Capitol Hill. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on antisemitism Wednesday, featuring witnesses from across the political spectrum. Republicans have called Adela Cojab, a former NYU student who sued the school over campus antisemitism; Alyza Lewin, president of the Brandeis Center; and journalist Asra Nomani, who plans to expose Hamas’ influence on U.S. activism. Democrats will call Kevin Rachlin, head of the Nexus Leadership Project, which opposes the exclusive use of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and Meirav Solomon, a Tufts student and J Street U leader who has argued against conflating pro-Palestinian activism with antisemitism. The hearing is expected to address key issues such as campus antisemitism, free speech concerns and the role of antisemitism definitions in policymaking. ADL has helped prepare members on both sides of the aisle for these hearings by providing briefing materials and background data.

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U.S. Colleges and Universities. ADL’s new release of its Campus Antisemitism Report Card is showing improvements for a number of schools, with eight getting A grades this year, up from two, and B’s now up from 18 to 41. Current events have impacted grades, with recent angry protests at Barnard shifting that school down from a C to a D grade. The school recently became the first in the country to expel students over their pro-Palestinian activism. As ADL’s Shira Goodman explained, most of the schools in last year’s Report Card reached out to ADL to figure out how best to improve their performance (and score). This year, the Report Cards expanded to 135 schools, and the improved grades for so many schools show that “things are working.” As Jonathan Greenblatt told Morning Joe, what it comes down to is “leadership. Leaders who lead and set a moral example, create a cascading effect throughout the institution.”

DEEPER: Read ADL’s Campus Antisemitism Report Card, then urge the schools you care about to take action to combat antisemitism. Click here for a dropdown menu that will help you send a message to any college and university included in the Report Card.

Columbia University student protesters camped on campus to call for divestment from Israel, April 28, 2024 (Source: Philissa Cramer)

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Columbia. Columbia University could face a federal review of its $50 million in contracts and $5 billion in grants from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED) and the General Services Administration (GSA) due to ongoing concerns about antisemitism on campus. This follows continued allegations that Columbia has failed to protect Jewish students and faculty from harassment. Federal officials have warned that Columbia’s failure to protect Jewish students and faculty from harassment may put its government funding at risk. This scrutiny comes as part of broader efforts to enforce recent executive orders on campus antisemitism, with agencies pledging to hold universities accountable. Columbia is also one of the 10 schools the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism will visit as part of its ongoing investigation.

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Israel. A delegation of 18 U.S. federal judges met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a visit organized by the World Jewish Congress. Herzog discussed the challenges facing Israel’s legal system and addressed concerns over bias at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He also highlighted Israel's role as a protector of democracy in the region and covered rising antisemitism on U.S. campuses, calling it a “wake-up call” and expressing shock at the harassment of Jewish students. Additional topics included efforts to free hostages in Gaza, the bravery of Israeli civilians and soldiers and Israel’s commitment to protecting minority rights.

Students For Peace? At the University of Exeter, anti-Israel demonstrations persist despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, raising questions about their true purpose. Author Molly Phillips, a student at Exeter, calls out the one-sided obsession with Israel that fuels these demonstrations, noting that protesters push for total academic and commercial boycotts — effectively erasing any ties to the Jewish state and leaving Jewish students feeling alienated and targeted. These protests have morphed into something far more insidious than just calls for a ceasefire. They reject Israel’s right to exist entirely, violating the IHRA definition of antisemitism and creating a hostile environment on campus. As Phillips puts it, the big question remains: Will these protests ever stop — or is their real goal the destruction of Israel itself?

Run For Hope. The 2025 Tel Aviv Bank Leumi Marathon took place last week, drawing over 45,000 participants from around the world in Israel’s largest athletic event. This year’s race carried a deeper meaning, with Mayor Ron Huldai emphasizing themes of resilience and unity amid ongoing national challenges. The marathon featured multiple race categories, including a “Triumph of the Spirit” run and a handcycle race for athletes with disabilities. Kenya’s Felix Kimutai won the race with a time of 2:12:13, while Omosa Teresiah Kwamboka won the women's race at 2:37:36.

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The Sky is No Limit. Near the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain at over 19,000 feet, Maayan Gabai faltered. But he summoned his will and made it to the summit. As he said: “The climb took me to the limit. It showed me that the limit you think you have is not the actual limit… There’s still farther you can go.” Gabai was one of 30 Israelis in the climbing group in January that together raised NIS 1 million ($281,000) for Shalva, a nonprofit for people with disabilities. He was also the only one on crutches, and the only one with cerebral palsy. “He was very determined. Everyone was in awe of him,” said fellow climber Debbie Tannenbaum, who braved the ascent at age 71.

Maayan Gabai, right, and a fellow climber reach the summit. (Source: Courtesy of Maayan Gabai)

• 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.
• Faculty and Staff — support for impacted faculty and staff, guidance on how to discuss what constitutes antisemitism and anti-Zionism and how to provide help to students and colleagues.
• 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!

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