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The Jewish community in the USA faced a major challenge at the start of an event on October 7, triggered by a tweet that caused outrage online. This tweet, echoing Pastor Martin Niemler’s famous words, sparked immediate backlash. Many of Harvard’s Jewish donors, including the Wexner Foundation and the Ofer family, announced the end of their donations. This was in response to what they saw as a failure to address anti-Semitism after a record-breaking hearing in Congress.
However, the situation worsened on academic campuses, with over 200 active cells of SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine) operating under a systematic plan supported by Qatari and Turkish money. This created a toxic environment where Israeli and Jewish students faced physical barriers, boycotts, segregation, and collaboration against them based on anti-Semitic motives. Prominent cases like that of Prof. Shay Davidei from Columbia University showcase this persecution.
In response to this anti-Semitism, media figures like Bill Maher and billionaires like Bill Hackman mobilized to push authorities to act. This led to a drop in enrollment and reputation at Harvard University while other universities saw an increase. Some donors even considered issuing bonds to make up for lost Jewish donations to these universities.
As a result, many Jewish donors began transferring their funds to universities in Israel. Bar Ilan University received a significant donation for the development of artificial intelligence while the University of Haifa raised funds for a medical school. Additionally, there was a rise in donations to Trump’s campaign with major Jewish donors like Miriam Adelson and Steve Schwartzman supporting the cause.
This historic period has prompted the American Jewish community to reassess its operations. It is a complex event that requires careful monitoring and understanding. Dr. Kobi Barda, an expert in American political history and international relations provides insight into this multifaceted situation.
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