Orthodox Jews Violate College Policy With Flyers

Members of the Chabad House of Cambridge, an orthodox Jewish sect, passed out informational flyers on campus late last week in violation of College policy.

"Only students can hand out flyers at the College," said Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III.

Two men from Chabad, with long black coats and black hats characteristic of their sect, handed our flourescent flyers with invitations to a Friday night dinner and information about a course on Judaism called "Judaism 101."

The Chabad House of Cambridge opened its doors two years ago.

The two men, both rabbinical students from New York, have been sighted outside of Harvard Hall, as well as outside of Annenberg and the Science Center.

Epps was unaware of Chabad's presence on campus until interviewed by The Crimson, but he said he plans to be in contact with the organization soon.

"I will assume the people didn't know the rules," Epps said.

Prohibitions against non-students distributing leaflets on campus have been used in the past to prevent proselytizing religious organizations such as the Boston Church of Christ from activity on campus.

Sholom B. Scheiner, rabbi of the Chabad of Cambridge, said the organization did not receive official permission to hand out flyers, but he was unaware of College policy regarding flyer distribution.

He said the organization hopes to form a Chabad student group on campus in the near future. Student members could then hand out flyers without violating College policy.

Scheiner said Chabad is an organization which tries to teach Jews about their heritage.

"We try to reach out to Jewish people all across the world. Chabad has a unique touch of reaching out to the unaffiliated Jew, who would not usually go [to any synagogue]," Scheiner said.

According to Scheiner, Chabad could fill a niche missing from Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel.

"There are some programs that the Chabad group will do that Hillel wouldn't do," he said. "We organize public events."

Hillel Chair Michael M. Rosen '98, who is a Crimson editor, said Hillel does attempt public outreach. He noted the upcoming celebration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel. But Rosen acknowledged that "this is more of the exception, not the rule."

Scheiner stressed the new organization would like to work "very closely with Hillel."

Rosen stressed that the student organization is in its very beginning stages.

"We're interested in seeing what kind of relationship Hillel would want to have with them," Rosen said. "Chabad does a lot of great things on a global scale. They do take a somewhat different approach."

Some students question if Chabad's forward techniques are appropriate.

"I was somewhat uncomfortable when I was approached, and ultimately I didn't like that," said Josh S. Goodman '00, chair of the Hillel Forum Committee. "I'm not sure the Yard is the appropriate place for it."

Talya M. Weisbard '00-'99 said she worries that the Chabad of Cambridge has become too visible on campus.

"It bothers me that they judge me. I don't feel the need to be constantly confronted about my level of observance," Weisbard said.

Yet Scheiner contended that the organization has received positive responses from students. "Many people were very glad to meet someone whowas there, to meet someone from the organization,"Scheiner said.

"We don't hassle anyone. We're not trying toget anyone to accept anything they don't want to."

Goodman said he was not sure handing out flyersconstitutes proselytizing.

"They're only targeting Jews. They're notattempting to get non-Jews to convert," he said.

The two men approached students and inquired ifthey were Jewish before handing them flyers.

The Chabad's efforts to reach out only to Jews,however, make some students uncomfortable.

"They don't stop everyone," Weisbard said."They look at a crowd and decide who looks Jewish.They make people on campus think that many Jewsare exclusive and only want to interact with otherJews."

Justin C. Danilewitz '99, at Scheiner'srequest, has investigated procedures for startinga Chabad student organization.

"They're a very welcoming and warm group," saidDanilewitz, a Crimson editor. "There's very littlereason for people to feel threatened by a groupthat believes in inclusiveness.

"We don't hassle anyone. We're not trying toget anyone to accept anything they don't want to."

Goodman said he was not sure handing out flyersconstitutes proselytizing.

"They're only targeting Jews. They're notattempting to get non-Jews to convert," he said.

The two men approached students and inquired ifthey were Jewish before handing them flyers.

The Chabad's efforts to reach out only to Jews,however, make some students uncomfortable.

"They don't stop everyone," Weisbard said."They look at a crowd and decide who looks Jewish.They make people on campus think that many Jewsare exclusive and only want to interact with otherJews."

Justin C. Danilewitz '99, at Scheiner'srequest, has investigated procedures for startinga Chabad student organization.

"They're a very welcoming and warm group," saidDanilewitz, a Crimson editor. "There's very littlereason for people to feel threatened by a groupthat believes in inclusiveness.