BREAKING: New Report on the Cost of BDS. A new report from ADL affiliate JLens found that the largest 100 US university endowments could collectively lose $33 billion over the next 10 years if they divest from companies connected to Israel. The report analyzed the historical performance of two hypothetical large-cap US equity portfolios – one without restrictions and another excluding companies targeted by BDS campaigns, such as Alphabet, Amazon, Caterpillar, Lockheed and Microsoft. As an example, endowments for Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Princeton could collectively lose over $8 billion in estimated returns between 2023 and 2033 if these schools adopt BDS-aligned strategies. “Calls for universities to divest from companies doing business in Israel are not only morally dangerous, but may also be financially dangerous,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.

~~~~~

Rutgers. Citing a toxic campus environment and concerns for his family’s safety, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway announced on Tuesday that he will resign from that role at the end of his five-year term on June 30, 2025. Holloway said of his decision, “I’ve moved the needle as far as I can move it,” but “I don’t want to be in an environment where I need, where my family needs, protection. That’s the part I didn’t bargain for.” Over the past five years, Holloway had to contend with a faculty strike as well as encampments and antisemitic incidents, such as people throwing eggs at students reading Holocaust victims’ names on Yom HaShoah and a student threatening to kill an Israeli fraternity member.

~~~~~

Berkeley. Students attending University of California, Berkeley professor Steven Davidoff Solomon’s class on “Antisemitism and the Law” were recently met with flyers that called him a “carreer [sic] sabotager” who targets students who “disagree with his religious views on Israel’s war.” The flyers included a screenshot from an op-ed Solomon wrote for the Wall Street Journal the week after the October 7 massacre in which he urged companies not to hire students “who advocate hate and practice discrimination.” Solomon, who is Jewish, says he was unfazed by these flyers since he has been “repeatedly” targeted by anti-Israel protesters since his op-ed was published, but he regrets that many of his students were “disturbed” by the flyers. Solomon filed a complaint, and the university confirmed they’re following up on the information Solomon provided, saying “we take compliance with our rules and with Title VI very seriously.”

👉 TAKE ACTION: Urge your state’s governor to protect Jewish students and put in place a comprehensive strategy to counter antisemitism.

~~~~~

Harvard. Harvard University officially reinstated the student group Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) following a five-month suspension for violating the university’s protest policies. With this decision, the PSC now has access to Harvard mailing lists, room reservations and the ability to apply for school funding. The group quickly released a statement outlining their commitment to “using our newly re-registered status to push the university towards divestment.” Following the October 7 Hamas’ attacks against Israel, PSC co-signed a statement announcing it held “the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.”

~~~~~

ADL K-12 Resource. With antisemitism on the rise in schools nationwide, ADL has released a guide to help parents navigate these challenges, support their children and make the schools in their life more inclusive for Jewish and all children. The resource includes a guide for parents and caregivers to report incidents and communicate with schools, as well as an overview of relevant state and federal policies. The resource also lays out common antisemitic incidents that occur in K-12 schools and guidance for how parents and caregivers can respond.

Lawmaker Letter. ADL partnered with a bipartisan group of 23 Members of Congress who wrote to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on Tuesday, urging the Commission to “investigate the current state of antisemitism on campus and issue a report with recommended steps Congress and federal agencies can take to protect Jewish students.” In their letter, the lawmakers reference the Commission’s 2004 report on campus antisemitism, a year that saw 70 reported antisemitic incidents on US campuses. In 2023, ADL tracked a staggering 922 incidents, a 1,200 percent increase from the previous year. College campuses should be places where students learn without fear of harassment or violence. Yet, Jewish students continue to face an onslaught of hostility, ostracism and hate. It’s time — after 20 years — for the Commission to revisit this pressing civil rights issue.

~~~~~

Prairie Pointers. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita called out campus protests as thinly veiled attempts to harass, intimidate and threaten Jewish communities in a Newsweek op-ed last week. He also reiterated an earlier warning that universities and colleges are bound to enforce Title VI rules “by combatting all forms of antisemitism.” Recognizing that antisemitism is an “evil stain that spreads beyond the confines of college campuses,” AG Rokita outlined two actions from his team, including a September 20 training for law enforcement and a September 10 official advisory opinion outlining how federal and state laws “impose affirmative obligations on educators at the university and K12 levels to combat antisemitism when it arises.” AG Rokita concluded his op-ed saying “Each of us — wherever we are and whatever our calling in life — must stand on the right side in these kinds of conflicts.”

My Kind of Shark. Daniel Lubetzky, founder of the KIND snack company and a member of ADL’s Board of Directors, has signed a multi-season deal to appear as a permanent star on the show “Shark Tank.” This is the first time the show has added a new permanent “shark” since 2012. Over his five years appearing as a periodic guest on the show, Lubetzky became known for his smiling demeanor, for sharing business advice based on his own experiences and for invoking his father, a Holocaust survivor, when discussing resiliency. “So many kids and families watch this show together,” says Lubetzky. “It’s just an incredible way to contribute.” We’ll be munching a peanut butter, dark chocolate KIND bar and tuning in.

(Credit: Shark Tank Global)

~~~~~

Bella Roma. The Yael Foundation and the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation have launched a transformative €14 million (over $15 million) initiative to reshape Jewish education across Europe, with the initiative's first phase focused on renovating the 100-year-old Scuole Ebraiche di Roma in Italy, a K-12 school challenged by limited space and outdated facilities. “As an organization deeply committed to advancing Jewish day schools across Europe, we believe this renovation is the project of a century, and are incredibly honored to be part of it,” said Ronald Lauder. “I feel personally compelled to ensure Jewish children have access to exceptional Jewish learning,” said Uri Poliavich, who co-founded the Yael Foundation with his wife Yael.

(Credit: Scuole Ebraiche di Roma | Facebook)

• Students — how to take action, deal with antisemitism, and organize your community.
• Alumni — how to organize a sign-on letter, answer a fundraising request, or write a letter to a university president.
• Parents — write a letter about commencement, organize a dial day, or get help selecting a college for your student.
• Glossary of Commonly Used Antisemitic Phrases Heard at Protests.
• Campus Antisemitism Report Card — see the grade a college earned in this first-ever report card.
• Report an Antisemitic Incident.
• Are you a student or know one who needs legal help? Contact our Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), run by ADL, Hillel, the Brandeis Center, and Gibson Dunn. Hundreds of incidents have been reported. You are not alone!

Do you have something to share with us? Please email us at [email protected] with any suggestions, questions, photos or videos.