The Brandeis Center began 2021 representing Max Price, a member of the Tufts student judiciary committee, who was tasked with reviewing the Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) "Deadly Exchange" referendum language. SJP's Deadly Exchange campaign seeks to hold Israel responsible for police brutality in America.
When Max Price questioned the accuracy of the referendum language, SJP sought to have him removed from the judiciary committee, claiming that Price's support for Israel (he was also co-president of Tufts Friends of Israel) made him inherently biased. Price refused to recuse himself from the judiciary deliberations, so SJP filed a formal complaint seeking to have him removed.
The Brandeis Center intervened, made the university aware of its legal obligation to protect Mr. Price, and SJP backed down and withdrew its complaint.
Just two weeks ago, the Brandeis Center notified Duke University of its legal obligation to reverse the actions of the Duke student government and provide Duke's chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI) with full status as a recognized student organization.
Alyza Lewin, President of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, will discuss these and other examples that demonstrate how students can utilize the law to protect themselves and combat anti-Semitism on campus.
About the speaker: Alyza D. Lewin is the President of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (“LDB”), a non-profit organization established to advance the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and promote justice for all. The Brandeis Center conducts research, education and legal advocacy to combat the resurgence of anti-Semitism on college and university campuses. It empowers students by training them to understand their legal rights, and educates administrators on best practices to combat racism and anti-Semitism on campus.
Ms. Lewin is also a co-founder and partner in Lewin & Lewin, LLP where she specializes in litigation, mediation and government relations. Ms. Lewin has represented numerous high-profile clients. In 2014, Lewin argued Zivotofsky v. Kerry (the “Jerusalem Passport” case) before the U.S. Supreme Court, a case involving the constitutionality of a law granting any American citizen born in Jerusalem the right to list “Israel” as the place of birth on his/her U.S. passport.
In Zivotofsky, the Supreme Court held that the President of the United States has the exclusive authority to recognize foreign sovereigns. The case paved the way for President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. After 18 years, Ms. Lewin brought this pro-bono case to a successful resolution in October 2020, when Secretary of State Pompeo revised the US passport regulations and Ambassador David Friedman presented her client with the very first US passport to list “Israel” as the place of birth for a US citizen born in Jerusalem.
Ms. Lewin, together with her father Nathan Lewin, also successfully represented the Boim family in its landmark civil tort litigation which established the right of American victims of terror to obtain damages under American law against organizations that knowingly provide financial support to international terrorist groups.
Ms. Lewin began her law career in Israel where she clerked on the Supreme Court for Deputy President Justice Menachem Elon. She is the Past President of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (“AAJLJ”). In January 2020, she was awarded the AAJLJ’s distinguished Pursuit of Justice Award.
Ms. Lewin is married and has four children.
Donate to support our work here, or you can send a check to:
Endowment for Middle East Truth, P.O. Box 66366, Washington, DC 20035
To donate by phone, please call 202-601-7422. All contributions are tax-deductible.
