As the room filled, you could feel the excitement. There were no beach balls, pep bands or loud music, but there was a mix of anticipation, energy, and anxiety. What would he say, how would his message be received, and would the questions that followed be hostile? The crowd was mostly students, but there were many adults. There was also a large security detail, and visibly armed campus police. I am sure many in the tightly packed, overflowing crowd at 111 Wartik Hall on the Penn State campus were interested in Ambassador Michael Oren’s presentation, “Israel as the Ultimate Ally to the United States,†but I was also there for the fireworks that were sure to follow the presentation. The State of Israel evokes strong emotions, and Oren’s previous presentations on college campuses have resulted in confrontation from hecklers and opponents of Israel and Israeli policy.  Students have been removed, arrested, and convicted for their outbursts in these presentations. Our Jewish Videos page on this website has recordings of these episodes, and our News Online page has articles of these incidents.
After his presentation, Oren took questions, and the first two questions were along the lines of why does Israel kill innocent people, and the Jewish claim to Israel as a homeland is a lie. I have no problem with the questions, but their tone and insinuation were clearly filled with hatred and contempt, as if the world would be a better place without Jews and without Israel.
Insensitivity, discrimination, hate, and criminal acts are usually something we learn about or experience on television, the internet, or in books, newspapers, or magazines. These experiences seem remote, and we can always change the channel, or close the book. Most of us will not to experience these acts in person. It is hard to describe the your emotions when the person directly in front of you, and the person behind you are spooing hatred and vitriol.  It is uncomfortable and it is scary.
You have just spent forty five minutes listing to a distinguished representative of a country you admire, a country that has overcome great odds to not only exist but flourish. You have learned about all the great contributions it’s citizens have made to our civilization, and you are then brought down by hatred and evil thoughts. It was sad, but it was a necessary experience. Necessary because it motivates one to do good, stand up for the truth, and support justice. It is important to be proactive in the celebration of religious and cultural diversity, and support the causes that bring understanding and respect between people and communities. This is part of mission at the Greater Altoona Jewish Federation, and I hope our Jewish community continues to support this aspect of our work.
