Natan Sharansky, Israel's minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, spoke on campus Wednesday night at the Ohio Union in an event titled, "Israel: The Ambassador for Freedom In the Middle East."
The event was hosted by the Ohio State Chabad House in conjunction with the OSU Ambassadors for Israel for the Caravan for Democracy.
Sharansky spoke on topics ranging from the time he spent imprisoned for charges of espionage and "anti-Soviet" activity in Moscow, while fighting for democracy, to terrorism and the quest for democracy in the Middle East today. He discussed the centrality of human rights and democracy to all discussions of the present and future Middle East.
Coming from Israel, Sharansky spoke adamantly about his opinion that democracy in all countries is a necessity for a peaceful society.
"If you want to stay in power in a democracy, you are dependent on the people, and you want to show them you are interested in their problems in order to be re-elected," he said. "In a dictatorship, the dictator does not depend on the people, the people depend on the dictator. For a dictator, war becomes a necessity, but not in a democracy."
Brad Bethel, events associate for the Ambassadors for Israel felt that this part of his message was important to be heard.
"He is basically saying that peace can only be made when two free societies are working to make that happen. You just can't make peace with dictators," he said.
In 1973, when Sharansky applied for, but was denied an exit visa to Israel because of security issues, he remained in Moscow, prominently involved in Jewish refusenik activities. Thus leading to his arrest in 1977. A year later he was convicted of treason and spying on behalf of the United States, and was sentenced to thirteen years in jail.
Once freed, Sharansky spent his time working on behalf of other dissidents like himself, and focused his attention on issues confronting Soviet immigrants.
"We want to live in a society where dissent is not punished, and people do not go to jail for their views," he said.
Rabbi Zalman Deitsch, campus director for the OSU Chabad House said the main message that should be taken from the speech is the importance of a society's right to dissent.
"He was saying that if you want to know who you're dealing with, see how they treat their own people," he said.
The Chabad House is a Jewish student organization that caters to students regardless of background, affiliation or level of observance.
Ambassadors for Israel on Campus is a project hosted by the organization that works to motivate students to become more educated and proactive for Israel through educational workshops, speeches and lectures.
"We're a group of 70 students and we attend regular seminars, lectures, and interactive events where we study and learn more about the Middle East conflict," Bethel said. "From what we learn, we host educational venues for the campus community."
Both OSU Chabad and the OSU Ambassadors for Israel were honored and pleased with Sharansky's visit Wednesday night.
"I thought it was fabulous," Deitsch said. "I think when you bring a speaker like this, his message is simple but brilliant, and once you explore his ideas specifically about democracy, you realize where peace can really come from."
The event hosted about 1000 students, faculty and Columbus-area residents.
"I was very excited about the turn out," Deitsch said. "It is very nice when people come out and hear something like this because the message is important, and the fact that people came out and heard it makes that message worthwhile."
The OSU Chabad is hosting a grand menorah lighting Tuesday evening at the Union. The lighting of the first candle of the largest Hanukkah menorah in Central Ohio will be accompanied by live music, food and singing. Those of all religions are encouraged to attend.
"The reason we do this at the Union and not the synagogue is because Hanukkah is the celebration of when people got the right to have a religion in general. It's not just for Jews, African Americans or Christians, it's for everyone," Deitsch said. "It was a fight for religion. It's a light for the whole world."
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