Brown University Celebrates 130 Years of Jewish Life on Campus
University of Maryland Student Government Passes Symbolic Resolution Calling to Ban IDF Soldiers from Campus
University of Wyoming Investigates Second Recent Antisemitic Incident
Editorial in The Harvard Crimson Suggests That it’s Okay to “Let Go of Zionist Friends”
In a recent opinion piece, a Harvard student published advice in the student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, suggesting it is acceptable to end friendships with peers solely because they identify as “Zionists.” In response, The Crimson received dozens of letters to the editors rebutting the idea that it is okay to shun other students because of their faith, religious beliefs, or connection to the Jewish state. One of the responses was written by the Executive Committee of the Harvard Chaplains, who said that they are “profoundly troubled by any normalization of shunning or socially ostracizing individuals or groups based on their religious identity.”
Cornell Agrees to Pay $60 Million Settlement to Unfreeze Federal Funds
Houston Hillel Board Members Join Weekly Student Gathering
Hillel International Hosts Israel Leadership Network Shabbaton
Body of Slain Hostage Returned, Identified as Tanzanian National Joshua Loitu Mollel
Claremont Hillel to Open First Dedicated Hillel Building in Spring of 2026
Cornell University Graduate Student Union Advances BDS Resolution
Oct. 7th Documentary Wins People’s Choice Award Following Controversy at Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival briefly removed The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, a documentary about Noam Tibon’s mission to save his family during the Oct. 7th Hamas attacks. After public pressure, the festival reinstated the film, which then won the People’s Choice Award for documentaries.
Penn Hillel Hosts Parents of Israeli-American Hostage Itay Chen z”l
Over 150 people gathered at Penn Hillel to hear Hagit and Ruby Chen, the parents of Itay Chen whose body remains in Hamas captivity, speak about their son’s capture during the October 7th attacks and their ongoing work on behalf of the remaining hostages. Penn Hillel, Chabad at Penn, and the Penn Israel Public Affairs Committee sponsored the event, and attendees received purple bracelets with Itay’s name as a symbol of solidarity.
Queens College Professor’s Virtual Lecture Interrupted by Antisemitic Slurs and Images
During a virtual lecture given by an Israeli professor at Queens College, a handful of attendees reportedly shouted antisemitic expressions including “kill all the Jews” and “go back to Auschwitz,” and displayed disturbing images on their screens. The professor and moderator restored order, removed the disruptors, and continued the lecture. Queens College denounced the incident in a public statement.
Florida Atlantic University Jewish and Catholic Students Gather for Multi-Faith Dinner
Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach and Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Catholic Owls group held a collaborative dinner to encourage meaningful conversations between Jewish and Catholic students at FAU about faith, culture, and community. The organizations paired games like trivia about Catholic and Jewish traditions with guided discussion, and provided a kosher taco bar for dinner.
UMass Amherst Rejects Attempted Boycott of Israeli Scholars at Academic Conference
The University of Massachusetts Amherst placed a planned academic conference under review after learning that the Coalition of Women in German (WiG), a literature association, had adopted a policy blocking scholars who receive funding from Israeli institutions. The university found that the conference violated its non‑discrimination rules and required WiG to suspend the policy.
University of Oregon Budget Cuts Will Not Impact Judaic Studies Faculty Members
The University of Oregon announced that its recent round of layoffs to address a $29 million deficit will not eliminate any tenured or tenure‐track faculty, nor will it cut degree programs, including Judaic Studies and Holocaust Studies, despite earlier concerns from faculty.