Campus Antisemitism Nationwide. Today, ADL’s latest Audit of Antisemitic Incidents was released, revealing that an appalling 9,354 assaults, harassment and vandalism incidents took place in 2024; this represents the highest total ever tracked in the Audit. As part of that rise, antisemitic incidents soared over 80% more than 2023 on college campuses last year and among anti-Israel protests where antisemitic incidents occurred, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) was one of the most active organizers or co-sponsors. As ADL’s Senior Vice President for Counter-Extremism and Intelligence Oren Segal noted, “Hatred toward Israel was a driving force behind antisemitism across the U.S.” in these latest Audit findings.

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Harvard. The Trump Administration-Harvard University standoff has escalated. After the White House announced plans to revoke the university’s tax-exempt status and withhold an additional $1 billion in funding — on top of the $2.2 billion already frozen — over Harvard’s refusal to comply with federal demands, Harvard countered yesterday by filing a lawsuit in Federal court over the cuts; the school said the administration was trying to “punish Harvard for protecting its constitutional rights” while the Trump Administration seeks to frame its campaign in part as a fight against campus antisemitism.

The Harvard campus. (Source: Samuel A. Ha/Harvard Crimson)

DEEPER. Read ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt’s essay, “Campus Antisemitism Demands Action, Not Overreach,” which discusses this conflict and was originally published in the Times of Israel.

EVEN DEEPER: ADL has been tracking Harvard’s attempts to improve its grade in ADL’s Campus Antisemitism Report Card. See here for more on the University’s efforts.

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Cornell. Cornell University is facing criticism for the invitation to the musician Kehlani to perform at an event at the school. The controversy stems from Kehlani's history of expressing pro-Palestine views and alleged antisemitic rhetoric, including using the phrase "Long live the Intifada" in a music video and social media posts. Cornell’s President, Michael Kotlikoff, noted that the selection was made by a student-run board rather than the school and emphasized that Kehlani's contract prohibits political expression during the performance and that “We also altered that contract to make it clear that if there are any political events at the performance, there is full forfeit of the whole compensation.”

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Howard University. A small anti-Israel encampment cropped up during one evening last week at Howard University before being cleared after the university emphasized school policy against after-hours demonstrations. The Metropolitan Police Department was on hand to assist the school’s police, but no arrests were made. The school released a statement citing “numerous individuals unaffiliated with Howard University” as inciting the protest.

Demonstrators at Howard. (Source: Cymphani Hargrave/The Hilltop)

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Oberlin. Last year, an anti-Israel student group at Oberlin College called on the school’s Board of Trustees to sign off on a divestment-focused proposal. The Board declined to do so, citing the topic as being divisive and also noted the need to maximize financial returns on behalf of the school. So this year, a new proposal has been submitted to the Board that carefully declines to focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and instead seeks to be more broadly “anti-war and anti-violence” and comes at a time when anti-Israel activism is less conspicuous on campus.

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Belgium. At the Université libre de Bruxelles in Belgium posters denouncing antisemitism were torn down from the walls of the university campus. This action was condemned by the Union of Jewish Students in Belgium (UEJB). The UEJB had launched the poster campaign to denounce antisemitism and the passivity of university authorities, stating that Jewish students do not feel safe on campus due to harassment, verbal and physical aggression, exclusion and intimidation. The university authorities have not responded to the accusations.

From Silence to the Syllabus. In the wake of 10/7, the U.S. arm of the National Library of Israel launched a landmark project to archive campus antisemitism and Jewish student experiences. With support from major Jewish institutions, the initiative has already collected over 5,000 documents — from protest flyers to student testimonies — from schools including Harvard, UCLA, Michigan and Columbia. ADL has also contributed documents to this project. Smith College senior Hana Halff, one of the student researchers, records interviews with classmates across the country. “Before I felt kind of invisible,” Halff said. “Now I kind of feel like I can work on this project and then go to class, and it gives me a sense of control.” The project strives to document the full range of Jewish perspectives — whether comforting or difficult — ensuring they are preserved for future generations.

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Studying the Sources of Hate. For years, educators — in K-12 schools and at colleges and universities — have been warning about the declining state of Holocaust literacy in North America. After 10/7, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum historian Edna Friedberg noted increased interest in educational programs about the root causes of antisemitism: “Many people are being exposed to the term [antisemitism] for the first time.” As columnist Jan Lee observes, now is a vital time for more education about the Holocaust but also about what came for millennia before it as antisemitism ebbed and flowed but never went away.

DEEPER. Read resources for college students that center on learning about and combatting antisemitism, from ADL’s ‘Not on My Campus’ guides.

Superman. Grammy-nominated singer John Ondrasik, aka Five For Fighting, has rerecorded his hit song "Superman" to bring attention to the Israeli hostages in Gaza, focusing on Alon Ohel. Inspired by a photo of Alon in a Superman costume, Ondrasik worked with Alon's family to create a powerful new version of the song. He's also written another song for the hostages and performed in Hostages Square. The updated "Superman" offers a message of hope, with a video featuring footage from Hostages Square and Alon's family. Both Ondrasik and Alon's mom are emphasizing the importance of unity and remembering the hostages.

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Never Again. As the March of the Living takes place this week in Poland on the grounds of Auschwitz-Birkenau, there will be extensive recognition of Israel and the 10/7 attacks. Freed hostage Agam Berger will perform, playing a 130-year-old violin that survived the Holocaust. She will be accompanied by Daniel Weiss, whose parents were murdered in the attacks. Weiss will sing with Berger and called the performance “a powerful reminder of music’s ability to connect generations, to heal, and to preserve the stories that must never be forgotten.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog will lead the March of the Living alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda. Eighty Holocaust survivors from around the world will take part.

March of the Living 2024. (Source: Video, International March of the Living)

DEEPER: Read this moving essay on “Why we must march together” by Alon Tal, who will be part of a group of March participants that includes leading Israeli companies.

• Campus Community Advocacy Resources — From social media shares to letter writing campaigns, ADL has clear steps for you to take action and effect change on college campuses.
• K-12 Advocacy Resources — Tools and knowledge to foster and advocate for a safe, inclusive and equitable school environment for all.
• University 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.
• University Administration — Guidance & Best Practices for making campuses safer and more inclusive.
• Campus Antisemitism Report Card — See the grades of 135 universities, the current state of antisemitism on campus and how colleges and universities are responding.
• Chai-er Ed Podcast — ADL’s campus podcast, brings you firsthand stories from Jewish students navigating today’s college campuses.
• General Campus Resources — ADL Backgrounders, Educational Programming, Research and Analysis and more.
• Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) — College or university students, professors, or employees who want to report campus incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism or violence that may necessitate legal action can report to CALL for legal support.
• K-12 Antisemitism Legal Line — Parents and other interested adults in California, Massachusetts and New York can report incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism or violence occurring in K-12 schools to the K-12 Antisemitism Legal Line.
• Report an Antisemitic Incident.

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