A liberal rabbi who was canceled for his pro-Israel beliefs warns that we are living in a "dangerous" time for free speech.

A rabbi who was recently targeted by cancel culture for supporting Israel cautioned about the increasing intolerance towards free speech on liberal campuses and enclaves.

"Rabbi Andy Bachman stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that many students complain of not being taught but being subjected to propaganda in the classroom. Jewish students, in particular, are fearful of speaking out in defense of Israel due to a fear of a mob mentality and negative grades from their professors. Academic freedom has been replaced with politicization of the war in the classroom, resulting in a pro-Palestinian bias."

It is challenging and risky for individuals with reason to maintain open communication with others despite their differences, he stated.

Bachman has personally encountered hostility towards his pro-Israel beliefs. Last December, he was heckled at Hunter College in New York City while moderating a discussion about a film critical of Israel. This month, he discovered that a speaking event at a Brooklyn bookstore was canceled due to his beliefs.

The scheduled conversation with Jewish scholar Joshua Leifer about Bachman's new book at Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn on August 21 was canceled by the manager with less than an hour to go, after discovering Bachman was a "Zionist."

The manager of the Powerhouse store, who was later fired, stated that they did not want a Zionist to speak on stage.

As the former head rabbi at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, Bachman was shocked by her response, especially since she holds more moderate views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Zionism entails that Jews, like all nations, have the right to their own state and homeland in their ancestral land, as stated by Bachman. However, this belief is not accepted in some hostile environments that have emerged since the October 7 terror attacks, he has discovered.

He stated to The New York Times that the only acceptable Jew in the movement is the one who does not believe Israel should exist.

The notion of a bookstore censoring a discussion about a book it was selling left him in disbelief.

He recounted to Planet Chronicle Digital how both of them initially reacted with laughter, saying, "This is absurd. Are you kidding me?" due to the shocking nature of the situation.

After word got out, pro-Israel New York Democrats like former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., sent messages of support to the rabbi.

No one could have predicted that a bookstore would attempt to censor a conversation, despite the division in some sectors over the war.

The employee was fired by Powerhouse two days after the company condemned her actions in a statement.

"A former employee of Powerhouse made a grossly misguided decision to unilaterally derail a high-anticipated event. She abused her position as a Powerhouse employee and wrongfully usurped responsibility for planning and logistics from our designated events managers."

Despite feeling frustrated by the event, Bachman remained determined to host it again at a better location and make it even better.

A week after the original event was canceled, they successfully booked a new location in the heart of Brooklyn and attracted more than 400 attendees, he claims.

He explained that it was significantly better than the terrible experience of the previous week.

This week, as college students return to campus, Bachman is also concerned about the threat of violence and hostility toward Jewish students on campus.

The rabbi, who previously served as executive director of the Edgar M. Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at New York University, is urging university and interfaith leaders to create a dialogue-friendly environment where all students are respected.

"The speaker expressed concern that in a university setting, students can have difficult conversations, process difficult experiences, and ideas, and everyone is respected regardless of their identity. However, he believes that this is not happening currently, and the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, with no signs of compromise, will only continue to perpetuate the worst aspects of what has been happening on campus."