France, CJL and identity crusades

The New York Times recently reported on the trends confronting the national elections in France. According to the article, candidates ranging from the far right to the far left have waged a rhetorical battle to determine what it means to be truly French and how best to demonstrate French patriotism in the 21st century. The proposals of the candidates range from silly to extreme, with the socialist candidate calling for a law that compels all citizens to memorize the French national anthem and "keep a French flag in the cupboard for public display" on certain holidays. The conservative candidate, proving once again that conservatives often lack tact (hint, hint) wherever they are in the world, was blunt. Along with his far-right opponent Jean-Marie Le Pen, he has called for laws requiring "[Muslim immigrants] to embrace the secular values of the republican state."

This rhetoric and the policies that have and will continue to grow out of it — is clearly the secular mainstream's reaction to the growing influence of Islam in France, which is viewed by many in the country as a threat to the continuing stability of the Fifth Republic. As Muslim immigrants from Arab and African nations trickle into urban centers such as Paris, panic and alarm have entered the collective French psyche. This fear, forever intertwined with the deep and troubled legacy of French colonialism in the Islamic world, has caused France's identity crisis to engulf nationwide discussion on more concrete matters, such as the problem of youth unemployment, which triggered nationwide protests a year ago. More than anything else, the current crisis demonstrates just how important it is for every group to have a realistic view of itself.

Since my life is mainly within Princeton World, I immediately thought of campus parallels to the problems confronting French citizens. I thought about how the idea of black identity is constantly up for debate within the Princeton community, debated in the Center for African-American Studies, BSU meetings, by the pool tables in Frist Campus Center and every space in between. But, more than any other group, this issue in France made me think hard about the recent controversy confronting Princeton's Jewish community, namely the denial of chaplaincy to Rabbi Eitan Webb, who directs the Princeton chapter of Chabad.

There seems to be little question that Chabad, a religious and social group grounded in the Hasidic approach to Judaism, is satisfying the hunger of some Jewish students on campus who wish to experience Judaism in a way the Center for Jewish Life (CJL) fails to provide. Just this past Friday evening, as I was headed toward Frist, I was amazed that in my very short walk from Blair to the campus center, I must have spotted eight to 10 students dressed in their Friday best, enthusiastically heading up campus for the weekly Shabbat dinner hosted by the rabbi and his wife. This past Sunday night, as I dragged myself to the U-Store for a snack, who did I see but Webb stocking the frozen food section with kosher meals!

I've never met the rabbi, but due to his high visibility on campus, along with the tales of my freshman-year roommate who at least last year regularly attended Chabad events, it seems as if I have. Before the University made its announcement, I had always assumed in my ignorance that Chabad and Webb were officially part of the University. Maybe my personal lack of religiosity results in my failing to notice other religious leaders outside of Associate Dean of Religious Life Rev. Paul Raushenbush on campus, but Webb seems to be far more visible.

The University's rationale underlying its decision, expressed as a commitment to preserve the CJL as the primary — some may say "only" — organ for enriching Jewish life, practice and spirituality on campus seems to be a last attempt by the old guard to prevent the new kid on the block from rising in importance. And as with the right-wing politicians in France, the CJL and the University's rejection of religious pluralism in the name of the maintaining unity is a false promise. Even this black agnostic sophomore can see that Chabad is here to stay, and it seems that sooner rather than later, the CJL and the University will realize that their illusions of Jewish unity have long been compromised. David Smart is a sophomore from Los Angeles, Calif. He can be reached at dsmart@princeton.edu.