In the wake of the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas, Rabbi Meir Hecht, known for his work with American hostages released by Hamas, has expressed concern about the rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses americans Hecht notes that instead of condemning the terrorist group, protests around the world have been directed at the Jewish state, which is still struggling with the loss of more than 1,400 Israeli lives.
The most extreme examples of this sentiment come from American college campuses, with students and faculty involved. More than 30 student groups at Harvard, for example, jointly signed a letter blaming the Israeli regime for the escalation of violence. This letter caused a strong backlash, leading at least five groups to withdraw their support. Harvard President Claudine Gay has since addressed the controversy, emphasizing the university’s stance against terrorism and hate while maintaining support for free speech on campus.
In another incident, New York University students were filmed tearing down posters of Israeli hostages. One of the students involved, Yazmeen Deyhimi, later apologized on social media for her actions, which she described as a poor representation of her beliefs.
Meanwhile, Jemma Decristo, an assistant professor at the University of California-Davis, is under investigation for posting a threatening message against “Zionist journalists” and their families. The university has condemned his comments and launched an internal investigation.
At Stanford University, an unidentified instructor allegedly asked Jewish and Israeli students to identify themselves, leading to an investigation. And at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, hundreds of Hamas supporters chanted “a solution, intifada, revolution” at a protest.
In a disturbing incident at Cornell University, Professor Russell Rickford celebrated Hamas’ attack on Israel, calling it “exciting” and “energizing.” Following the backlash, Rickford apologized and has since taken a leave of absence.
At Cooper Union in New York City, Jewish students felt threatened by anti-Israel protesters and were forced to barricade themselves in a school library. And at George Washington University, pro-Palestinian messages were projected onto the side of a library building.
These incidents highlight a growing trend of anti-Semitism on American college campuses, a trend that Rabbi Hecht and others are working hard to combat. As the situation continues to evolve, it is clear that the conversation around this issue is far from over.
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