Judaism On Our Own Terms

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Judaism On Our Own Terms
AbbreviationJOOOT
FormationApril 2019;5 years ago (2019-04)
TypeNetwork
Affiliations Open Hillel
Website jooot.org

Judaism On Our Own Terms (JOOOT) is a national network of independent Jewish communities on college campuses in the United States. [1] [2] It is affiliated with Open Hillel, [3] and was established in April 2019 motivated by a desire to create welcoming Jewish spaces of open dialogue as well as opposition to Hillel International's “Standards of Partnership for Campus Israel Activities,” standards that exclude groups from the Jewish community on campus on the basis of their views on Israel, views viewed as beyond acceptable dissent. Historically, JOOOT did not take a position on most political topics [4] and does not limit the types of programming member communities can organize. [5] Member communities are self-governed. [3]

Contents

History

In 2019, many JOOOT groups held Passover seders as alternatives to the ones offered by Hillel at their schools. [6]

In September 2019, JOOOT held its second national conference. The conference took place at Brown University, with about 80 students attending from 27 different schools. [4]

In December 2020, JOOOT produced a zine for Hanukkah after soliciting contributions from the JOOOT community on social media. [2]

In 2023, as part of its restructuring process and its new Mission Statement and Points of Unity, JOOOT adopted a firmly anti-Zionist and anti-imperialist politic, vacating a position of more ambivalence. [7]

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References

  1. Hanau, Shira. "Indie Jewish Campus Groups Seek To Craft Judaism 'On Our Own Terms'". New York Jewish Week . Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Eight Nights of Jewish Zines: The JOOOT Hanukkah 5781 Zine". New Voices . December 8, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Schwalb, Jess (July 3, 2019). "Red Line Rebellion". Jewish Currents . Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Hurwitz, Sophie (October 18, 2019). "Second Judaism On Our Own Terms Conference Wrestles with Sustainability". New Voices . Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  5. Starobin, Jack (January 22, 2021). "Disillusioned with Hillel, students form progressive Jewish group to promote inclusivity". The Daily Pennsylvanian . Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  6. Pink, Aiden (May 19, 2019). "New Independent Jewish Student Network Seeks 'Judaism On Our Own Terms'". The Forward . Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  7. "Judaism on Our Own Terms: The answer to an anti-Zionist Jewish future?". September 15, 2023.