College Students Speak Out Against Antisemitism on U.S. Campuses Since Israel-Hamas War
In a powerful and emotional testimony on Capitol Hill, nine college students from prestigious universities such as Harvard and Stanford shared their experiences of rising antisemitism on American campuses since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. The students appeared before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Education and the Workforce to shed light on the harassment and discrimination faced by Jewish students in their daily lives. Their stories painted a grim picture of a climate filled with hatred and fear.
Noah Rubin, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, expressed his frustration, saying, “It’s open season on Jews on our campus, and continued inaction is unacceptable.” He urged America to wake up to the reality faced by Jewish students across the country. Yasmeen Ohebsion, a student at Tulane University, shared her personal encounters with slurs and verbal abuse, revealing the harsh reality of being a Jewish student wearing the Star of David. Online harassment was also reported as a significant problem affecting these students.
The students called for greater protection and support from their universities, particularly concerning security measures. Talia Khan, a Ph.D. student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, emphasized the urgent need to combat physical violence against Jews on campuses. She highlighted the responsibility of educational institutions to prevent the spread of hate and ensure the safety of Jewish academics. The students’ testimonies echoed the concerns brought up in a previous hearing held by the committee in December 2023, titled “Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism.”
During that hearing, Elise Stefanik, a Harvard alumna turned GOP representative, questioned the presidents of MIT, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania about their stand on hate speech and antisemitism. The responses varied, with some university leaders emphasizing the importance of free expression. However, since the hearing, both Harvard’s then-president, Claudine Gay, and the University of Pennsylvania’s then-president, Elizabeth Magill, have resigned.
Shabbos Kestenbaum, a graduate student at Harvard, praised Stefanik for her support and urged Congress to take action where he believed his university had failed. Kestenbaum called for subpoenas to be issued to Harvard’s departments in an effort to address the issue of antisemitism more effectively. The students’ testimonies and pleas resonated with Rep. Kathy Manning, who expressed her concerns about the alarming rise of antisemitism and called for immediate action to combat it.
Following the discussion, one student from Columbia University shared her disappointment and sense of being undervalued on campus due to the lack of action. Eden Yadegar, a junior at Columbia, expressed her disheartenment, particularly given that a significant percentage of the university’s population is Jewish. The students’ stories prompted deep reflection among lawmakers, with Rep. Manning drawing chilling parallels between the current climate and historical instances of antisemitism.
Notably, a group of silent protesters attended the discussion, painting their fingers and palms red to symbolize the bloodshed in Gaza during the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. The United States, as a close ally of Israel, has been involved in mediating talks between the two parties. However, its repeated vetoing of United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding an immediate cease-fire has raised concerns among those who believe it may hinder efforts to free hostages abducted by Palestinian militant groups.
The students’ testimonies shed light on the urgent need to address antisemitism on college campuses. Their courageous voices called for action to protect and support Jewish students in an atmosphere marred by hatred and fear. As their stories reverberated through the halls of Congress, it became clear that immediate measures must be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish students in educational institutions across the country.
