As the school year begins, the Brandeis Center continues its vital work confronting anti-Semitism on campuses, in classrooms, and beyond. This month’s Brandeis Brief highlights our latest lawsuit against UC Berkeley alleging discrimination against an Israeli professor, important progress at Adelphi University, new insights from our leadership in national media, and upcoming opportunities to engage with our work. Together, we are standing strong and taking action against rising Jew hatred and ensuring accountability where it matters most. In this issue: UC Berkeley Sued for Discriminating Against Israeli Professor Adelphi University Puts Students for Justice in Palestine Chapter on Probation Alyza D. Lewin on Boundless Insights Podcast Anti-Semitism’s Newest Safe Space: Teachers’ Unions Brandeis Center Urges Senate to Confirm anti-Semitism Envoy Events with the Brandeis Center UC Berkeley Sued for Discriminating Against Israeli Professor Last week, the Brandeis Center, along with the law firm of Olivier & Schreiber PC, filed a lawsuit against the University of California, Berkeley alleging the school violated California anti-discrimination laws when it rejected the teaching application of Dr. Yael Nativ solely because she is Israeli.The complaint is part of a disturbing pattern emerging across top universities: according to several lawsuits filed by the Brandeis Center, Israeli academics and researchers are increasingly becoming the targets of career undermining attacks. “For a university to deny the invitation of a respected professor simply because of her national origin is not only distasteful, it’s illegal. The vicious and illegal targeting of Israeli faculty and researchers is unfortunately a disturbing new trend we are seeing nationwide that must stop,” said Kenneth L. Marcus, Chairman and CEO of the Brandeis Center. The Free Press broke news of the lawsuit, spotlighting the experiences of our client and the broader implications of this suit. Adelphi University Puts Students for Justice in Palestine Chapter on Probation As students head back to campus, we’re hopeful that Adelphi University will be a little safer for Jewish students this year. In response to a complaint filed by a client of the Brandeis Center, Adelphi University has placed its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter on disciplinary probation for creating a hostile environment for Jewish students through its inflammatory social media activity. “Adelphi’s decision that its SJP chapter, like SJP chapters at colleges across the country, has created a hostile environment for Jews is an important victory for Adelphi’s beleaguered Jewish community… SJP statements that Adelphi correctly describes as ‘calling for the harm of Jewish community members, dehumanizing Jewish individuals, and inciting violence/aggression toward Jewish individuals’ have no place on a college campus, or anywhere else for that matter.” said Rory Lancman, Director of Corporate Initiatives and Senior Counsel at the Brandeis Center. The complaint alleged that SJP’s social media activity was creating a hostile environment for the school’s Jewish community. Concerns focused on posts from the SJP account celebrating October 7th as a “historic day,” and exclaiming “Long Live the Intifada” and “Adelphi is no place for Zionists.” This decision sends a strong message from the university to its community, holding responsible student organizations that promote rhetoric that fosters intimidation or harassment. Alyza D. Lewin on Boundless Insights Podcast As students head back to campus, universities are stepping into a storm of debate over anti-Semitism, safety, and free speech. The Trump administration has stepped up federal interventions — pulling funding, opening investigations, and demanding major policy changes at schools that fail to protect Jewish students from harassment, discrimination and worse. But are these measures working? Are they creating a safer environment, or simply shifting the battleground to new fronts? In a new episode of BoundlessInsights with Aviva Klompas, Alyza D. Lewin, president of the Brandeis Center, examines the administration’s strategy to combat anti-Semitism, explores how universities are reacting, and discusses what this means for Jewish students in the year ahead. Listen to the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. Anti-Semitism’s Newest Safe Space: Teachers’ Unions In a compelling op-ed for The Hill, Brandeis Center Chairman and CEO Kenneth L. Marcus condemns increasing anti-Semitism in America’s teachers’ unions. He explains how this pervasive Jew-hatred has contributed to an alarming rise in anti-Semitism in K-12 schools and calls on teachers’ unions to use their influence for good. “You have likely seen the recent onslaught of anti-Semitism in K-12 schools. But is it surprising that Jewish and Israeli K-12 students are experiencing anti-Semitism in schools, when so many teachers’ unions are promoting anti-Semitic curricula and engaging in anti-Israel political advocacy?” Brandeis Center Urges Senate to Confirm Anti-Semitism Envoy Along with nearly 150 major Jewish organization, the Brandeis Center signed a letter led by the Jewish Federations of North America urging the Senate to “swiftly” confirm President Donald Trump’s nominees for special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism and international religious freedom ambassador. The letter continues, “We believe that these ambassador-at-large positions are crucial to protecting vital human rights, promoting religious freedom and vigorously confronting the global surge in antisemitism.” This includes the Brandeis Center’s critical work combating anti-Semitism across campuses, workplaces, and in American society. Events with the Brandeis Center Tune in to the Religious Liberty Commission’s upcoming hearing on religious liberty issues in public education on Monday, September 8 at 9:00 AM ET. The hearing will include panels with testimony from parents, students, and experts in the area of religious liberty and public education, including the Brandeis Center’s President Alyza D. Lewin. Watch the hearing live on September 8. Join the Brandeis Center on Monday, September 15 at 12:00 PM ETfor a webinar exploring The Explosion and Evolution of Antisemitism. The conversation will discuss specific examples of anti-Semitic discrimination and harassment, and steps employers should take to prevent and respond to them. Stay tuned for more details to register. Last month, the Brandeis Center’s Director of Corporate Initiatives and Senior Counsel Rory Lancman joined Jewish ERGs for a discussion on Jewish Employee Resource groups and their legal and ethical significance in the workplace. The Brandeis Center recently played a key role in Microsoft and Adobe’s decisions to formally recognize Jewish Employee Resource Groups. Watch the full conversation here.