When Morton Klein doesn't approve of something, he lets the world know. And right now, Brandeis is top on his list of things to complain about. The Zionist Organization of America president has issued more than seven press releases in the last five months decrying the University's decisions. In January, he suggested that Zionist donors should reconsider their support for the University because of its "distressing" decision to hire Crown Center Senior Fellow Khalil Shikaki; in April it was "shocking" that Brandeis would associate with the Palestinian Al-Quds University; and this month it was "deeply perplexing" that Brandeis would display controversial Palestinian artwork and "revolting" that the University would choose Tony Kushner as an honorary degree recipient.

Phew. Klein is a busy man.

Of course an advocacy group should stand up for its cause, but Klein's fire and brimstone is a little out of the ordinary-what is behind his fanatical, hyper-prolific crusade against Brandeis?

A cynic might point to articles published in March in the Forward, a New York-based Jewish newspaper, which give pretty damning evidence that the ZOA is breaking down from the inside.

During Klein's prolonged tenure as president (according to the Forward, a constitutional change has allowed him to remain president indefinitely), his bottomless artillery of speeches, press releases and lobbying efforts have made the ZOA one of the most vocal American opponents of Israeli concessions to Palestinians and Palestinian aid.

According to the Forward's investigations, however, the group is more bark than bite: The newspaper says that Klein's employees are miserable and underpaid, and his Web site is riddled with falsehoods about the organization's assets. Interestingly, the Forward points out, the organization's endless cutbacks and declining membership don't seem to have affected Klein's hefty $212,000 salary, which is currently growing at a rate of $20,000 per year.

A cynic might suggest that Klein's anti-Brandeis outbursts are a desperate attempt to associate a flailing organization with its once-noble roots; when Justice Louis Brandeis served as its president, the ZOA was an influential, necessary organization. Now, the cynic might say, the best the ZOA can do to persuade itself that it's still important is to lash out at the university that holds Brandeis' name.

There is something compelling about this line of thought, but I don't think it sums up the whole truth. I have spoken to Klein at least three times, and he has never struck me as artificial or conniving; on the contrary, it's difficult not to feel a begrudging admiration for the man's passion and persistence.

Klein's anti-Brandeis crusade is, I think, a matter of desperation-not necessarily the commercial desperation implied by the Forward-but the desperation that comes from a losing fight. For someone who has spent his life fighting for a sanctuary for Jews in Israel, and who considers Brandeis a pillar of Zionism, the University's most recent decisions must be painful to witness.

Unfortunately for Klein, Brandeis is not a Zionist school; the University rests on four pillars: academic excellence, non-sectarianism, social justice and service to the Jewish community. Brandeis serves the fourth pillar by creating many centers and institutes designed to better to the Jewish community. But nowhere in the University's mission statement is there a reference to Zionism or Justice Brandeis' Zionist agenda.

When I suggested to Klein that pluralism might ultimately be in the best interests of everyone involved, he replied, "You know, Samantha, when I was young I used to be an idealist like you. After a while you realize it just doesn't work."

But Brandeis has to be idealistic-we have to believe in the power of education and enlightenment to bring about peace and prosperity, because that's our job as intellectuals.

Sorry, Mr. Klein.