Press Release: 9/10/2025

Campus Antisemitism is More Than Just a “Problem”



POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2025



Posted byJeremy Burton



On Monday, September 8, the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism held its eleventh public hearing at the State House. 



As the Commission moves rapidly toward its November 30 deadline for delivering final recommendations, this session continued our turn to the world of higher education. The chairs opened up by noting the broad public support for the Commission’s recent K–12 recommendations, welcomed by Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Attorney General Campbell, Senate President Spilka, Speaker Ron Mariano, and members of the congressional delegation. 



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The focus this week was the lived experience of Jewish students and faculty on campus, and the interventions needed to ensure safe and equitable learning environments. We heard from a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, a former adjunct law professor at Boston University, and a current student at Harvard Law School, each of whom shared the toll that antisemitism has taken on academic and campus life. 



We also heard from a panel of ‘concerned Jewish faculty and staff’ who took a different position: they argued that while antisemitism is certainly present, it is overstated: They described it as a “problem” rather than a “crisis,” and therefore should not warrant the unique focus this Commission has brought to bear. 



They cautioned that because the Trump administration has manipulated antisemitism for its own purposes, Massachusetts should be wary of treating it with unique urgency. That our commonwealth risks validating national politics it opposes by focusing too intently on Jewish concerns here at home. 



That framing stood in sharp contrast to incidents presented at that very hearing: 




  • Jewish students being harassed for celebrating holidays; 

  • Mezuzot ripped from dormitory doors; 

  • Research collaborations denied because of Israeli partners; and 

  • Young people pressured to hide their Jewish identity in order to participate fully in campus life. 



For those living these realities, the suggestion that antisemitism does not merit the urgent attention the Commission is giving it seemed profoundly disconnected. 



Co-chair Cataldo reflected the tension in the room, recounting the “hundreds” of meetings commissioners have held with students, parents, and community members. He pushed back strongly against the notion that Massachusetts should minimize this issue, underscoring that the Commonwealth has never accepted a “you versus you” framework when confronting hate. 



 



Chair Velis added that drawing a line between “problem” and “crisis” misses the point. The Commission has heard horror stories — children in tears, kids afraid to say that they are Jewish, and students targeted for things that they have nothing to do with — that make clear this is not a matter of academic semantics.



 



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Later testimony reinforced the urgency. 



Miriam Berkowitz Blue, Executive Director of Hillel Council of New England, detailed how Jewish students across Massachusetts are harassed, excluded from student life, and pressured to hide their identity.



She urged stronger enforcement of Title VI, mandatory antisemitism awareness training, and accountability when campus codes of conduct are violated.



Here’s an excerpt:



 



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Dr. Sara Coodin of the American Jewish Committee spoke to the role of intellectual culture, highlighting how politicization within some disciplines and scholarly associations has normalized antisemitism and chilled open inquiry. Both pointed to frameworks released this summer by national Jewish organizations that provide actionable recommendations for universities and policymakers. 



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As we near the conclusion of our work, the path forward is coming into view. The Commonwealth must ensure that Jewish students and faculty can learn, teach, and live openly — through clear conduct policies, mandatory training, transparent reporting and accountability, and leadership at every level willing to name antisemitism for what it is. 



We also want to ground our recommendations in what is working. 



If you have seen or helped implement effective interventions that have reduced antisemitism on campus — policies, trainings, accountability measures, or community-building efforts — we encourage you to share them with the Commission before we conclude our work.



Your insights can help Massachusetts set a standard for higher education that is both practical and protective of Jewish life. 



Together, we can ensure that Jewish students and faculty in Massachusetts are not forced to choose between their safety and their place in academic life.