One Jewish Girl Against the Anti Israel Haters at NYU

By COLlive reporter

NYU School of Law’s commencement in New York’s Madison Square Garden was marred by hateful chants and anti-Israel protests this past Thursday.

The morning ceremony was plagued by disruptions shortly after graduates from the 900-student class entered.

Many students wore Keffiyas and held Palestinian flags. Some disrupted the ceremony, calling NYU to divest from Israel and refused to leave the stage, even after Dean Troy McKenzie asked to continue the program.

“As the ceremony went on, I noticed that many of the graduates refused to shake the Dean’s hand as they received their diplomas,” Devorah Neiger, a graduating law student told COLlive.com. “Instead, they handed the Dean letters, which I can imagine were critical of him for not taking a stand against Israel.”

“There was tension in the room – you didn’t know what was going to happen next,” Edward Neiger, Devorah’s husband, told the New York Post.

And then, amidst all the chaos, one little Jewish girl made her point against all the hate in the room with a message of love.

“We were hesitant to bring our children to the ceremony because we didn’t want them exposed to anything frightening,” Devorah says.

Edward Neiger had been hanging out in the back of the hall with their 3 children, Eden, 6, Alexandra, 3, and Elisha, 1, so his children would be out of earshot of the chaos, and kept them busy as they colored pictures with markers. It was during this time that Eden drew a picture of a heart to present to the Dean.

When Devorah’s turn came to walk on stage, and she was joined by her family, she knew she would be receiving applause, since anyone graduating with children is generally applauded, she says.

But she had no idea that her daughter Eden would steal the show.

As Eden walked onstage with her mom, she turned to the crowd and unexpectedly held up high the picture she had drawn for the Dean, receiving a long ovation from the crowd.

She then handed the heart — drawn in the school color, purple — to Dean McKenzie.

“The mood and energy completely changed – she got the biggest applause of the whole ceremony,” said her proud dad.

“She just proudly and triumphantly held up her drawing for all to see,” Devorah told COLlive.

“This was already an emotional moment for me,” her mother continued, relating that she fought back tears standing on stage with her children and then witnessing her daughter’s sweet, triumphant act. The moment proved how little support the protestors received from the public.

“We are incredibly grateful that our daughter’s simple act had such a profound impact on so many. She was able to display to the world that the quiet strength and light of a Jew shines bright, even in the midst of overpowering darkness.”

As her children walked off the stage, little Eden told her mom, “That was kind of brave of me.”