Harvard Must Confront Its History of Antisemitism, Says Visiting Scholar

Rabbi David Wolpe, a visiting scholar at Harvard’s Divinity School, is urging the prestigious institution to acknowledge and address its long-standing history of antisemitism. In an op-ed published in the Harvard Crimson, Wolpe called on Harvard to admit, confront, and overcome its antisemitic past.

Wolpe’s plea comes after Harvard President Claudine Gay acknowledged the university’s history of antisemitism in her remarks to Harvard Hillel in October. He emphasizes the importance of criticizing policies without advocating for the end of Israel, the only homeland Jews have ever known.

In his op-ed, Wolpe questions whether anti-Zionism is synonymous with antisemitism, pointing out that Israel is the only country routinely targeted for eradication. He also criticizes the globalizing of the intifada, a term referring to protests that have historically resulted in suicide bombings targeting buses, cafes, and malls.

Wolpe’s article follows Gay’s recent comments to Congress, where she stated that calls for the “genocide” of Jews on campus would not necessarily violate the university’s code of conduct. While Wolpe has been critical of Gay and the university in the past, he only references her October remarks in this piece.

Wolpe has previously expressed concerns about the intimidation faced by Jewish and pro-Israel students on campus. He believes there is a deliberate attempt to target these individuals. Additionally, Gay is currently facing calls for her resignation after allegations of plagiarism in her academic writing were brought to light.

Earlier this month, Wolpe resigned from his position at Harvard’s Antisemitism Advisory Group due to the unacceptable campus climate. He stated that the prevailing ideology among many students and faculty at Harvard, which portrays Jews as oppressors and inherently evil, is itself evil.