Letter to the Editor — Mateo Levin
To the Editor:
During my time at Brandeis, Hillel has been the most meaningful part of my campus experience. I’m incredibly grateful for the way it supports a thriving Jewish community. As a board member of J Street U—a Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestine, Pro-Peace advocacy group—I’ve seen how rare it is for campus Hillels to include voices like ours. At Brandeis, Rabbi Seth Winberg has consistently welcomed us into dialogue about Israel, defending our place within a diverse and inclusive Hillel. Hillel must be invested in Israel—the home of half the world’s Jews and the focus of daily Jewish prayer. But this engagement must also recognize the legitimacy of Palestinian experiences and aspirations. I’m proud that Brandeis Hillel embraces both. At last week’s Israel Fest, before it was interrupted by so-called Pro Palestinian protesters, I lit a candle at a table Hillel had set up honoring all innocent Israelis and Palestinians who have lost their lives in this war. A recent article in The Justice claimed Hillel’s “first allegiance is not to Brandeis students but to Israel.” This is not only untrue—it evokes harmful antisemitic tropes of dual loyalty. As Justice Louis Brandeis once said, “Let no American imagine that Zionism is inconsistent with patriotism.” Believing in Jewish self-determination in our ancestral homeland is a meaningful part of Jewish identity. Brandeis Hillel allows for open, critical conversations about Israel rooted in Ahavat Yisrael—love of the Jewish people. J Street U events often feature strong critiques of Israeli policy, but they come from a place of care and commitment. To suggest that Professor Jonathan Sarna—a world-renowned scholar and beloved teacher—was invited to speak at commencement out of allegiance to Israel ignores his profound contributions to Brandeis and Jewish scholarship. Brandeis Hillel proves that pluralism, love for Israel, and critical engagement can—and must—coexist.
Mateo Levin '27
Board Member, Brandeis J Street U
Gabbai, Brandies Masorti Minyan
Former Board Member, Brandeis Hillel
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