(SPME Editor’s Note: Judea Pearl, Professor of Computer Science, is father of Daniel Pearl, slain Wall Street Journal reporter. He heads the Daniel Pearl Foundation to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music and innovative communication.)

We have been hearing a lot about intimidation, isolation and estrangement that pro-Israel students
encounter on US campuses. We have also been reading scholarly proposals on how our students can be helped in this unfortunate climate. I doubt those proposals include the simple action I am about to suggest –a simple way to boost morale and help improve the posture of Jewish students on campus.

One week from now, Israel will be celebrating its 59th birthday and, chances are, there will be some commemoration of this event on your campus. My suggestion: BE THERE, say a few words from the
stage, and let students know that, contrary to much amplified anti-Israel rhetoric from the wreckless Left, decent and thoughtful faculty still cultivate pro-Israel sentiments.

The presence of even one faculty member on the stage will go a long way toward diffusing our students sense of abandonment.

For a student, you represent the soul of the university; not the Hillel director, not the Rabbi, not even the Israeli Consul, and not even the musicians that sit on the stage ready to entertain the crowd — but YOU. It is you, with your lab coat, your statoscope, a library book under your arm, or with the
bunch of graded homework that mediates to students the norms of responsible society. It will mean a lot to them.

Dont wait for official invitation; the organizers have probably given up on getting faculty to speak on such occasions, or are simply too busy to understand the importance of your presence. Just be there, hop on the stage and say: “I am a professor of XYZ in our esteemed university, and I felt like being here, with you at this celebration, and to tell you what Israel means to
me……”

Thanks for being there!

Judea Pearl,
UCLA