(Courtesy of Israel Bonds) Over 100 attendees gathered at Beth El Synagogue on the evening of Thursday, February 6, for a compelling discussion featuring student activist and guest speaker Shabbos Kestenbaum. The event, organized by Beth El’s Israel 360 Committee, highlighted the ongoing challenges of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in academic institutions and beyond.
Shabbos Kestenbaum, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and the lead plaintiff in a landmark case against Harvard University alleging systemic antisemitism, has become a prominent voice in the fight against Jew-hatred. As a frequent contributor to national media, a multiple-time congressional witness, and an international lecturer, Kestenbaum brought his firsthand experiences to the Beth El community.
During the event, Beth El Synagogue was honored with the Lion of Judah Award, recognizing its unwavering commitment to Israel, the Jewish people and the broader community. Rabbi Victoria Bedo accepted the award on behalf of the synagogue.
Kestenbaum’s address covered a range of critical topics, including the rise in harassment of Jewish students following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, and the administration’ s failure to protect its Jewish students. Reflecting on the troubling trends at Harvard, Kestenbaum remarked, “The only country that is singularly discussed and obsessed over and studied at Harvard is Israel. In fact, the Religion and Public Life Department at Harvard Divinity School, where I took classes, had more than 55 events about Israel—more than every other country combined.”
Kestenbaum also highlighted the broader implications of anti-Israel activism on campus, warning, “Terrorism is not just an Israel issue or a Jew issue. This is an issue that strikes at the core of our Western civilization, the core of our American democracy, and the core of our liberal values. When you can have the alleged best and brightest of a given society who see the murder of 45 American citizens, who see the abduction of a dozen Americans, and their immediate reaction is to side with the terrorists who did that, that is a profound problem.”
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