Recently, the Orthodox rabbi at Columbia University and Barnard College, Rabbi Elie Buechler, sent a message to Jewish students recommending that they leave campus and go home due to ongoing anti-Israel protests. These protests have led to incidents of violence and support for terrorism towards Jewish students on campus.
Buechler expressed concern for the safety of Jewish students, stating that the events on and around campus were "terrible and tragic." He emphasized that Columbia University’s Public Safety and the NYPD could not guarantee the safety of Jewish students in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy.
House GOP Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik called for Columbia University President Dr. Nemat "Minouche" Shafik to resign, accusing the university of failing to protect Jewish students. She criticized the university's response to the protests and the lack of consequences for antisemitism on campus.
The protests at Columbia have included chants in support of Hamas and violence against Jewish students. Videos circulating online show demonstrators expressing support for terrorist attacks and making threats towards Jewish students. The situation has escalated to the point where some are calling for the National Guard to intervene if the NYPD cannot ensure the safety of Jewish students.
Despite the university's efforts to address the protests and the arrests of over 100 people involved, the anti-Israel encampment on campus continues. The protests have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the safety and security of Jewish students at Columbia University.