The Brandeis Center and Jewish on Campus filed a complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Education Office for Civil Rights against American University on behalf of numerous Jewish students who have been assaulted, threatened, and intimidated on campus because of their Jewish identity. Brandeis Center President Alyza D. Lewin was the subject of a magazine cover story. And Facebook’s parent company Meta accepted LDB’s recommendation on Holocaust denial. LDB and Jewish on Campus File Federal Complaint against American Univ. for Rampant and Pervasive Anti-Semitism The Brandeis Center and Jewish on Campus (JOC) filed a complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on behalf of numerous Jewish students at American University (AU) who have been assaulted, threatened, harassed and intimidated in dormitories, classrooms and campus spaces. According to the complaint, AU was fully aware of the pervasive and hostile environment for Jewish students, and not only ignored it, in some cases, it chose to subject Jewish whistleblowers to harassment and disciplinary proceedings. “Shamefully AU has repeatedly chosen to turn a blind eye to the anti-Semitism snowballing on its campus,” stated Brandeis Center chairman Kenneth L. Marcus. “Not only has the university failed in its legal obligation to protect Jewish students from illegal targeting and harassment, it is attempting to bully those brave enough to speak up. The university’s delinquency is reprehensible, and it only signals to the AU community there are no consequences for those who harass, threaten, assault or shun Jewish and Israeli students, emboldening those hostile to Jews even further.” The Dept. of Education is currently investigating Brandeis Center and Jewish on Campus complaints filed against Wellesley and SUNY New Paltz, as well as LDB complaints filed against the University of Southern California, Brooklyn College, and the University of Illinois. And the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee is investigating Harvard for its failure to take action against a professor even after Harvard itself admitted the professor discriminated against LDB-represented Jewish Israeli students. The Brandeis Center also recently sued the University of California in federal court over UC Berkeley’s longstanding, unchecked spread of anti-Semitism. In response to a complaint filed by the Brandeis Center and JOC, the Dept. of Education last year reached an unprecedented agreement with the University of Vermont to address anti-Zionist forms of anti-Semitism on its campus. Play Brandeis Center Staff Attorney Deena Margolies and an AU student discuss campus anti-Semitism at American University videoTextBlockModalTitle × Your browser does not support the video tag. Kenneth L. Marcus Offers Insights about Harvard’s Anti-Semitism Problem News outlets continue seeking Brandeis Center Chairman Kenneth L. Marcus’s insights about Harvard’s ongoing failure to effectively address anti-Semitism on its campus. Regarding U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx’s launch of an investigation into the handling of anti-Semitic incidents at Harvard and other elite universities, Marcus told the Boston Globe: “Harvard has not been willing on its own to take the type of action that is clearly required, so unfortunately more action is required from Congress, the courts, and perhaps the executive branch as well.” In an Aish.com story on the downfall of Harvard’s and UPenn’s presidents and the double standard applied to Jewish students by campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, Marcus stated: “DEI offices have often acted as if Jewish Americans were outside their scope of responsibility.” When Jewish students go to DEI offices seeking support, “they will receive a cold shoulder from administrators who are quicker to support members of other groups such as African-American, Hispanics, or gay or lesbian students.” And regarding a new lawsuit filed by Jewish students alleging a hostile, anti-Semitic environment at Harvard, Marcus told JNS: “Harvard is a ripe target for anti-Semitism litigation, and no one should be surprised to see this lawsuit filed. It may be the first but probably won’t be the last – in light of both the nature of the events they faced and also the feebleness of their responses.” In a separate matter, the Brandeis Center represents three Israeli students who were subjected to anti-Semitic discrimination at Harvard’s Kennedy School and were met with a similarly inadequate response by the Harvard administration. Explaining the broader context for the lawsuit, Marcus added: “This is not just one random complaint. It is part of a broader effort to hold Harvard responsible for its failure to comply with federal civil rights laws when it comes to Jewish students.” In a wide-ranging Q&A story for JewishPress.com, Marcus discussed the disastrous testimony given by presidents at Harvard, UPenn and MIT: “I don’t think [UPenn] President Magill was notably worse than [Harvard] President Gay who also failed to respond in a presidential way. To me, the bigger issue…is whether these universities are willing to tackle these issues in a very serious way. Simply removing a president is hardly enough, if there isn’t a will to make substantial changes both in the policies and the culture.” Alyza D. Lewin Profiled in Cover Story for Washington Jewish Week Washington Jewish Week, the Jewish newspaper of record in the nation’s capital since 1930, profiled Brandeis Center President Alyza D. Lewin in a January cover story. The story explored Lewin’s background working with her father, and Brandeis Center legal advisory board member, Nathan Lewin to “ensure that Jews in America could practice their faith freely and with pride.” Lewin discussed her realization of “the need to make sure that society recognizes Jews are not just a religion – we’re a people with a shared history and a shared heritage…and shared ancestry.” Regarding the hostile, anti-Semitic climate many Jewish students are currently experiencing on campuses across the U.S., Lewin told the news outlet that there is a “tremendous demand for the services that we provide at the Brandeis Center….Especially with our focus on the university campuses, anti-Semitism is spreading like wildfire.” Lewin continued: “And so, one of the things that we’re going to be working on in the coming year is growing the Brandeis Center to be able to address the dramatic increase in the demand for our services to try and ensure that every student and every faculty member and staff member on campus that’s experiencing anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination is given the support they need. And to try and better educate the administrators on those campuses to recognize and see the anti-Semitism and to take effective steps to address that harassment and discrimination so that the campuses will once again become truly safe welcoming spaces for everyone.” Rachel Lerman Addresses LDB Tracking Anti-Semitic Incidents Across California Speaking in the Washington Post, Brandeis Center General Counsel and Vice Chair L. Rachel Lerman stated that LDB is tracking anti-Semitic incidents across the country, with an initial emphasis on California, where some school districts have seen a wave of anti-Semitism since the October 7 massacre perpetrated on Israeli civilians by Hamas. In Inside Higher Ed, Marcus Discusses the Recent Increase in Anti-Semitism Complaints Investigated by the Education Dept. Brandeis Center Chairman Kenneth L. Marcusdiscussed the significance of the recent increase in the volume and speed with which the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has opened investigations of campus anti-Semitism complaints since October 7. “They certainly seem to be trying to get the word out about these complaints and about the fact that they are open for business.” Marcus, who oversaw the OCR during the Trump administration, said that while the department has been quick to open investigations, he’s not seeing the same promptness when it comes to closing the inquiries. The lack of resolution is “becoming problematic,” he said. “It would make an even bigger difference if OCR were closing more of these complaints with changes, but the mere fact that they’re opening them and providing transparency is helpful.” Lewin Featured in Webinars for American Bar Association and Hadassah Magazine This month, Brandeis Center President Alyza D. Lewin was a panelist in two separate webinars about anti-Semitism hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA) and Hadassah Magazine.Speaking to the ABA on the topic of “How to be an Anti-Antisemite: Responding to the Growth of Antisemitism in 21st Century America”, Lewin explained how Jewish identity is made up of more than just religious practice: “The Jews are much more than a religion. We are also a people. And what makes us the Jewish people is that we have this shared, common history, this common ancestry….And the life of the Jewish people was established in Israel.”In her remarks to Hadassah Magazine, Lewin said: “Everyone has a right to define their identity for themselves. No matter how radical that identity may seem, we respect and we welcome you to come to the table with your full identity. Yet the only people who are being told NO are the Jewish Zionists.” Watch both webinars below: Play Hadassah webinar featuring LDB President Alyza D. Lewin: ‘Safeguarding Jewish Students on Campus’ videoTextBlockModalTitle × Your browser does not support the video tag. Play ABA webinar featuring LDB President Alyza D. Lewin: ‘How to be an Anti-Antisemite: Responding to the Growth of Antisemitism in 21st Century America’ videoTextBlockModalTitle × Your browser does not support the video tag. Meta’s Board Accepts LDB’s Recommendation on Holocaust Denial In a notable decision, the oversight board of Meta, parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has concluded that Holocaust denial should be treated consistently with other forms of hate speech. The decision concluded that Holocaust denial is anti-Semitic hate speech, as the Brandeis Center argued in its public comment, and consequently violated Meta’s content moderation policies. LDB President Alyza D. Lewin lauded the work of colleague Arthur Traldi, who prepared the Brandeis Center submission: “Congratulations to Arthur Traldi, whose scholarly and persuasive work was quoted by the oversight board in its opinion. We are proud of have contributed to this resolution.” In Wall Street Journal, Rory Lancman Discusses “anti-Israel and anti-Zionist Animus” in U.S. Workplaces In a feature about the increased scrutiny on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, Brandeis Center Director of Corporate Initiatives Rory Lancman explained that DEI’s problems extend beyond America’s campuses – and into its workplaces. Lancman shared that in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks, LDB is fielding an increased volume of calls from Jewish and Israeli employees who are experiencing a hostile work environment due to “anti-Israel and anti-Zionist animus” fueled by the Hamas-Israel war.In addition, Lancman said: “Jewish concerns and anti-Semitism have been erased from corporate DEI programs to the point where there is no training on combating anti-Semitism.” Some workers are also finding that their requests to have workplace affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups, are being denied, often on the grounds that companies have a policy of not allowing religiously-based employee groups. Brandeis Center Holds New Capitol Hill Policy Event: ‘Defining Anti-Semitism: IHRA Briefing’ On January 30, the Brandeis Center, Jewish Federations of North America, and the Combat Antisemitism Movement hosted a bipartisan briefing on Capitol Hill, discussing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) provided opening remarks, while Eric Fingerhut moderated a panel between LDB President Alyza Lewin and former Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism Elan Carr. Play LDB co-hosted a Capitol Hill policy event ‘Defining Anti-Semitism: IHRA Briefing’ with the Jewish Federations of North America and the Combat Antisemitism Movement videoTextBlockModalTitle × Your browser does not support the video tag. eJewish Philanthropy Recognizes LDB’s Leadership in Response to Increased Anti-Semitism after October 7 The Brandeis Center is pleased to have been recognized in an article by Yossi Prager in eJewish Philanthropy for our work fighting campus anti-Semitism. “The Louis D. Brandeis Center…is taking the lead in helping students bring discrimination cases against their universities; and Hillel, the Brandeis Center, and the Anti-Defamation League are coordinating with the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher to guide legal strategy and provide pro bono legal services to students who have experienced antisemitism on campus.” Thank you to eJewish Philanthropy, and all people and institutions who support our work . Theater Benefit Raises Awareness and Funds for the Brandeis Center Here’s something a little lighter for you. On January 19, the organization was the beneficiary of its first-ever theatrical fundraiser. Carl Kissen’s “Jewish in an Hour.” The performance educates about Judaism’s major holidays and traditions through comedic monologues and songs. A portion of the proceeds raised supported the Brandeis Center, and the creator read LDB’s mission statement to the audience. Take a look, and enjoy! Play First-ever theater fundraiser benefitting LDB: Carl Kissin’s “Jewish in an Hour,” produced by Little Red Light Theatre videoTextBlockModalTitle × Your browser does not support the video tag. Welcome and Blog Posts by LDB’s Spring Law Clerks and Interns The Brandeis Center is delighted to welcome another fantastic group of spring law clerks and undergraduate interns to our team. Law clerks will assist LDB attorneys with legal casework, and interns will work with LDB’s Director of Communications on communications and policy projects. Incoming spring 2024 intern Mika Chin (American Univ, ’27) authored a blog post introducing herself and her fellow LDB clerks and interns: Elana Shapiro (Georgetown Law, ’24), Hannah Fischman (NYU School of Law, ’24), Annabelle Enig (Emory Univ, ’25), and Samantha Wlodawsky (Univ. of Texas at Austin, ’25). Students interested in Summer internship, clerkship, and fellowship opportunities are encouraged to apply here. Incoming spring intern Samantha Wlodawsky authored a blog post about an AMCHA Initiative coalition letter, signed by LDB and 118 other organizations, which was sent to the University of California Regents, President and CA Attorney General, expressing concerns about anti-Zionist activities at UC Santa Cruz.Returning intern Annabelle Enig authored a post about the first-ever theatrical fundraiser benefitting the Brandeis Center.