“Wanted” posters targeting University of Rochester Jewish faculty spark outrage and fear

ROCHESTER, NY – Wanted posters depicting several Jewish faculty members at the University of Rochester recently surfaced on campus, sparking anger among many within the Jewish community.

“My initial reaction was one of simple disbelief,” said Meredith Dragon, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester. “I mean, I do believe it was aimed at the Jewish community and those who have close relationships within the Jewish community.”

The posters label certain university professors and staff as “wanted” for alleged war crimes related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. One of those targeted was Joy Getnick of U of R’s Hillel. She asked not to show her face, but said in a statement that the posters “spread harmful anti-Semitic ideas about the Jewish people and Israel. They are furthering the spread of anti-Semitic hatred on our campus in an effort to sow fear.”

“Regardless of whether someone is Jewish or not, the kinds of things people are accused of are still anti-Semitic tropes, whether someone is Jewish or not,” Dragon said. “So, you know, the tone and the disinformation, the disinformation and basically the call to incite violence, regardless of whether someone is Jewish or not.”

The student-run Jewish Voice for Peace, U of R chapter, says it does not know who put up the posters, but “the government’s hasty leap to attribute these posters to anti-Semitism, without any proper investigation, comes across as a attempt to censor any discussion of the University of Rochester’s complicity in the Israeli army’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Anti-Semitism is bigotry or hatred of Jewish people based on their identity. We unequivocally oppose it and work with all forms of oppression to dismantle it. However, it is not anti-Semitic to criticize the Israeli government and the Israeli army for committing war crimes.”

“I think the university has a lot of work to do with the Jewish community to make sure people feel safe on campus, because that’s not the case right now,” Dragon said.

Dragon said Jewish students who feel unsafe can contact the Jewish Federation and be put in touch with the director of community safety.

The university president also denounced the posters in a statement, calling them divisive, intimidating and contrary to their values ​​as a university.

Statement from President Sarah Mangelsdorf:

“I want to be as clear as possible that the University of Rochester strongly denounces the recent display of ‘Wanted’ posters targeting senior university leaders and members of our faculty, staff and Board of Trustees. This act is disturbing, divisive and intimidating and goes against our values ​​as a university.
“Additionally, several of the individuals depicted appear to have been targeted because they are members of our Jewish community. We consider this anti-Semitism, which will not be tolerated at our university. This is not who we are. This goes against everything we stand for and we have a duty to reject it.
“The Department of Public Safety is conducting an ongoing investigation and is exhausting all available resources to gather evidence and hold those involved accountable for their actions. As DPS Chief Quchee Collins said in his message yesterday, our priority as a university is to maintain a respectful and safe community for all.

Hillel released the following statement:

“Last Sunday, hundreds of deeply disturbing ‘Wanted’ posters appeared on campus, targeting our Hillel director, Jewish faculty and staff, and university administrators. Please note that these posters did not target or mention students, and there is no known threat to Jewish students at this time.
“These deeply disturbing posters, which disproportionately singled out Jewish faculty and staff, spread harmful anti-Semitic ideas about the Jewish people and Israel. They promote the spread of anti-Semitic hatred on our campus in an effort to sow fear.
“Since the posters were discovered, we have been in close contact with the university administration, as well as the Rochester Jewish Federation, the ADL, Hillel International and the Secure Community Network – the security organization for the American Jewish community. An extensive investigation involving various levels of law enforcement is underway. We are hopeful that the investigation will be quick and thorough and will lead to accountability.
“We also hope that this is an opportunity for the university to reflect on what it takes to provide meaningful education about Jewish people and anti-Semitism so that UR is a place where Jewish life can flourish fully and safely.
“Despite these challenges, we at UR Hillel remain committed to elevating vibrant Jewish life on campus. Now more than ever is a time to celebrate our shared heritage and traditions, and feel the strength of our special UR Jewish community.”

Jewish Voice for Peace, UR chapter statement:

“While we do not know who put up these posters or what their purpose is, we view these posters as an attempt to shed light on the support of administrators and professors for the Israeli army’s destruction of Gaza. These posters focused on Jewish and non-Jewish administrators and professors and explicitly condemned their support for the Israeli army and government.
“The administration’s hasty leap to attribute these posters to anti-Semitism, without any proper investigation, comes across as an attempt to censor any discussion of the University of Rochester’s complicity in the Israeli army’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Anti-Semitism is bigotry or hatred of Jewish people based on their identity. We unequivocally oppose it and work with all forms of oppression to dismantle it. However, it is not anti-Semitic to criticize the Israeli government and the Israeli army for committing war crimes.
“We will continue to peacefully protest our university’s complicity in the Israeli army’s destruction of Gaza and urge all members of the campus community to join us in peacefully combating genocide and war.”

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