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Antisemitism Is Raging on Campuses and in Classrooms This Fall
Anti-Zionist protesters being arrested at Pomona College on April 5, 2024. They had taken over an administrative building. Photo: Screenshot/Students for Justice in Palestine via Instagram
As the school year has begun, anti-Israel and antisemitic incidents have occurred at the administrative, faculty, and student level. Here is a breakdown of some of the worst offenses in October:
Faculty
In an incident that reflects the degree to which faculty demand the right to politicize every context, a Stony Brook University researcher complained that he was censured for his presentation at an international conference at the ALS and Related Motor Neuron Disease Gordon Research Conference, which featured slides of Palestinian flags and “stop starving Gaza.”
The manner in which hatred of Israel is embedded by faculty into courses was also illustrated by a course on Ethnic Studies at the University of California at San Diego taught by Professor Shaista Aziz Patel. The course, which is mandatory for Ethnic Studies students, claims that, “The pandemic is not over, neither the viral nor the structural ones of anti-Blackness, anti-indigeneity, Zionism, settler colonialism, casteism, capitalism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, racism, heteropatriarchy, and other structures of violence that keep white supremacy intact.” Information about the course was scrubbed once it was publicized.
The attitudes of individual faculty members were also displayed at McGill University in Canada, where a faculty member’s social media posting stated, “My hardcore Zionist colleagues (kill them all, as they say) from the math department at McGill will roll on the floor tearing their shirts and screaming antisemitism. Well, as they do everyday.” Despite calls from Jewish leaders, university officials have refused to comment on whether the professor’s statement constituted a threat or misconduct. The McGill Association of University Teachers recently adopted a full BDS policy, making pressure from fellow faculty members unlikely.
In a similar incident, a Rutgers University faculty member said she wouldn’t be surprised or horrified by the murder of Jews in synagogues, stating, “If a pro-Israel Zionist synagogue in the U.K was attacked because of the genocide in Palestine then we shouldn’t be surprised or horrified.”
She stated further that:
Secondly, Zionist Jews have spent 2 years convincing us that “Zionism and Judaism are the same”. I mean literally every single time I have respectfully delineated between Zionism and Judaism, I have been corrected that “95% of Jews worldwide support Israel” so if I’m criticising a Zionist I’m criticising all Jews. I am also continuously told by Zionists that ethnic cleansing Palestinians is essential to Jewish religious doctrine, Palestine was “promised to them by God”, and their “divine right on that land” makes them the only rightful inhabitants.
I mean, if they want us to really believe in their “Jewish supremacy” and that 2 million indigenous people must be killed and starved for European Jews to feel more comfortable while they bathe on beaches that don’t belong to them, then I’m sorry, but any hate towards said Jews would be valid.
Efforts to defend antisemitic and anti-Israel speech in the name of academic freedom continue to be advanced by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
In a letter to the US Department of Education, the AAUP complained that the University of Pennsylvania’s investigations of antisemitic speech were “Harassing, surveilling, intimidating, and punishing members of the university community for research, teaching, and extramural speech based on overly broad definitions of antisemitism does nothing to combat antisemitism, but it can perpetuate anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian racism, muzzle political criticism of the Israeli government by people of any background, and create a climate of fear and self-censorship that threatens the academic freedom of all faculty and students.”
The AAUP’s invocation of anti-Palestinian racism represents an endorsement of a new hierarchy of racism being instituted throughout Canadian and US institutions. Conversely, the AAUP and its local chapters have also tried to police academic appointments, as seen in criticism of former White House spokesman Admiral John Kirby to a position at the University of Chicago. The California Faculty Administration has also filed a complaint to halt an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation into systematic antisemitism in the California State University system.
Lawsuits in response to the growth of antisemitism within university faculty have become common. In October a Federal court ruled against the City University of New York’s efforts to dismiss a lawsuit filed on behalf of Jewish faculty at Hunter College. The suit alleges the institution failed to prevent systematic discrimination and harassment that expanded after October 7, 2023, along with disparate treatment of Jewish faculty and students.
Lawfare by the Islamic lobbying group CAIR has been directed at several universities. At Northwestern University the group sued on behalf of Muslim students who were disciplined by the university and who claimed that required antisemitism training was a violation of the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The complaint states that the “training course is replete with political commentary which restricts Northwestern students from advocating for Palestinian liberation, equal rights, an end to apartheid in Palestine, and for the rights of Palestine’s indigenous people (Jewish and non-Jewish).”
CAIR has also protested the appearance of former Israeli soldiers at the University of Maryland, and an appearance of Israeli physicians at the University of Maryland Medical School.
Students
Student groups in the US and Britain such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the Palestine Youth Movement predictably opposed the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
A manifesto by Pomona College students who had previously disrupted an October 7th commemoration stated “this moment demands … making modern-nazis feel unwelcome, not just from these college campuses, but everywhere,” and that “Claremont Hillel and every single zionist in that room advance the genocide.”
The Michigan State University Democrats also released then quickly removed a statement condemning “genocide” and demanding the school divest from Israel.
In an especially egregious incident a student at Oxford University who was filmed chanting “Gaza Gaza make us proud, put the Zios in the ground” at a London protest was arrested and charged with inciting racial hatred. Police later removed several firearms and ammunition from his family’s home. The student was defended by a number of groups including Cardiff Students For Palestine which claimed that “Those who are called ‘Israelis’ are in reality tools and mercenaries of imperialism.”
Protests and demonstrations have continued at universities:
- Hunger strikes by SJP chapters to support Hamas have resumed at several institutions including the University of Houston and the University of Rochester;
- An SJP encampment at the University of Louisville was shut down within minutes and the group was suspended;
- At the University of Michigan, three protestors were arrested while disrupting a talk by visiting Israeli soldiers. They were charged with disorderly conduct, attempting to disarm a police officer, and with outstanding warrants.
K-12
K-12 education is increasingly the key vector for generating antisemitic hatred of Israel and its supporters, including Jews.
In an incident that revealed the extent to which teachers unions are prime movers of incitement, the National Education Association sent resources on “indigenous peoples” to its three million members that included a map which erased Israel, links to various anti-Israel websites such as “Palestine Remembered,” and reading lists from the Palestine Youth Movement.
When criticized, the organization scrubbed the resources from its website. The association president stated that the “NEA stands strongly against antisemitism. And we will continue our work to rigorously combat antisemitism, anti-Palestinian bigotry, anti-Arab racism, and all forms of discrimination…”
The role of unions was highlighted in a letter from Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), head of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, to American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten. Kennedy accused the union of “fostering a culture of anti-semitism that alienates Jewish members.”
One tangible demonstration of this culture was a $10,000 donation from the Chicago Teachers Union Local 1 Political Action Committee to the Chicago Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression, a pro-Houthi group that supports “the resistance in Palestine.”
In one notable incident, the California Faculty Association circulated a survey to potential office holders who were asked to detail whether they have donated to or received endorsements from AIPAC or the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC). These were in addition to the “the Oil Industry, the Tobacco Industry, police associations, etc.” which “harm working people.”
The association had strongly opposed a bill supported by JPAC designed to address antisemitism in California schools.
In a related move, the National Council of Teachers of English’s subgroup, the Conference on English Leadership, hosted a panel with an English teacher who has lavishly praised Hamas and Yahya Sinwar.
These activities are already changing the environment within K-12 schools across the country, promoting Islam and “Palestine” and directly threatening Jews. In one recent and egregious incident, Muslim Student Association members at a Fairfax County (VA) high school filmed themselves wearing keffiyehs and pretending to take hostages who were stuffed into a plastic box. The video ended with the statement “no one was harmed in the making of this video.” School officials condemned the video and suspended the association, which was defended by CAIR officials. In New York City schools the Muslim American Society also has announced plans to hold events and create prayer spaces in 50 schools. The group also helped organize students at several high schools for a “Student Walkout for Gaza” held on October 7.
The author is a contributor to SPME, where a completely different version of this article appeared.
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Danny Wolf will see you now
When the Brooklyn Nets drafted Danny Wolf this summer out of the University of Michigan, scouts said they were getting a versatile big man who could get buckets, create for his teammates and rebound.
But the last few days of NBA action have shown the Jewish seven-footer picking up a surprising new habit: putting his opponents on posters.
After scuffling through the first two months of the season with a bum ankle, Wolf announced his arrival Saturday with a thundering jam on the Milwaukee Bucks’ Kyle Kuzma, for two of the forward’s career-best 22 points.
He claimed his next victim, in a 10-point, 7-rebound outing two days later, driving from the top of the arc before leaping off his left foot and dropping the hammer on the Charlotte Hornets’ Miles Bridges:
“That may get two howls!” Nets play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco cried.
Early returns have been limited since the Brooklyn Nets grabbed Israeli point guard Ben Saraf and Wolf with the 26th and 27th picks this summer. The learning curve for young floor generals is notoriously steep, and Saraf — who wears the number 77 to represent the Hebrew word mazal, meaning good fortune — has struggled to stay in the playing rotation.
But Wolf, an American-Israeli who was bar mitzvahed in Israel, is finding his footing — at least when he’s not taking off for a dunk. He dropped in five high-arcing three pointers against the Bucks, eliciting excited howls from Nets color commentator Sarah Kustok; before the Charlotte game, he apparently told teammates he was going to posterize somebody.
“I was kinda saying that as a joke,” he said, “but looking at it as an opportunity, and just trying to attack the rim, I did it, with rewards.”
“He manifested it,” said teammate Nic Claxton.
Let’s enjoy one more picture of Claxton and Wolf:
And here’s a Danny Wolf meme for good measure, courtesy of the Nets social media.
The post Danny Wolf will see you now appeared first on The Forward.
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Turkey Pushes for Closer Ties With Iran Despite Mounting Sanctions as Both Countries Pursue Regional Ambitions
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 30, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Despite the recent reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran, Turkey has called for closer diplomatic and trade relations with the Iranian regime, as both countries seek to bolster their influence in the Middle East while openly targeting Israel.
In a new interview with the semi-official Iranian news outlet ISNA, Turkey’s Ambassador to Iran, Hicabi Kırlangıç, said Ankara was working to expand bilateral cooperation with Tehran by leveraging existing capabilities to increase economic ties between the two countries.
“One of the obstacles to expanding trade relations between Iran and Turkey is the issue of sanctions. However, we should not cling to this excuse and refrain from trying to increase trade relations,” Kırlangıç said.
“The goal is to raise the level of trade relations to $30 billion, but we are still far from this figure,” he continued, emphasizing the vast potential for economic growth and the need for careful planning to achieve it.
The Turkish diplomat’s latest remarks followed Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit on Sunday to Tehran, where he also pushed for stronger bilateral cooperation between the two countries and denounced what he called “unfair sanctions” on Iran.
In a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Fidan reaffirmed Turkey’s support for Tehran while calling for the country’s nuclear program to be addressed through dialogue amid ongoing discussions to restart nuclear talks with the West.
After repeated unsuccessful negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, European countries launched the process to reinstate wide-ranging UN sanctions earlier this year under the so-called snapback mechanism, adding further pressure on Tehran, which was already facing mounting US sanctions.
Fidan called for the removal of these “unrighteous” sanctions, stressing that the Iranian regime must resolve outstanding issues “on the basis of international law.”
“Turkey has always stood with Iran and will continue to stand with Iran within the framework of international law,” the top Turkish diplomat said, adding that “these unfair sanctions should be lifted.”
During their high-level meeting in Tehran, officials from both countries vowed to significantly expand cooperation on trade, energy, border management, and regional security, noting that economic ties remain well below their potential.
As part of their announced initiatives, the two nations agreed to build a new joint rail line that will serve as a strategic trade corridor between Asia and Europe, with construction expected to take three to four years and cost roughly $1.6 billion.
Fidan also said both countries consider Israel “the biggest threat to stability in the Middle East,” pointing to the war in Gaza, tensions in Lebanon and Syria, and broader concerns over what he called “Israeli expansionist policies.”
“The international community must fulfill its responsibilities,” he said, calling for stronger global pressure on the Jewish state.
Amid international efforts to uphold the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and chart a path for post-war Gaza, Turkey — a longtime backer of Hamas — has been pushing to expand its role in Gaza’s reconstruction efforts, which experts have warned could potentially strengthen Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure.
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Israeli Real Estate Firm Denies Canceling New York Event Due to Anti-Zionist Group’s ‘Stolen Land’ Protest
Illustrative: Demonstrators attend an anti-Israel protest on the day of the two-year anniversary of the attack on Israel by Hamas, in New York City, US, Oct. 7, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
An Israeli real estate firm has denied canceling an event set to take place in New York City on Tuesday due to a planned demonstration organized by a notorious anti-Israel group, saying the cancellation was for unrelated reasons.
A spokesperson for CapitIL, which provides information about buying real estate in Israel, said the gathering was canceled so the firm could focus its resources on holding a larger event in the coming months, according to the Times of Israel.
The Israeli publication reported that CapitIL’s event for this week had already been canceled when the local chapter of the radical anti-Zionist activist organization Pal-Awda announced the protest on Friday.
“When we as a community challenge the zionists’ genocidal settler-colonial machine we can win! And we did! We forced the cancellation of zionist land thieving CapitIL Real Estate’s planned illegal land sale in Manhattan,” Pal-Awda posted on social media on Tuesday.
“All this shows the importance and strength of our community when we turn out to challenge these genociders,” the group continued. “Please continue to follow us as we will continue to expose and, with our community’s support, challenge the zionist entity’s long tentacles here in [New York and New Jersey].”
Pal-Awda celebrated the cancellation of the so-called “illegal” sale of “stolen land” in Israel.
“This series of cancellations speaks to the power of our mobilization: with every principled protest and disruption, we are making the theft of Palestinian land untenable in our neighborhoods,” the group wrote. “As our protests have grown in size, we have seen more and more agencies and organizations similarly cancel and delay events, fearing the consequences of accountability and community outcry.”
On Friday, Pal-Awda initially advertised the planned protest.
“A zionist real estate event attempting to sell land in occupied Palestine will be held in Manhattan,” it posted. “This event is part of the zionists’ ongoing effort to ethnically cleanse Palestine. Join as we confront the white supremacist, settler-colonial project!”
The group called for supporters to gather in force.
“As the United States continues to provide political cover & military support for the ongoing indiscriminate assaults on Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, & Yemen, zionist settlers are exploiting this moment to further their settler-colonial agenda,” it said. “This expansion is facilitated by zionists from all over the world, including most prominently in the US, through real estate events where Stolen Land is sold & discounted mortgages are provided by “isr@eli” banks backed by the zionist entity’s government.”
Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, called on New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who takes office next month, to take an aggressive stand against such protests and push for a ban of such demonstrations in front of houses of worship.
“In my conversation with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani recently, I made it clear that the Jewish community will not stand idly by for such antisemitic and violent protests,” Schneier told The Algemeiner. “I hope that we will be able to work together to put my plan into action, creating a ban of protests on the property of any house of worship. This cannot be the new norm in New York City.”
Last month, Pal-Awda organized a gathering of demonstrators who called for violence against Jews outside a prominent synagogue.
The protesters were harassing those attending an event being held by Nefesh B’Nefesh, a Zionist organization that helps Jews immigrate to Israel, at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan.
“We don’t want no Zionists here!” the group of roughly 200 anti-Israel activists chanted in intervals while waving the Palestinian flag. “Resistance, you make us proud, take another settler out.”
One protester, addressing the crowd, reportedly proclaimed, “It is our duty to make them think twice before holding these events! We need to make them scared.”
Footage on social media also showed agitators chanting “death to the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces, as well as “globalize the intifada” and “intifada revolution.” Community figures described the scene as openly threatening and a stark escalation of anti-Jewish hostility in New York City.
Mamdani, a strident critic of Israel, drew immense backlash after releasing a statement which “discouraged” the language used by the protesters but also condemned the event for supposedly using “sacred spaces … to promote activities in violation of international law.”
Jewish leaders reacted with disappointment, arguing that Mamdani effectively provided political justification for a protest that targeted Jews for participating in a mainstream, fully legal pro-Israel program. Critics said the mayor-elect’s framing implied that the synagogue event, not the threatening chants outside, was the real problem, a position they described as deeply irresponsible amid rising antisemitism in the city.
Pal-Awda has vowed to hold demonstrations at “private homes, businesses, and houses of worship” if necessary “to stop the pipeline of settlement and zionist colonial expansion.”
In addition to the nixed CapitIL event, Pal-Awda also claimed on Tuesday that it caused Nefesh B’Nefesh to cancel a separate event planned for Thursday in Manhattan. The Algemeiner could not immediately confirm the veracity of that claim.
New York City has been ravaged by a surge in antisemitic incidents since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel. According to police data, Jews were targeted in the majority of hate crimes perpetrated in New York City last year. Meanwhile, pro-Hamas activists have held raucous — and sometimes violent — protests on the city’s college campuses, oftentimes causing Jewish students to fear for their safety.
Leaders of the Jewish community have raised alarm bells following the rapid political ascendance of Mamdani, a far-left democratic socialist and anti-Zionist. Mamdani is an avid supporter of boycotting all Israeli-tied entities who has been widely accused of promoting antisemitic rhetoric. He has repeatedly accused Israel of “apartheid” and “genocide;” refused to recognize the country’s right to exist as a Jewish state; and refused to explicitly condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which has been associated with calls for violence against Jews and Israelis worldwide.