By Jeremy Rappaport

I’m a Jewish University student. What are the odds? I belong to the Conservative sect, pretty much meaning that I’m somewhere between Jews for Jesus and Matisyahu. Yes, I’ve been bar mitzvah-ed, I went to Jew school, Jew camp, worked at a Jew camp, and I even went to The School of Advanced Jewish Studies (SAJS-part of Pittsburgh’s United Jewish Federation-for three years). Four of my transfer credits come from a SAJS course covering the Holocaust and genocide of the Jewish people. I have a Jewish girlfriend. I do not keep kosher, or go to synagogue on a regular basis, but I at least go to synagogue for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, like most Jews in the U.S. And finally, yes, I can read Hebrew.

So why do you give a crap? Because what I am about to say in no way reflects any negative feelings toward Judaism or Jewish organizations. However, something about the Jewish organizations on our campus must be changed, immediately.

Any practicing Jew at the University knows of the Chabad and Hillel social groups. These two groups are a wonderful way for Jews to celebrate their heritage, learn a thing or two about our religion, or to meet extraordinary individuals in the Jewish community. I had the privilege of meeting Bernie Igielski, a Holocaust survivor who was featured in the HBO documentary “Paper Clips.” Without such groups as Hillel and Chabad, how else would the University’s Jewish students get to enjoy these social and academic perks?

My argument is while the Jewish organizations on our campus are necessary, they have turned Judaism into a product, a “club,” similar to that of Cutco Knives, which relies on recruiting as many buyers as possible to reach some sort of quota. I belong to Hillel and Chabad and receive the endless e-mails and Facebook messages about various events on campus. These could be anything from “Pizza and a Parsha” to “Superhero Shabbat” to “Friday Night Live.” I pass the Hillel table many times in the Student Center, on the south campus, near the clock outside of the Student Center’s main entrance. This is completely normal and acceptable, but this is where the pressure should end.

Instead, I get stopped by Rabbi Katz and Rabbi Lieberman every single time they see me passing by. It has gotten to the point where I have had to walk around the side of the Student Center and enter through a random door on the Netherlands side just to get something to eat! Why did I have to do this? Because Sukkot was on the way, and even though the “sukkah-mobile” was parked all the way near the sculpture by the Student Center bus stop, Rabbi Lieberman felt it was ethical to walk back and forth from there to the clock, carrying a lulav branch and an etrog, looking for victims. I live in Alliance Hall, making my efforts futile against his sales pitch.

Last year, I was rushing to finish some homework and Rabbi Lieberman dragged me into the sukkah, pressured me to say some blessings and eat some pastries. I had told him I had work to do, but he simply persisted, “It’ll only take a minute.” I felt ashamed after this incident, knowing I had been forced into practicing my own religion and basically looked down upon by an Orthodox follower, who most likely thought I wasn’t pious enough.

Whenever I see Rabbi Lieberman, I am always pressured to take a Chabad events calendar and am asked whether or not I will attend the next meeting. This is done in front of his wife and son, who is only a toddler. How is one to say no? This man is trying to do his job by handing out flyers, and I’m not going to make him look like a failure in front of his family. What kind of propaganda is this?

I first met Rabbi Katz this fall and agreed to join him in a one-on-one meeting in the back of the Student Center. Of course, he was pitching a new program, a trip to Israel-the same old tune. I told him I was unable to make the commitment, especially since I recently changed majors and wanted to focus on my schoolwork.

He too persisted with his pleas, saying I could instead go on the trip to California, but I again said no. I was a bit more lenient with Rabbi Katz, since I knew this is his first year here at the University and he had to start from scratch recruiting students. But what happened only a week ago should not be allowed on our campus.

I was walking to my dorm from California Avenue, when I got a call from the Rabbi. As always, he asked if I could participate in an event, specifically some kind of basketball game between the Knicks and the Tel Aviv Maccabi Elite. I told Rabbi Katz that I wasn’t really sure, because “I just have a really busy week, two tests next week, and I don’t think I’ll be able to go.” Of course, I made all of that up, but regardless, I didn’t want to go. I was then asked if I could attend a meeting at 6 p.m. that night. “No, I actually have a meeting from 5:45 to 6:30, I’m sorry.” That was actually true.

“Well how about after that meeting then?”

“Um…I have a lot of studying to do for a test tomorrow.”

“Hmmm…well okay then. But let me know if you change your mind, and we’ll keep in touch. We have some exciting programs coming up this month.”

“Oooook, I’ll see. Bye.” I hung up. Dammit, I thought.

I don’t believe there is one Jewish student at the University who would find these behaviors ethical. Our chapters of Hillel and Chabad have taken something as sacred as religion, and have turned it into the timeshare industry! I haven’t even seen this kind of pressure at the Apple Computers table, or the Commerce Bank table. Hell, I didn’t even see this kind of pressure when flyers for female escorts were being thrust into my face in Las Vegas! So what do we do?

We need regulation, for all religious organizations who advertise at the University. Nothing fancy, just common sense rules for the way one spreads the word about events. It would normally be okay to ask someone of his or her availability, or whether or not he or she can attend meetings. Given the previously described incidences, however, it should only be allowed to mention an organization’s goings-on. No questions, no shoving a sign-up sheet into someone’s face, just putting the announcement out there. “There’s a prayer service this Friday night,” and then leave us the hell alone!

I also regret giving my phone number to Rabbi Katz, and therefore I advise students to only give their phone numbers to close friends or departments such as academic records.

Clubs and organizations should only be allowed to collect e-mail addresses, unless such contact information is unavailable.

Religion is very important and special for those involved, and I would love to see everyone on campus getting in touch with his or her religious, ethnic, geographic, and educational backgrounds.

I believe, however, that we should all be afforded our free will. Piety is not based on how many times you’ve been to Israel, or which political party you are affiliated with, or how many “Bagel Brunches” you attend. It depends on how we govern ourselves throughout our daily lives, how we treat others, and how we affect the world. We are 18 to 22 year-old students.

If we are interested, we will sign up. If we have better things to do, then you know where you can shove your sense of self-righteousness.

Jeremy Rappaport is a junior psychology major. You may e-mail him at [email protected].