CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts – Jewish students at Harvard University continue to feel uneasy on campus because of antisemitism they say the school could do more to prevent, according to a sophomore.
“Jews here, don’t necessarily feel safe,” sophomore Alex Bernat said Tuesday evening at the Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony on campus.
“I think universities can do a lot more to start erasing some of the antisemitism and trying to teach people why it’s wrong,” said Bernat, a member of Harvard Chabad and Students for Israel.
Bernat was one of several speakers at the event outside Widener Library who expressed concern about antisemitism on campus.
Tellingly, at one point a woman interjects with a rant about how antisemitism is a myth, adding “all your history is fake!” before tearing into the night.
Describing some of his lectures as being stormed by anti-Israel protesters, Bernat said he does not believe embattled Harvard president Claudine Gay is herself antisemitic but that the problem is “much more systemic than one person, one university, or one department.”
“I think there is a deeper problem in all American universities when it comes to antisemitism,” he said, adding “I really just want to emphasize the pervasiveness and systemic nature of this, as opposed to any one act.”
Members of Harvard University’s Jewish community gathered for a Hanukkah lighting ceremony on campus Tuesday night, interrupted by someone who said antisemitism is a myth. AFP via Getty Images
“I think Harvard needs to have a much deeper reckoning than this antisemitism committee has now with how it permeates the academic department, how it permeates the administration, how it permeates all the staff, and how it permeates the student body.”
The antisemitism committee Bernat referred to was held in the wake of school outrage over the school’s response to Hamas’ deadly attacks on Israel, and anti-Israel protests on campus that saw Jewish students harassed by protesters chanting “Intifada” and “From the river to the sea” — two a phrase considered a call for the genocide of the Jews.
Last week, prominent Rabbi and committee member David Wolpe resigned from the committee in a dramatic statement that echoed sentiments shared during Tuesday’s lighting ceremony — calling President Gay a good man, but accusing the school under his leadership of harboring deep anti- Israeli bias and antisemitism.
Gay found himself in the middle of a firestorm last week after refusing to say an unequivocal “Yes” when asked during congressional testimony whether calling for the genocide of Jews on campus violated the school’s disciplinary policy.
Alongside him at the hearing was former University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill, who resigned four days after the damning testimony.
Tellingly, at one point a woman interjects with a rant about how antisemitism is a myth, adding “all your history is fake!” before tearing into the night. AP
The Harvard president managed to keep his job, however, after the school’s top governing body and more than 500 faculty members gave their support — even though the school reportedly lost more than $1 billion in donations since the testimony.
Psychology professor and author Stephen Pinker — who on Monday published a five-point plan in the Boston Globe to address campus antisemitism — joined speakers at a lighting ceremony in Harvard Yard and said firing Gay would be a meaningless gesture with little real impact.
“I think it’s like firing a coach when your team doesn’t play well. It’s a symbolic sacrifice, but it doesn’t speak to the real problems on university campuses,” Pinker said.
Harvard President Claudine Gay is in hot water after refusing to say an unequivocal “Yes” when asked during congressional testimony whether calling for the genocide of Jews on campus violated the school’s disciplinary policy. Getty Images
He voiced his belief that the school should be committed to supporting free speech among students and professors while remaining neutral as an institution, adding that Harvard “should not face violent harassment, with students storming lecture halls, chanting slogans on bullhorns or intimidating other students.” .”
Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi, founder of the Jewish student group Harvard Chabad, told The Post that it is “sad” that people have called for an Intifada on Harvard and other college campuses.
Still, Zarchi said the hardships faced by Jewish students in the past two months have only brought the community closer together — and shows of unity such as the lamp-lighting ceremony.
“These are students who have, and this is a community who have, suffered on this campus. Who have been neglected, who have received hateful and sometimes, even aggressive violence.”
“When the adults in the room do not fulfill their responsibilities and sometimes not only do not curse [the violence]but inciting it, it is very sad,” said Zarchi.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
