UBC family medicine prof resigns, claiming antisemitism in faculty and student body

A 30-year professor of family medicine at the University of British Columbia has stepped down, citing rising instances of antisemitism within his faculty.

In his resignation letter, Dr. Ted Rosenberg of Victoria said UBC has not addressed concerns raised about a medical student's petition, antisemitism with the faculty, and a toxic work environment resulting from politicization and polarization of the Middle East conflict.

"One-third of the medical students and some faculty have publicly expressed their contempt toward me as a Jew," said Rosenberg in the letter addressed to Dr. Dermot Kelleher, dean of the Faculty of Medicine. 

"Unfortunately, I have no faith in due process in a faculty that does not even acknowledge the existence or presence of antisemitism/Jew-hatred, or my right to work in a depoliticized environment."

The CBC has not viewed the petition, but a CTV report notes the document does "not condone the actions of Hamas in attacking Israeli citizens and taking hostages" and describes Palestinians as "continually abused, traumatized and killed by the settler state of Israel." 

Rosenberg claimed in earlier correspondence to university leadership — including Kelleher and UBC president Benoit-Antoine Bacon — that a medical student petition entitled "A Call to Action for Gaza" contains demonizing rhetoric that dehumanizes Israelis and Jews.

He also complained that social media posts from a professor colleague in the department of family medicine were examples of "historical revisionism" and "classical Jew-hating antisemitism." One of the posts he cited shows an artist's depiction of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph under bombed-out Gaza rubble.

In a statement, UBC spokesperson Kurt Heinrich said the Faculty of Medicine and university "have been very clear that antisemitism, or discrimination of any kind, is completely unacceptable."

"In response to concerns raised by faculty and learners, the Faculty of Medicine is also working expediently to develop educational opportunities for inclusive learning and respectful dialogue within the faculty in areas that directly reflect our stated values, including how we address issues such as discrimination, harassment and hate speech," said Heinrich.