By, Rosa Doherty
1 min read
ByRosa Doherty, Rosa Doherty
The world’s biggest Jewish student organisation has suspended a series of talks by celebrated author Ari Shavit after a young journalist claimed he sexually assaulted her.
In a recent article for the American Jewish Journal, Danielle Berrin alleged that during an interview with an unnamed male author two years ago, he “lurched at me like a barnyard animal, grabbing the back of my head, pulling me toward him”.
Ms Berrin claimed the married father continued to “pull and paw” at her body despite her refusing his advances.
She also alleged he asked her to go to his hotel room, and suggested she become his “mistress” while he promoted his book.
Several commentators speculated that the unnamed author had been Mr Shavit as he matched Ms Berrin’s description of a writer who had had an “impact on the Jewish conversation”. He had also been in the US two years ago to promote his influential work, My Promised Land.
In a statement published in Haaretz, Mr Shavit subsequently confirmed he was the writer Ms Berrin had met but said she “misunderstood” his intentions.
Mr Shavit, who is a senior columnist for Haaretz, said: “In February 2014 I met Ms Danielle Berrin in Los Angeles for a conversation.
“Today I understand, regretfully, that I completely misinterpreted the interaction we had in that meeting.”
Before he read Ms Berrin’s article, he said he always felt their meeting was “friendly” and “included elements of courtship”.
He said: “I never thought for a moment that it was sexual harassment, but what I saw as courting, Ms Berrin saw as inappropriate and harassing behaviour on my behalf.”
He apologised for behaviour and said, “I did not mean to do anything that was unacceptable. And I certainly had no intention to cause her discomfort or to hurt her feelings.”
On Hillel’s Facebook page, president, Eric Fingerhut wrote: “In light of recent circumstances, and in keeping with our strong position against sexual assault, Hillel International has suspended Ari Shavit’s campus tour.
“Hillel International is not aware of any allegation of sexual assault made against Mr Shavit during his Hillel visits.”
