Antisemitism at UBC Medical Faculty

"I cannot think of a clearer example of classical Jew baiting antisemitism than this modern-day resurrection of the charge of Deicide."

"The accusation of being 'Christ killers' was responsible for the worst violence and oppression against Jews for millennia."

"[The same professor shared another link] to a petition on X advocating investigaiton and exclusion of Jewish adjudicators [from the Canadian resident matching service [CaRMS] over perceived racism."

"These demonizing accusations are not just directed against the state of Israel, but by proxy, to all its supporters, including the vast majority of Jews in the diaspora. We as Jewish faculty feel these attacks personally and deeply."

"Unfortunately, despite stressing the university's commitment to respect, compassion and inclusion and referring individual complaints to EDI, you did not address any of our specific concerns re: the medical student's petition, antisemitism within the faculty, or concerns that politicization and polarization of the Middle East conflict are creating a toxic work environment."

Dr. Ted Rosenberg, Medical Faculty, University of British Columbia, Victoria

 

"In response to concerns raised by faculty and learners, the faculty of medicine is also working  expediently to develop educational opportunities for inclusive learning and respectful dialogue with in the faculty in areas that directly reflect our stated values, including how we address issues such as discrimination, harassment and hate speech."

"[UBC and its faculty of medicine] have been very clear that antisemitism, or discrimination of any kind, is completely unacceptable."

"We are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all of our community members and will continue to take steps to do so."

UBC spokesperson Kurt Heinrich 

University of B.C. campus. Photo by Mark van Manen /PNG

 

Citing an inadequate response to antisemitism on campus at University of British Columbia's faculty of medicine, longtime professor Dr. Ted Rosenberg has chosen to resign his three-decade association with the medical faculty. His letter of resignation sent on New Year's Day, went directly to medical faculty dean Dr. Dermot Kelleher. A number of grievances were brought to bear in the three-page letter, including that a medical student was circulating a petition featuring anti-Israel and antisemitic statements as part and portion of supporting Gaza residents during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

As well, an assistant professor in the faculty has posted historically revisionist, anti-Jewish statements and memes on social media, with no action resulting from the UBC administration. One of the cited posts shows an image of the Christian holy family beneath rubble in Gaza, being bombed by Israel. As well, the UBC's website on equity diversity and inclusion, fails to refer to Jews or antisemitism as specific hate targets.

To which spokesman Kurt Heinrich responded that the  university's discrimination policy mirrors that of the British Columbia Human Rights Code. Dean Kelleher, stated spokesman Heinrich, reinforced his faculty's commitment to respect and dialogue in a "sombre" pre-Christmas message. According to Dr. Rosenberg, however, the university is not matching step with federal efforts to acknowledge and respond to hate against Jews in Canada as it has escalated during the Israel-Hamas war.

Leaving Dr. Rosenberg to plead with University of British Columbia to pay heed to a  group of 284 "concerned Jewish physicians" and to work with them for the purpose of "constructively, collaboratively, and proactively rectify this situation and ultimately help restore respect, compassion, empathy and trust among colleagues and students."

"The Canadian government released a document on antisemitism that was updated in February 2023."

"This document clearly states that Jewish people, together with the Black community are the number one target of hate crimes in Canada. It also describes the problem of rising antisemitism and intimidation of Jews on campuses and that the rate of antisemitic hate crimes track closely with escalations of the conflict in the Middle East."

Dr. Ted Rosenberg

A family medicine professor has resigned from UBC, saying antisemitism on campus is being ignored. (UBC)