Today J Street is broadcasting from Pennsylvania University’s campus Hillel, this forum and discussion has got many up in arms on both sides of the on-going discussion about Israel, Zionism an the demand for a Palestinian state. Whether J Street should be hosted by a clearly traditional Zionist organization such as Hillel whom in their own “About Hillel” section of their website have this to say “Hillel helps students find a balance in being distinctively Jewish and universally human by encouraging them to pursue tzedek (social justice), tikkun olam (repairing the world) and Jewish learning, and to support Israel and global Jewish peoplehood” is a heated issue.

Since it’s inception J Street has been both fairly and unfairly criticized for their stances on the Israeli-Palestinian debate. In response to accusations that “J Street is not truly supportive of Israel,” J Street has this to say on their website: “We are pro-Israel because we believe that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the single best chance we have to secure Israel's future as a Jewish democracy.
We believe in the original Zionist idea of a country where Jews could always go to be secure, and we hope that Israel will live up to and represent the core Jewish values of justice, equality, and democracy.” (more information can be found at http://www.jstreet.org/page/j-street-myths-and-facts)

For instance the Founder and CEO of the Unity Coalition for Israel, Esther Levens wrote a truly passionate article on this topic anti-support of Hillel allowing J Street to use their organization as a place to launch their new grass-roots campaign, the full article can be found at http://www.israelunitycoalition.org/news/article_home.php?id=5038 One thing this article fails to mention is that at the same campus, hosted by the same Hillel during the same time frame Z Street will be presenting.

Z Street is an organization that has this to say, “Israel is the Jewish state. Now there’s a revolutionary proposition. Of course, it’s not revolutionary at all — the UN recognized Israel that way in 1948. The idea of a safe homeland for the Jewish people, in the land of Israel — that’s Zionism. But that idea has been effectively stolen and delegitimized by people peddling fashionable politics.” (more information can be found at Z Streets website: http://www.zstreet.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&It...)

Now that we have discussed the facts, is Hillel really at fault? They are providing a forum in which both the pro and con sides of an argument that is truly relevant to Jewish students and youth can be discussed. Is it hypocritical to allow J Street space to advance their message to what is predominantly stated as a Zionist group? Not at all the way that Hillel has chosen to handle the situation. They have welcomed with open arms both parties their right and time to speak.

The only objection I can find in their choices is that in welcoming these speakers simultaneously, they are disallowing students the option to attend both seminars and presentations equally. I find this a sad state of affairs; for ideally they would invite the organizations to speak in conjunction with one another, not force students to make choices, before hearing the facts. However in conclusion I have to salute Hillel for taking the most bi-partisan stance they can in the situation, the avenues between J and Z Street are fighting grounds and thus will never come to agreement, but at least Hillel students have the options to explore all these spaces in time.