Northwestern. A federal judge has denied a request by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to temporarily halt Northwestern University’s mandatory antisemitism awareness course. The lawsuit, still ongoing, claims the course, which uses the widely adopted IHRA definition, is somehow discriminatory against Arab and Muslim students and violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. But Judge Georgia Alexakis wasn’t buying it, rejecting CAIR’s request for a restraining order and noting a distinct lack of “sufficient evidence” that the training harms anyone. Sixteen students still face enrollment holds for skipping the training, which Northwestern says is about protecting Jewish students, not persecuting anyone. Academic Engagement Network’s Miriam Elman didn’t mince words, calling the legal challenge “unfounded, and frankly absurd.” Some might call it a teachable moment.

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UK. Masked activists at City, University of London, have demanded the firing of economics professor Michael Ben-Gad, calling him a “terrorist” for his IDF service in the 1980s. The group, unaffiliated with the university, plastered blood-red posters and shouted accusations as they disrupted campus life. Ben-Gad, unfazed, declared, “They picked the wrong professor at the wrong university.” He added that “if the objective... was to frighten or intimidate me, frankly they will have to try a lot harder.” University President Sir Anthony Finkelstein called the stunt “unlawful and repugnant,” and hundreds of UK academics signed a statement rallying behind Ben-Gad, warning that targeting academics based on nationality or identity “sets a precedent under which others could be targeted in the future.”

(Masked protesters storming City St George’s | Source: Instagram)

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New York. In a precedent-setting win, New York Law School ordered student groups to delete antisemitic Instagram posts after a Jewish student, represented by the ACLJ, filed a formal complaint. Following an independent investigation, the school found the posts, shared by the Muslim Law Student Association and MENA groups, to be “objectively offensive to a reasonable Jewish and/or Israeli law student” and separately in violation of school policies for failing to include required disclaimers. It appears that failure to remove the posts could mean suspension or revocation of the organizations’ charters. This serves as a reminder that schools can and should reject antisemitism on campus and enforce policies to protect their students.

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Kentucky. The University of Louisville has suspended its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter after protesters disrupted President Gerry Bradley’s October 10th inauguration, shouting “Genocide Gerry” and waving flags during his speech. The group attempted to set up an encampment days later and claim that police used force to break it up. Citing repeated policy violations, the university emphasized that while free speech is protected, disrupting official events and university operations or endangering fellow students or faculty, crosses a line. Five UofL students and two former students now face criminal trespass citations while the group continues to demand divestment from Israel and full transparency around university partnerships.

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New York. A Cornell Law School professor is filing a federal civil rights complaint after an Israeli student who alleged discrimination was doxxed. The student claimed he was excluded from a course on Gaza because of his nationality. Shortly after, his name and former IDF intelligence unit were leaked online, raising serious safety concerns. Professor William Jacobson, head of the Equal Protection Project, says the university’s failure to act creates “a chilling effect” on Jewish and Israeli students. He intends to file with the Departments of Education and Justice, urging a formal investigation.

California. After months of debate, California has officially enacted AB 715, a first-of-its-kind law designed to combat antisemitism in K-12 schools. The legislation — supported by Jewish organizations across the state — establishes an antisemitism prevention coordinator and ensures that classroom instruction is factually accurate and free of antisemitic tropes. For groups that championed the bill, its passage marks a historic step toward protecting Jewish students and promoting educational integrity amid a troubling rise in antisemitism statewide. The measure had faced months of opposition from powerful teacher unions, but lawmakers ultimately reached a bipartisan compromise to move the bill forward. Robert Trestan, Vice President for ADL West, called this the “beginning of our journey to strengthen our laws and policies to safeguard the rights of Jewish students.” 

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Protecting Jewish Students in K-12 Schools. Are you concerned about whether your children or other Jewish students in your lives could face harassment and discrimination in K-12 public schools? What are their rights, and how can you protect them? Join ADL legal experts on November 6 at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT for an ADL online event that will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to take action against antisemitism in schools. Learn how Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects Jewish students, what types of discrimination are prohibited and what schools are obligated to do in response.

Register now to come away with clear, practical steps you can take when antisemitic incidents occur.

Beyond the Aleph-Bet. In the aftermath of the 10/7 attacks and the resulting rise in campus hostility, Hebrew language classrooms have quietly transformed into sanctuaries. At colleges across the country, these safe, grounded spaces are where students and Israeli-born instructors come together to grieve, reflect and connect. Despite their small size and precarious status within academia, these classrooms offer far more than just vocabulary lessons. These classes offer cultural grounding and emotional safety and a space for nuanced conversations about Israel. Many instructors, operating without institutional support, found themselves offering pastoral care alongside grammar lessons, while students, wary of growing campus hostility, found comfort and community in the very act of showing up. The authors argue that these often-overlooked spaces are vital sites of Jewish and Israel education at a time when both are under pressure and deserve greater recognition.

• Campus Community Advocacy Toolkit — From incident reporting and educational resources to letter-writing campaigns and Know Your Rights factsheets, ADL has clear steps for you to take action and effect change on college campuses.
• University Administration — Guidance and 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.
• General Campus Resources — ADL Backgrounders, Educational Programming, Research and Analysis and more.
• Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) (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 Advocacy Resources — Tools and knowledge to foster and advocate for a safe, inclusive and equitable school environment for all.
• K-12 Advocacy Resources for Independent Schools — Additional resources for members of independent K-12 school communities.
• 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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