one of the professors involved, Joseph Massad, to be fired. The inquiry found no evidence for the complaints and the political motive of the students filing them were questioned.[12]
Harvard UniversityEdit
TDP was involved in pressuring Harvard University to reject funds from Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of the United Arab Emirates, who funded and lent his name to a think-tank based in Abu Dhabi that they saw as Anti-American and Anti-Semitic. The campaign, led by Rachel Fish, who later became an employee of TDP, 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."[13][14]
In July 2004, the campaign concluded when Harvard decided to reject the $2.5 million donation from the Sultan Al Nahyan.[15] Through her activism, in 2003, Fish was named one of the 50 most influential Jews in America by The Forward.[16]
Boston Mosque ControversyEdit
In 2005, TDP, its director of education, 13 other groups and two media outlets; the Boston Herald and Fox Television's Channel 25 were sued by the Islamic Society of Boston (ISB) which alleged that they "conspired to publish and broadcast false and defamatory information about mosque leaders in part to halt development of [a] project ... [p]lanned as the largest mosque in New England."[17] In 2006, The David Project sued the Boston Redevelopment Authority to obtain documents regarding the authority's sale of land to the Islamic Society of Boston for construction of a mosque, which revealed that some funding for the mosque had come from the Islamic Development Bank of Saudi Arabia.[18][19] On May 29, 2007, the ISB dropped its lawsuit against all defendants.[20][21][22] After the lawsuit was dropped, Charles Jacobs of the David Project continued opposition to the building of the mosque, saying "We are more concerned now than we have ever been about a Saudi influence of local mosques."[23]
CriticismEdit
The Forward wrote in 2004 that TDP had "a national reputation for hounding Muslims that it perceives to be a threat to the Jewish community."[23]
^"Columbia to investigate charges of anti-Jewish intimidation by Arab professors". Campus Watch. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
^David Landy; Ronit Lentin; Conor McCarthy (15 May 2020). Enforcing Silence: Academic Freedom, Palestine and the Criticism of Israel. Zed Books. pp. 52–. ISBN978-1-78699-653-4.
^ ab"The David Project". HaveUHeard.com. March 11, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
^Kampeas, Ron (August 24, 2017). "Once 'combative' David Project joins Hillel International for Israel advocacy". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
^"Academic Freedom and the Teaching of Palestine-Israel: The Columbia University Case, Part II". Institute for Palestine Studies. March 14, 2005. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
^"The David Project (home page)". The David Project. January 2014.
^"Face to face". Hillel International. August 25, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
^. Archived from the original on January 20, 2009.
^. Archived from the original on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
^. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009.
^Jacob Gershman Civil Liberties Official Defends Columbia Professors.[permanent dead link]The New York Sun. December 28, 2004.
^Ranalli, Ralph (July 28, 2004). "Harvard to return $2.5m given by Arab president". Boston.com – via The Boston Globe.
^Kamins, Toni L. (July 30, 2004). "Campaign Against Harvard Gift Ends in Victory for Tennessee Girl". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
^"Harvard Returns Gift to Arab President," July 30, 2004 | The Harvard Crimson".
^Radin, Charles (October 6, 2006). "Group opposed to Roxbury mosque sues BRA for documents". Boston Globe.
^Jacoby, Jeff (January 10, 2007). "The Boston mosque's Saudi connection". Boston Globe.
^Abraham, Yvonne (September 30, 2006). "Islamic Society of Boston suit moves forward". Boston Globe.
^"Exchange of letters between Jessica Masse of The Islamic Society and Charles Jacobs of The David Project". Boston: Boston Globe. December 20, 2006.
^Slack, Donovan. "Islamic Society drops lawsuit". Boston: Boston Globe.
^ abRakowsky, Judy (June 27, 2007). "Lawsuits Dropped, But Battles Over Boston Mosque Continue". New York: The Forward.
External linksEdit
Official website
October 15, 2023
david, project, american, israel, campus, group, purpose, build, diverse, israel, support, campuses, began, life, 2002, agency, hillel, international, international, jewish, campus, organization, 2017, merged, with, hillel, international, israel, engagement, e. The David Project TDP was an American pro Israel campus group 2 The purpose of TDP was to build diverse pro Israel support on campuses 3 TDP began life in 2002 as an agency of Hillel International an international Jewish campus organization In 2017 it merged with Hillel International s Israel Engagement and Education department 4 In 2019 it evolved into the Hillel U Center for Community Outreach The David ProjectFormation2002FounderCharles Jacobs and Avi Goldwasser 1 Dissolved2017PurposePro Israel campus activismHeadquartersWashington DCExecutive DirectorPhillip BrodskyKey peopleCharles JacobsParent organizationHillel InternationalWebsitewww wbr davidproject wbr orgTDP was founded in 2002 by Charles Jacobs who previously co founded CAMERA He served as its president until August 2008 David Bernstein 5 previously Program Director of American Jewish Committee AJC began leading TDP in July 2010 and in September 2014 Phillip Brodsky took over TDP was an associate member of the Israel on Campus Coalition 6 Contents 1 Mission 2 Activities 3 Documentaries 3 1 The Forgotten Refugees 3 2 Columbia Unbecoming 4 Harvard University 5 Boston Mosque Controversy 6 Criticism 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksMission EditFrom the website of TDP empowers student leaders to build mutually beneficial and enduring partnerships with diverse organizations so that the pro Israel community is integrated and valued on campus 7 TDP focused on building student partnerships and helping Israel groups reach out to their peers to talk about Israel Activities EditMajor activities of TDP included Israel Uncovered Sponsored ten day trips to Israel for Jewish and non Jewish campus Israel advocates 3 Relationship Building Institute Training for students to learn Israel advocacy methods through building relationships 8 Documentaries EditThe Forgotten Refugees Edit The David Project and IsraTV produced the documentary film The Forgotten Refugees in 2005 a documentary about the Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim countries in the second half of the 20th century 9 The film won the Best Featured Documentary at the Warsaw Jewish Film Festival in 2006 and Best Documentary Film at the 2007 Marbella International Film Festival 10 11 Columbia Unbecoming Edit Main article Columbia Unbecoming controversy In 2004 the David Project produced a documentary film titled Columbia Unbecoming The film interviewed pro Israel students at Columbia University who complained that professors had intimidated or been unfair to them over their political views The release of the film led to an inquiry and to United States Representative Anthony Weiner to call for one of the professors involved Joseph Massad to be fired The inquiry found no evidence for the complaints and the political motive of the students filing them were questioned 12 Harvard University EditTDP was involved in pressuring Harvard University to reject funds from Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan ruler of the United Arab Emirates who funded and lent his name to a think tank based in Abu Dhabi that they saw as Anti American and Anti Semitic The campaign led by Rachel Fish who later became an employee of TDP 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 13 14 In July 2004 the campaign concluded when Harvard decided to reject the 2 5 million donation from the Sultan Al Nahyan 15 Through her activism in 2003 Fish was named one of the 50 most influential Jews in America by The Forward 16 Boston Mosque Controversy EditIn 2005 TDP its director of education 13 other groups and two media outlets the Boston Herald and Fox Television s Channel 25 were sued by the Islamic Society of Boston ISB which alleged that they conspired to publish and broadcast false and defamatory information about mosque leaders in part to halt development of a project p lanned as the largest mosque in New England 17 In 2006 The David Project sued the Boston Redevelopment Authority to obtain documents regarding the authority s sale of land to the Islamic Society of Boston for construction of a mosque which revealed that some funding for the mosque had come from the Islamic Development Bank of Saudi Arabia 18 19 On May 29 2007 the ISB dropped its lawsuit against all defendants 20 21 22 After the lawsuit was dropped Charles Jacobs of the David Project continued opposition to the building of the mosque saying We are more concerned now than we have ever been about a Saudi influence of local mosques 23 Criticism EditThe Forward wrote in 2004 that TDP had a national reputation for hounding Muslims that it perceives to be a threat to the Jewish community 23 See also EditIsrael On Campus Coalition member Death of Daniel Wultz Public diplomacy of IsraelReferences Edit Columbia to investigate charges of anti Jewish intimidation by Arab professors Campus Watch Retrieved September 19 2020 David Landy Ronit Lentin Conor McCarthy 15 May 2020 Enforcing Silence Academic Freedom Palestine and the Criticism of Israel Zed Books pp 52 ISBN 978 1 78699 653 4 a b The David Project HaveUHeard com March 11 2020 Retrieved September 19 2020 Kampeas Ron August 24 2017 Once combative David Project joins Hillel International for Israel advocacy Jewish Telegraphic Agency Retrieved September 25 2020 The David Project Website Academic Freedom and the Teaching of Palestine Israel The Columbia University Case Part II Institute for Palestine Studies March 14 2005 Retrieved September 23 2020 The David Project home page The David Project January 2014 Face to face Hillel International August 25 2017 Retrieved September 19 2020 The Forgotten Refugees Website Archived from the original on January 20 2009 2006 Awards Warsaw Jewish Film Festival Archived from the original on 2009 02 06 Retrieved 2009 02 21 Film Awards 2007 Marbella International Film Festival Archived from the original on February 7 2009 Jacob Gershman Civil Liberties Official Defends Columbia Professors permanent dead link The New York Sun December 28 2004 Ranalli Ralph July 28 2004 Harvard to return 2 5m given by Arab president Boston com via The Boston Globe Kamins Toni L July 30 2004 Campaign Against Harvard Gift Ends in Victory for Tennessee Girl Jewish Telegraphic Agency Retrieved September 19 2020 Harvard Returns Gift to Arab President July 30 2004 The Harvard Crimson ACTIVISM The Forward November 14 2003 Schwartz Penny March 26 2006 Boston mosque project chills dialogue Jewish Telegraphic Agency Retrieved September 19 2020 Radin Charles October 6 2006 Group opposed to Roxbury mosque sues BRA for documents Boston Globe Jacoby Jeff January 10 2007 The Boston mosque s Saudi connection Boston Globe Abraham Yvonne September 30 2006 Islamic Society of Boston suit moves forward Boston Globe Exchange of letters between Jessica Masse of The Islamic Society and Charles Jacobs of The David Project Boston Boston Globe December 20 2006 Slack Donovan Islamic Society drops lawsuit Boston Boston Globe a b Rakowsky Judy June 27 2007 Lawsuits Dropped But Battles Over Boston Mosque Continue New York The Forward External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The David Project amp oldid 1171730011, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
