Gary Rosenblatt makes the case in his column, “The Wrong Way To Fight BDS” (Oct. 16), that the $50 million being spent by Sheldon Adelson and friends to fight BDS is misdirected. He then quotes a regional director of an Israel advocacy group who believes that “we could be hiring public relations firms to build Israel’s brand and channel young people’s interest in culture, food, technology and other areas besides politics.”
Although I agree that the funds are misdirected, I certainly disagree with spending large amounts to bond over culture, food, and other relatively unimportant issues. The real issue on campus is the apathy of the Jewish students toward Judaism and Israel, which have to be meaningful to the students. The only reliable and proven solution to Jewish apathy is Jewish education. That requires parental interest/involvement and money to fund it. If Mr. Adelson wants to get the most out of his wonderful commitment, the Jewish world would be best served if it went to Jewish education — any denomination.
So let’s stop all the rhetoric. Get up and do something to increase your own commitment to Judaism and Israel and your children will, with God’s help, follow and dedicate themselves as well. Campuses will then have strong, committed Jewish youth to take on any challenges that they face.
