The University of Maine’s Jewish Voices for Peace club (JVP), established last semester, is a welcoming community ready for discussion.
JVP is an organization that campaigns for peace in the United States, Palestine and worldwide. The organization hopes to be a space to discuss differences and separations between the topics of Zionism and Judaism.
A strong motivator for JVP Vice President Syd is to encourage students, who in their eyes are largely apolitical, to talk about world news, something they view isn’t largely discussed on campus. JVP is a space for students on campus to tune into what’s happening in the world around them. Syd always wanted to be a part of a JVP organization but didn’t know that UMaine had one. Last semester, when they saw JVP running a bake sale, they quickly joined, seeking out like-minded people who are willing to discuss the issues going on worldwide. Before joining the club they didn’t know anyone in the group, but quickly made connections and found a space on campus that met their needs. Syd’s favorite aspects of the club are the sit-ins and dialogues that the group hosts with a variety of speakers.
Syd makes it clear that members all share the responsibility of the group and that the goal for them is to help connect the campus, allowing people to discuss politics. Primarily, they discuss the genocide in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. They view this as a topic that needs to be discussed on campus, and are hopeful that the dinner and dialogues, and teach-ins will help to start that discussion.
The organization held their first meeting of the year on Sept. 11. At the meeting, introductions were done, as most people hadn’t met each other yet. Everyone spoke about why they chose to attend. Then, they discussed their plans for the semester and explained why JVP is needed on campus and the group’s goals, which align mostly with Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), which also helped the group convey what individuals can do to help their cause. Reading material was passed around, detailing what antisemitism is and how anti-zionism is not antisemitic. The group intends to clear up important distinctions and start that discussion on campus.
Brooke Arend, the co-founder of the UMaine chapter, started the group to expand Jewish spaces on campus as she believed that our school needed a space to discuss the on-going crisis in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. Just like Syd, Arend emphasized this campus is a space that is shy to discuss world events. She wants to raise awareness for Palestine and says that this space is a great spot for people of all backgrounds to come together and have a discussion. According to Arend, the space is open to all, not just Jewish students on campus. She is looking forward to providing teach-ins to help educate our campus and grow that community.
The club plans to meet every week, but meeting times may be subject to change. Currently, they are on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. The group posts updates about meeting times and events on instagram (@umainejvp).