By COLlive reporter
The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 1000 rabbis in public policy, called on a university to revisit the courses assigned to Israeli Professor Pnina Peri next year, and to mandate diversity and sensitivity training before her return to teaching.
This came after Peri was caught on video mocking and shaming a Jewish man putting on Tefillin at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport and the Chabad rabbi that was assisting him before their flight.
In a letter to Robert Caret, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, the group said that Peri showed “unbridled hostility towards religious activity” which calls into doubt her ability to “demonstrate appropriate tolerance and accommodation of religious needs.”
The man who posted the video, Gad Kaufman, said that he was waiting for his departure on a business trip to Europe. He described what transpired: “I was asked politely by a Chabad representative if I was interested in putting on tefillin, and I responded positively. This woman then appeared and began screeching and interfering.”
“Her behavior was gratuitous and outrageous and appeared to reflect a deep-seated animus towards Jewish observance,” said Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, East Coast Regional Vice President of the group which describes itself as the largest rabbinic public policy organization in America.
“Her derision and forced, sarcastic laughter were completely outside the behavior expected of rational adults. If her hostility is so severe that it overwhelmed common decency and decorum in a public place, it is difficult to imagine how she could banish it from her classroom presentations for a full semester.”
It is difficult to adequately describe the disconnect between her writing about tolerance and her own appalling, biased behavior,” commented Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer, Chairman of the CJV Rabbinic Circle in reference to Peri’s being a ‘specialist in multicultural theories’ and author of “Education in Multi-Cultured Society: Pluralism and Congruence Among Cultural Divisions. ”
The rabbinical group requested that university officials “immediately review the course load assigned to Professor Peri for the upcoming semester,” as “one could not anticipate that the woman portrayed on that video would necessarily treat [religious students] impartially and with complete fairness.”
Rabbi Pruzansky called on the university to “require diversity and tolerance training before she returns to the classroom” and to “examine her teaching assignments to ensure an environment of mutual respect for students in the fall.”
The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), led by Rabbi Pesach Lerner, is not affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
Parnosa and education are two different things. Destroying her parnoso is of course not right. However, that doesn’t mean that leaving her in a position to spew her nonsense information and maintain a position of influence is right either.
What I mean is that just because she needs parnoso doesn’t mean she gets to remain in a position of influence, since she has clearly proven herself unworthy. So have her step down and lets help her find a different way of earning a parnoso.
Why deny her the basic needs of support by destroying her ability to earn a livelihood. It’s ok to criticize not ok to destroy ones pasnasa.
How about a dozen rabbis sign up for her class. When they show up on the first day, won’t she blow a gasket. They can bring neshek as a teacher gift.
as # 48 asks where is the other video to clear her face
full of BS and more BS lies and more
the institute is covering themselves and her – shameles
we request to see that other video
Very happy that a non Lubavitch group is standing up for a chosid doing the Rebbe’s mivtzoim. That itself is a great stride forward. Wouldn’t have happened 20 or even 10 years ago IMO. We should be happy about this.
As far as whether we would’ve done the same thing? That’s another question. But it’s important for Jews to stand up when other Jews are treated in this fashion.
So where is this “other” video?
Can someone start an on line petition to the university to re-educate this unwell woman before spring her back on the job?
Thank you for contacting the President’s office. We appreciate you reaching out to share your concerns, and we have since gathered more information so that we could respond to your letter. A truncated video, taken at an airport in Israel that shows an interaction between a University of Maryland visiting assistant professor and other individuals, has been circulated widely online, and we understand this prompted your outreach. The University’s Senior Vice President and Provost, as well as the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities have reviewed this matter. They have gathered more information to understand the context of… Read more »
“Top lsraeli author says fire kites ‘understandable & justified’ ”
Get educated…his voice is heard & believe by. who know how many millions.
When Lulav wanted to carry the Frierdike Rebbe’s bag the Rebbe rebuked him…
Get educated… Many of these vitriolic anti semites are Jews.
They lead marches, boycots. Universities are hotbeds for their poison thst is allowed to go unchecked.
There was a story of a group of them who said “kaddish” for a terrorist.
If it was a Gentile ranting like that, what would law enforcement or security do? They should do the same for her!! Period.
This disgraceful Neshama could’ve been drunk, had a really bad day, or have taken Psychiatric Medication for her own problems in her life.
When you shoot someone dead with a bullet, you can’t suddenly think that removing the bullet will bring your victim back to life.
This woman needs to pay for her misdoings one way or another.
I certainly wouldn’t want her to lecture my children in “any” subject after her ranting tyrade on Judaism.
If only this woman would learn from Quaishawn Stewart, apologize publicly and try to make amends.
It’s important to also consider the position of other yidden and to show that someone cannot be a harmful menace to religious Jews and actively have a platform to persuade others. Sadly many of you in the US may be a bit naive as to the real danger this poses. Come to Europe and see the precarious position the frum community is in with its right to religion under direct sustained attack in the name of these so called tolerant people. Love for an individual as the Rebbe promoted is very different than having a vicious damaging person in power… Read more »
C/P from a facebook post Dear “Lady irked by Tefillin” I just watched the video of you upset by a Chabad rabbi helping a fellow Jew put on Tefillin in Ben Gurion airport. I received this video multiple times from many of my friends. My friends were all disappointed in you. I am excited for you! Let me explain. In the video you are clearly enraged and infuriated that there is a Jew praying right next to you – how dare he! Your actions prove that you are a Jew who has a G-dly soul on fire deep inside of… Read more »
Loose, loose. Keep quiet, we ask how can a professor teaching multi culturalism be so hateful to religion?! Ask to have her fired, “the rebbe would never do this”. Bh, if we only were able to come up with this many solutions to each problem instead of so many problems for each situation, than that may have been the approach the rebbe would have taken.
we have nothing to do with this
The Rebbe is mekarev people with positivity.
But if a professor verbally publicly attacks a Yid for putting on Tefillin, let it go. Why don’t we believe we have equal rights and deserve equal protection? Because the anti Semite is Jewish? What are we telling the non Jewish world? Ridiculing Yiddisheit is OK! Of course she should be fired!! She is the one who teaches students diversity and tolerance! If her behavior is OK, WE TEACH THE WORKS IT’S OK TO RIDICULE YIDDISHKEIT PUBLICLY. WE KNOW WHAT THAT LEADS TO. IF YOU DON’T KNOW, ASK SOMEONE WITH A NUMBER TATTOOED ON THEIR M. THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE… Read more »
If no one says anything, then attacking Yiddishkeit is OK. If a teacher in a college make a sly comment about a Hijab, they will be attacked and fired. If a teacher has a picture of cotton fields in his house and invites a black student, he gets reprimanded. But if a teacher verbally attacks a Yid in public
rashi asked that same question in regards why to kill someone that murdered a person, why? you cant bring them back to life. answer- If theres no justice you cant have a world running in peace and harmony.
its bad enough we live in a pathetic liberal society, that some posted more some liberialism and the chutzpah on top in the name of the REBBE??? ENOUGH ALLREADY!!! If G-D forbid we keep giving into this pathetic liberal society, we will destroy the world. shame on these liberal thoughts
What are you gaining by firing her? It looks like your just trying to do a ravenge!
Did anyone read #9? Still a creepy thing to see. A “self-hating” Jew..
She should attend Mayanot for 6 weeks – Levi R.
very well said
Ask the ‘rabbis’ who are making this claim to ask their Jewish members (not sure if all Jewish) to put on tefillin every day since this is what she was protesting about
I am reasonably well read/informed of the Rebbe’s teachings
you say it’s not “OUR” approach and claim that the Rebbe teaches us differently
It would be appreciated if you would reference how this teaching applies to this incident or is it YOUR application?
Thank you
No where in this article does it mention a claim to fire her.
It says to revisit her workload. very different things!!!
you got it all wrong
get a life
One can not change the spots on a leopard. this woman reacted with contempt, anger and hostility. there is NO reason to extend and olive branch to someone who surly needs Anger Managment. let me ask you do you think the Rebbe OBM or any normal Yid offer an Olive Branch to the people who were demonstrating yesterday at the Israel Parade on 5th Avenue. These so called Yidden were parading with large blue and white flags showing a large swastika in the place of a mogen Dovid. Do these need an olive Branch. This woman professor needs a strong… Read more »
Shameful to try and get someone fired over such a disagreement.
This is very unfortunate. Completely not the way to treat another yid. What ever happened to ahavas yisroel ad mitzui hanefesh as it says in hayom yom. I understand that this was not supported by lubavitch. BH the Rebbe teaches us differently.
It’s about her influence on her students, please, of course she can’t be a teacher, professor
I feel bad for her nonetheless, had she known….
Since the incident started with Chabad, this is a Chilul Chabad and what the Rebbe dedicated so much time not to do. Let these rabbis, or in some cases “rabbis,” find some better avenue for promoting themselves. Some are not effective spokesmen for what is otherwise a very needed cause. Chabad certainly doesn’t need their help.
The Chabad approach is with love, if there are others like “The Coalition for Jewish Values” who have their approach let them at it. The video is public anyone can respond to it, you cant save her from herself but you could let her know that we are not mad at her and only a Jewish neshama would be so moved by a tefillin wrapping in the airport.
Extend her Love for her Neshama
Zap her for the evil of her Nefesh Habahamit
this tolerant approach by some is sounding very much like leftist, liberal teachings. everyone can say whatever they want, it’s a free country and we have to respect everyone else’s rights but not our own.
we have the right as a society to NOT have virulently anti-frum teachers in an Israeli school.
you can all be nice to her after she is fired or benefits from sensitivity training.
Show her love, give her some Shabos candles.
It’s about her influence on her students, please, of course she can’t be a teacher, professor
I feel bad for her nonetheless, had she known….
To use the Rebbe when it comes to your personal opinions is wrong and unintelligent
Please study the Rebbe’s works and you will become aware that there are red lines etc.
There is a difference here, she is teaching young adults about “Judaism’. By being in her classroom, they are being influenced by her ideas and philosphies. That is the problem! Should she be in a position to teach others about Judaism, when she herself has so much more to learn?
They didn’t call to fire her. They just said she needs sensitivity training. We should be able to play the liberals game back on them.
The Rebbe Rayatz was once harrased by a Jew an informer for the Yekesivtza at a hotel, when he was having a meeting with a Jewish nkvd officer. Who was Jewish and wanted to speak to him. This informer ran in and started doing an illegal search. When this nkvd officer revealed his identity and summoned this informer to the police station. The man ask the Rebbe to intervene and the Rebbe said no. He said you are happy with my downfall the Rebbe answer not happy or sad. We don’t have to go after but if others defend and… Read more »
its like number 6 said
University said she is not teaching there and that her listing is an error
is right
I hope a lot of people think this way.
its not about whether or not this will change her opinion of religious jews, its about the fact that she is obviously not capable of teaching “pluralism,” since she does not personify that at all, and she certainly has no appreciation for “multi-culturalism.”
I can’t see how this will soften her stance towards Yoddishkeit and Yidden. Not a great idea.
i %100
this is the wrong approach
You and I both know that our Rebbe (OBM/MHM) would not condone firing her. In fact firing her would be the OPPOSITE of our Rebbe’s approach. Aderaba (shilshul)!!! This is an amazing opportunity to extend an olive branch to the Jewish professor and to explain to her that her actions don’t represent the pure neshama that is sustaining her and that this incident gave rise to a new opportunity for her to become more aware of and to be more sensitive to her holy Neshama. I hope and pray that Chabad in Israel reaches out to this Jewish Liberal professor… Read more »
It’s about time!
excellent and right!