The Tel Aviv University administration cancelled an
appearance by Rav Amnon Yitzhak planned for the afternoon of
Rosh Chodesh Sivan on its Exact Sciences campus.
Last month, three members of the Agudas Yisroel group at the
University approached the Student Authority with a request
for use of an auditorium for the appearance of a guest
speaker who is a rav. The Authority gave the organizers
written approval for the rav's appearance on May 23 at the
campus' Bach auditorium.
A few days later, Nili Amit, head of the Student Authority,
announced that the request was being reconsidered,
questioning if such an event should take place within the
University. After a few days of discussion with University
attorney, a decision was made to cancel the event, since it
was "unsuitable" for the University and "contrary to
University policy."
Last week, legal experts said that they can not understand
how the University could cancel an appearance that had
received prior approval, by claiming that such an appearance
was contrary to University policy. "It is inconceivable that
a place that gives a platform to Mohammed Zilka, members of
the Palestinian Liberation Organization and others speaking
against our society and our democracy, would silence
rabbonim. How is it possible that the appearance of rabbonim
contradicts University policy?"
In response, MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni said that a university
claiming to be an open, pluralistic institution is afraid of
letting another view of Judaism be heard.
"It seems that those who speak in lofty terms about freedom
of expression and being open to ideas are themselves closed
individuals, afraid of an ideological struggle with the
truth. Eventually, the Jewish people will return to its
roots, and nothing will help those who are trying with all
their might to prevent this; they are going against the
wishes of the people."
