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9 Ways for University Presidents to Atone During the High Holidays

The “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University, located in the Manhattan borough of New York City, on April 25, 2024. Photo: Reuters Connect

During the month of Elul, Jews begin the process of atoning for our sins by reflecting on our action and asking for forgiveness.

It’s a meaningful tradition — and I think we should ask the same of others, including university presidents and administrators.

I’m not suggesting that universities need to repent more than others. I’m just saying that universities are supposed to set an example of ethical conduct — of noble aspirations — so why not start with an ancient tradition that will make universities reflect on their actions?

I’m not putting all universities in the same camp. Some need repentance more than others. With that caveat, here are nine suggestions for where many universities could begin their spiritual journey of repentance:

Forgive us for the sin of choosing professors based on their political ideology, not merit.
Forgive us for the sin of allowing professors to hide 3,800 years of Jewish history from their students, and then indoctrinate them with illogical, ahistorical lies that promote violence.
Forgive us for the sin of allowing syllabi full of books that are brimming with politicized fallacies and historical distortions.
Forgive us for the sin of allowing the toxic ideology of “critical theory” to destroy the main function of a university: critical thinking and the search for truth.
Forgive us for the sin of promoting the dominance of race; the privileging of some religions over others; and the bigotry of low expectations for all students.
Forgive us for the sin of allowing virulent antisemitic groups like Students for Justice in Palestine to dictate policy.
Forgive us for the sin of allowing viciously antisemitic speakers to lecture about Israel, and promote violence with their malicious lies.
Forgive us for the sin of canceling speakers who don’t adhere to our prevailing political ideology.
Forgive us for the sin of allowing keffiyeh-garbed rioters — both students and professors — to fly terrorist flags; burn American and Israeli flags; block Jewish students from entering buildings; assault, harass, and spit on Jewish students; and normalize hatred and violence against Jews, both in the classroom and out.

Sure, it’s a lot of work. But that is what actual spiritual growth looks like. Isn’t that what universities are looking for?

Imagine the privilege they will feel of rebuilding their universities based upon the original precepts of academic freedom and civil discourse, and the unhindered pursuit of knowledge — through truth, reason, history, and ethics. 

Perhaps most of all, imagine what all of this will do for the future of not just our children and this country, but of humanity.

To borrow the words of one of our greatest thinkers, Albert Einstein (who would now be called an “oppressor” or “settler-colonist”): “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” 

Or perhaps more apropos: “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”

The only chance our university system has for redemption is a full return to the ethical principles that make education possible, and that includes, above all, an honest search for truth.

Karen Lehrman Bloch is editor in chief of White Rose Magazine. A different version of this article was published by The Jewish Journal.

The post 9 Ways for University Presidents to Atone During the High Holidays first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War

Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.

Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.

“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”

GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’

Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.

“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.

“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.

“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.

After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”

RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL

Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”

Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.

“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”

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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests

A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.

People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.

“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”

Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.

On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.

Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.

On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.

“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.

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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan

Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.

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