A Columbia University rabbi has warned Jewish students against returning to campus due to “extreme anti-Semitism,” amid a days-long protest in support of Palestine.
Rabbi Elie Buechler of Columbia/Barnard Hillel warned students Sunday morning in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com.
“What we are seeing on and around campus is terrible and tragic,” Buechler wrote.
“The events of the past few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia University Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee the safety of Jewish students in the face of extreme anti-Semitism and anarchy.”
Dozens of New York Police officers entered the ‘Solidarity Camp in Gaza’ organized by student demonstrators on Wednesday.
A Columbia University rabbi has warned Jewish students about “extreme anti-Semitism” on campus during a days-long protest in support of Palestine
Rabbi Elie Buechler of Columbia/Barnard Hillel issued the stark warning to students Sunday morning
More than 100 protesters have been arrested and 10 have been charged, mainly for resisting arrest and obstructing government administration.
Video from last week shows pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protesters clashing outside the school as one woman shouts, “We are Hamas!”
More than 100 protesters were arrested, an NYPD spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com.
Ten have been charged so far, mainly for resisting arrest and obstructing government administration.
A large group of demonstrators gathered outside the university gates on Saturday, as student demonstrators returned to the main lawn, waving flags and chanting.
Buechler’s statement came days after a video surfaced showing a woman shouting, “We are Hamas!” as a man wearing a yarmulke and an Israeli flag on his back walked by.
As another man filmed the protester shoving his phone in her face, she repeated, “Yes, we are all Hamas, b****!”
“It pains me to say that I would strongly encourage you to return home as soon as possible and to stay home until the reality on 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 put up with this level of hate, let alone at school.”
The rabbi encouraged students to contact him for help and ended the message: “May we soon see better days on campus.”
The protests are expected to last throughout the weekend, with a group of demonstrators returning to the university’s main lawn on Saturday.
Buechler encouraged students to stay home, writing, “It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus.”
The protests have only increased amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has left more than 30,000 Palestinian civilians dead.
“No one should have to put up with this level of hate, let alone at school,” Buechler wrote in his message to students.
Jewish students at the school have alleged violence and intimidation in the politically charged climate
Protests on university campuses have exploded in recent months as the war in the Middle East continues.
However, these have only increased amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has left more than 30,000 Palestinian civilians dead.
In testimony before Congress, Nemat Shafik, president of Columbia University, defended the students’ actions and emphasized her efforts to combat anti-Semitism.
Shafik claimed that the “vast majority” of campus protests have been “peaceful” and said the college is focused on upholding freedom of expression but “cannot and should not tolerate abuse of this pledge to intimidate and discriminate.’
She noted that she held daily meetings with the campus security team and worked closely with the NYPD and FBI on cases where hate crimes were reported.
However, she was accused by House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) of cultivating a “hotbed of support for terrorism from radicalized teachers and students.”
Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) played a video of students shouting “Intifada!” shouted. and ‘We will honor all martyrs!’ regarding Hamas militants.
“While anti-Semitism rages on countless college campuses, Columbia University stands out as one of the worst offenders,” Foxx said.
In testimony before Congress, Columbia University President Nemat Shafik emphasized her administration’s commitment to combating anti-Semitism
Shafik claimed that the “vast majority” of protests on campus have been “peaceful,” adding that the school has cooperated with the NYPD and FBI.
House GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) called on Shafik to resign in a statement posted on social media on Sunday
Stefanik accused university leadership of ‘endangering the safety of Jewish students’ in recent months
Current students have spoken out against the politically charged climate at the school, alleging harassment and even violence.
A student appeared at a press conference ahead of last week’s hearing and accused administrators of “standing idly by as a tsunami of anti-Semitism in the form of intimidation, bullying, exclusion, intimidation and physical violence affects every aspect of campus life.” flooded.’
On Sunday, Stefanik called on Shafik to resign.
“Over the past few months and especially over the past 24 hours, Columbia’s leadership has clearly lost control of the campus, putting the safety of Jewish students at risk,” she wrote in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
“President Shafik must resign immediately. And the Columbia board must appoint a president who will protect Jewish students and enforce school policies.”
Similar demonstrations have broken out at other schools, including Boston University and Harvard University, as a measure of solidarity.
As a result of Harvard’s response to the Israeli-Hamas conflict, former President Claudine Gay was expelled in January, marking the shortest term of any president in the school’s history.
Gay agreed to resign with immediate effect after the controversy led to numerous accusations of plagiarism.