Following the controversy surrounding kosher food at the University of Toronto, Chairman of the Committee of University Heads of Israel (VERA) — an organization that represents the leadership of Israel’s 7 leading universities — Prof. Ron Robin, who also serves as University of Haifa President, issued the following statement:

“Just when we thought that we’d seen it all regarding the ascent of anti-Semitism masquerading as anti-Zionism on campus, the Graduate Student Union at the University of Toronto (U of T) took this theater of the absurd to new heights by characterizing kosher food as ‘pro-Israel.’ We wholeheartedly agree with U of T Hillel’s assertion that the union’s subsequent apology for ‘unintentionally’ harming the Jewish community on campus does not address the anti-Semitic nature of their original comments. We also believe actions speak louder than words — namely, the union’s support of the BDS movement against Israel in 2012, a stance which has disturbingly surfaced once again in its latest remarks.

“Whether the messenger’s impact is ‘intentional’ or ‘unintentional,’ the classification of kosher food as ‘pro-Israel’ illustrates just how far the BDS movement has come in terms of zeroing in on its actual objective — suppressing the freedom of speech and freedom of religion of Jews, not merely leveling criticism at the State of Israel and its policies. Today, university presidents in Israel comprehend that this threat to North American Jewry is as severe are ever, and we will redouble our commitment to speaking the truth and to supporting our brothers and sisters overseas during this time of acute challenges for Jewish and pro-Israel students.”

The Committee of University Heads of Israel (VERA) is a committee of the presidents, rectors, and directors-general of University of Haifa, Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and Weizmann Institute of Science. BDS has moved to the forefront of VERA’s agenda in recent years, as the anti-Israel boycott movement increases its influence on North American college campuses. University of Haifa President Prof. Ron Robin is currently the Chairman of VERA, a role in which he serves as the leading voice for Israel’s academic community on the issue of countering the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)