Jewish students weigh in on University of Utah pro-Palestine protests

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two nights of protests on the University of Utah’s campus have impacted Jewish students as rhetoric has some concerned.

Miles Elkins is wrapping up his junior year studying at the University of Utah. Reflecting on this year, he helped start a new Jewish organization called Chabad on Campus.

“As our Jewish population is getting bigger, we wanted to accommodate Jewish Students,” Elkins said.

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He worked with Rabbi Moshe Nigri, who lead the organization.

Rabbi Nigri said the organization created community.

“That's why they come to Chabad on Campus, which is a place where they feel safe to talk about it and express what they think,” he said.

Elkins said that while he appreciated his community, he understood the value of free speech and reflected on his own values.

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“I fully support people who disagree with me, they’re allowed to voice their opinion in any manner that they would like,” Elkins said. “As a Jew, I’m choosing to be proud of my Judaism and that’s how I’m going to persist through this.”

Asher Ireland, the president of Hillel For Utah, said after watching protests across the nation, there is concern. — especially due to the chanting rhetoric at these protests.

“When they say they don’t want any Jewish citizens of a Palestinian state, what you’re essentially saying is you’re going to ethnically cleanse the entire Jewish Community out of the Middle East,” Ireland said. “It’s really hard to hear, it makes me feel like I’m not wanted on this campus.”

The students said there were a lot of different reactions within their community, as the conflict isn’t so black and white.

“I personally do not feel very unsafe, and I’m just speaking for myself and not the entire Jewish community, but I think the way the University has handled it, specifically President Randall and his team has been really amazing,” Elkins said.

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Ireland said moving forward he would like to see one thing.

“Dialogue,” he said.

Rabbi Nigri said students he worked with wanted to stay positive in a time of conflict.

“When we are one community, we are unity and we take away the darkness with light,” Rabbi Nigri said.

That is something Elkins is proud of.

“By giving in and fighting back in ways that are violent or malicious is not the right way to go about it,” Elkins said. “You should be proud of who you are, you should be proud to be Jewish, you should be proud to have ties to Israel, and that’s how were going to get through this together.”

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