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7 months ago
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A rabbi at Columbia University has cautioned Jewish students against returning to campus due to 'extreme antisemitism' amid a days-long protest in support of Palestine.
Rabbi Elie Buechler of the Columbia/Barnard Hillel issued a warning to students on Sunday morning in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com.
'What we are witnessing in and around campus is terrible and tragic,' Buechler wrote.
'The events of the last few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia University’s Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students’ safety in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy.'
Dozens of New York Police Department officers entered the 'Gaza solidarity camp' organized by student demonstrators on Wednesday.
A rabbi at Columbia University has warned Jewish students about 'extreme antisemitism' on campus amid a days-long protest in support of Palestine
More than 100 protestors have been arrested, and 10 have been charged, mostly with resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration
Video from last week shows pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators clashing outside of the school as one woman screams, 'We are Hamas!'
More than 100 protestors were arrested, an NYPD spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com.
Ten have been charged so far, mostly with resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
A large group of demonstrators met outside the university gates on Saturday while student protestors returned to the main lawn, waving flags and chanting.
Buechler's statement came days after video surfaced showing a woman screaming 'We are Hamas!' while a man wearing a yarmulke and a Israeli flag on his back walked past.
As another man filmed the protestor and shoved his phone in her face, she repeated, 'Yes, we are all Hamas, b****!'
'It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved,' Buechler wrote.
'It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus. No one should have to endure this level of hatred, let alone at school.'
The rabbi encouraged the students to reach out to him for help and ended the message, 'May we see better days on campus soon.'
The protests are expected to last through the weekend, with a group of demonstrators returning to the university's main lawn on Saturday
Buechler encouraged students to consider staying home, writing, 'It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus'
Protests have only intensified amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict that has seen over 30,000 Palestinian civilians killed
'No one should have to endure this level of hatred, let alone at school,' Buechler wrote in his message to students
Jewish students at the school have alleged violence and harassment amid the politically charged climate
Protests have exploded across the university's campus over the past few month as war continues to brew in the Middle East.
However, they have only intensified amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict that has seen over 30,000 Palestinian civilians killed.
In a testimony before Congress, Columbia University President Nemat Shafik defended the students' actions and insisted she had been working to combat antisemitism.
Shafik asserted that the 'vast majority' of protests on campus have been 'peaceful' and said the college is focused on upholding free speech, but 'cannot and shouldn't tolerate abuses this pledge to harass and discriminate.'
She noted holding over 200 meetings, daily meetings with the campus security team and working closely with the NYPD and FBI in instances where hate crimes are reported.
However, she was accused of breeding a 'hotbed of support for terrorism from radicalized faculty and students' by House GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) played a clip of students shouting 'Intifada!' and 'We will honor all the martyrs!' in reference to Hamas militants.
'While antisemitism has been festering on numerous college campuses, Columbia University stands out as one of the worst offenders,' Foxx said.
Current students have spoken out against the politically charged climate at the school, alleging harassment and even violence.
One student appeared at a news conference ahead of last week's hearing, accusing administrators of '(sitting) idly by as a tsunami of antisemitism in the forms of harassment, bullying, exclusion, intimidation, and physical violence flooded every aspect of campus life.'
On Sunday, Stefanik called on Shafik to step down.
'Over the past few months and especially the last 24 hours, Columbia’s leadership has clearly lost control of its campus putting Jewish students’ safety at risk,' she wrote in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter.
'President Shafik must immediately resign. And the Columbia Board must appoint a President who will protect Jewish students and enforce school policies.'
Similar demonstrations have erupted at other schools including Boston University and Harvard University as a measure of solidarity.
The fallout from Harvard's response to the Israel-Hamas conflict saw the expulsion of former president Claudine Gay in January, marking the shortest tenure of any president in the school's history.
Gay agreed to resign, effective immediately, after the controversy led to numerous accusations of plagiarism.
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