Four antisemitic incidents occurred at four different universities in the United States during Rosh Hashanah.
Stop Antisemitism reported on each of the incidents on Twitter. Rutgers University’s Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) house was egged on September 26, which Stop Antisemitism noted was the third time that the house has been egged. The house was previously egged in April 2021 during Holocaust Remembrance Day. “What is campus police and administrators doing to catch those responsible?” Stop Antisemitism tweeted. “Jewish students deserve to feel safe on your campus!”
📍Rutgers U. – as students celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish Fraternity house @AEPi has been vandalized with eggs once again.
Jewish student surveyed in our 2022 ‘Antisemitism on U.S. College & University Campuses’ reported the administration not taking antisemitism seriously. pic.twitter.com/CAtq6twsPK
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) September 26, 2022
This is now the 3rd time the Jewish fraternity house has been egged – truly unacceptable @RUDiversity! What is campus police and administrators doing to catch those responsible? Jewish students deserve to feel safe on your campus!
More on Rutgers here: https://t.co/CMutDB1AyG
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) September 26, 2022
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, condemned the egging. “Antisemitism has no place in New Jersey,” he tweeted. “I will always condemn and speak out against bigotry and intolerance.”
To those who vandalized @RutgersU's Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, during Rosh Hashanah, I say this:
Antisemitism has no place in New Jersey. I will always condemn and speak out against bigotry and intolerance.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 27, 2022
Another incident occurred at American University (AU), as University President Sylvia Burwell wrote in an email to the community that a swastika was found on a ceiling tile in one of AU’s bathrooms. “We condemn this hateful antisemitic act,” Burwell wrote. “The discovery of this hate symbol during Rosh Hashanah, a holy time for our Jewish community members, adds to the harm and hurt. Antisemitism in any form is unacceptable.” She added that because there are no cameras in the bathroom, it’s going to be difficult to identify the perpetrators and asked for the community’s help on the matter.
📍American University, Washington DC – as Jewish students are celebrating Rosh Hashanah on campus, reports of a swastika drawn in Anderson Hall bathroom were being communicated (pictured).
AU President Sylvia Burwell is asking anyone with tips to contact AUPD at 202-885-2999. pic.twitter.com/hxyDg6bhrT
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) September 27, 2022
Additionally, flyers from the Goyim Defense League (GDL) were found in neighborhoods nearby the University of Michigan on September 25 stating that “every single aspect of the COVID agenda is Jewish.” According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the GDL is “a small network of virulently antisemitic provocateurs.” University of Michigan President Mary Sue Colman wrote in a letter to community members that “while the fliers were posted off campus and, to our knowledge, did not target individual UM members, their odious messages were designed to undermine the sense of psychological safety that all members of our community deserve.”
📍 University of Michigan – white supremacist group ‘Goyim Defense League’ – led by homophobe Jon Minadeo II – targets Jewish students on campus during Rosh Hashanah.
Truly a new low, even for Jon Minadeo. pic.twitter.com/98yL9NSWm2
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) September 27, 2022
Additionally, neo-Nazi propaganda was found at State University of New York (SUNY) Oneonta on September 26.
Neo-Nazi propaganda discovered at SUNY Oneonta during Rosh Hashanah, making it the 4th Universitiy to be vandalized or defaced during Rosh Hashanah!
The other three schools were Rutgers, University of Michigan, and American University. pic.twitter.com/4if0NoaCU4
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) September 29, 2022
Stop Antisemitism Executive Director Liora Rez said in a statement to the Journal, “This horrific trend of antisemitism on American college campuses becomes even more offensive when it takes place during major Jewish holidays such as it did during Rosh Hashanah this past week. These incidences are exactly why so many Jewish students and their families have reached out to Stop Antisemitism to gauge where it’s safe for Jews to attend school.” She added that both the University of Michigan and Rutgers were listed in Stop Antisemitism’s recent report grading how universities have handled antisemitism on campus; the University of Michigan received a “C” grade and Rutgers received a “C-” grade.
“Jewish students at both schools say they DO NOT feel safe expressing their support for Israel on their respective campuses,” Rez continued. “We hope this report, and unfortunately these subsequent events, motivates current students to get involved in their school’s Jewish community to help effect change by insisting that their school’s DEI [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] initiatives include Jewish representation and proposing their school adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.”
Other Jewish groups also weighed in on Twitter.
“We are saddened to learn of three separate antisemitic incidents that took place at @UMich, @RutgersU, and @AmericanU during Rosh Hashanah,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted. “We call on the schools to respond to these hateful acts with meaningful action and for the authorities to prosecute those responsible.”
We are saddened to learn of three separate antisemitic incidents that took place at @UMich, @RutgersU, and @AmericanU during Rosh Hashanah.
We call on the schools to respond to these hateful acts with meaningful action and for the authorities to prosecute those responsible.
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) September 28, 2022
The World Jewish Congress similarly tweeted: “During what’s meant to be a joyous time, Jewish students were subjected to antisemitic attacks on multiple college campuses during Rosh Hashanah. It’s time for universities to finally take action against antisemitism.”
During what's meant to be a joyous time, Jewish students were subjected to antisemitic attacks on multiple college campuses during Rosh Hashanah. It's time for universities to finally take action against antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/C87csVh80s
— World Jewish Congress (@WorldJewishCong) September 28, 2022
This article has been updated.
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