Lori Meadows
Columbia University has been facing scrutiny over rising antisemitism on its campus, with reports of anti-Israel protests and a failure to protect Jewish students. This has resulted in a decline in Jewish student enrollment, with many Jewish students fleeing the campus due to safety concerns. While the exact number of Jewish students at Columbia is unknown, the university has a vibrant and diverse Jewish community, with Columbia/Barnard Hillel offering various opportunities for involvement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of data | 2016 |
| Source of data | Hillel International |
| Number of Jewish students at Columbia University | 1,500 |
| Percentage of Jewish students at Columbia University | 22.8% |
| Number of Jewish students at Barnard College | 3,500 |
| Percentage of Jewish students at Barnard College | 15.9% |
| Columbia University's ranking in Hillel College Guide Magazine's list of the top 60 schools by Jewish student population | N/A |
| Columbia University's handling of antisemitism on campus | Intense scrutiny |
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What You'll Learn
Columbia University's anti-Israel protests
Columbia University has been the site of several anti-Israel protests in recent years, with students and external groups demonstrating against the university's ties to Israel and calling for divestment. These protests have sparked investigations by the university into students expressing criticism of Israel and have also drawn attention to issues of antisemitism on campus.
2023 Protests
In 2023, students at Columbia University set up unlawful encampments to protest Israel's response to the Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. These protests disrupted campus life and raised concerns about the safety of Jewish students. The protesters called for an end to investments in weapons manufacturers and companies supporting Israel's government and military.
2024 Protests
In April 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters occupied Hamilton Hall at Columbia University for nearly 24 hours. The university called in the NYPD to remove the protesters, marking the first time Columbia had taken such action for an on-campus protest. During this protest movement, students also occupied an academic building for several hours and set up a tent encampment on the campus lawn for two weeks.
2025 Investigations and Protests
In March 2025, Columbia University faced criticism for investigating students who expressed pro-Palestinian views and criticised Israel. The university's new disciplinary committee, the Office of Institutional Equity, sent notices to dozens of students for activities such as sharing social media posts in support of Palestine and joining unauthorised protests. This included a case where a student, Maryam Alwan, wrote an unsigned op-ed in the student newspaper calling for divestment from Israel. The university claimed that such actions may have subjected other students to “unwelcome conduct" based on their religion or national origin. These investigations sparked concerns about free speech and accusations that the university was bowing to threats from President Trump, who had threatened to slash funding to universities tolerating antisemitism.
In May 2025, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at Columbia University after occupying part of the main library. Two university security officers were injured when protesters forced their entry into Butler Library. The university president, Claire Shipman, called for assistance from the NYPD, stating that many of the protesters were not students.
Antisemitism at Columbia University
The protests and investigations at Columbia University have brought attention to issues of antisemitism on campus. In 2016, Columbia University was reported to have around 1,500 Jewish students, comprising 22.8% of the student population. However, there are concerns that antisemitism across Ivy League schools, including Columbia, is becoming more visible and impacting Jewish student enrollment. Reports suggest that Jewish students at Columbia have faced ostracisation, humiliation, and verbal abuse, leading to fears for their safety.
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Columbia/Barnard Hillel and Jewish communities
Columbia/Barnard Hillel is a pluralistic community that serves the diverse Jewish communities at Columbia University, Barnard College, and List College. It offers multiple opportunities for involvement and leadership, including trips to Israel, student internships, Jewish education programs, and holiday offerings. Columbia/Barnard Hillel hosts numerous religious services throughout the week, both daily and Shabbat.
Columbia/Barnard Hillel is home to many different student groups and religious communities. Kesher, for example, is an intentionally inclusive Reform Jewish community that fosters friendships between students with different Jewish practices, beliefs, and experiences. Koach, on the other hand, is a Traditional-Egalitarian community serving Conservative Jewish students across Columbia, Barnard, and JTS. They hold weekly Shabbat Services and Saturday morning lunches, as well as social and educational gatherings. Yavneh is the Orthodox student community on campus, infusing Modern Orthodox values into their social, educational, chessed, and religious programming.
There are also several other groups within Columbia/Barnard Hillel that cater to specific interests and needs. Nefesh is a mental health awareness group that aims to create a dialogue about mental health in the Jewish community and beyond. The Columbia-Barnard Yiddish Club celebrates and explores Yiddish language and culture, welcoming members from all backgrounds. JQ is a community for Jewish/LGBTQ+ students, offering monthly social gatherings and a safe space for connection and collaboration with other campus groups.
In addition to these groups, Columbia/Barnard Hillel also includes student organizations focused on Israel-related issues, such as Aryeh, a pro-Israel public affairs committee, and J Street CU, a network of Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestine, Pro-peace activists. The TAMID Group at Columbia develops undergraduate students' professional skills through hands-on interaction with the Israeli economy and educational opportunities. Sharsheret focuses on raising awareness about breast and ovarian cancer within the Jewish community on campus.
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Columbia's response to antisemitism
Columbia University has had a long history of antisemitism, with instances dating back to the early 20th century. In 1920, the university had a 40% Jewish enrollment rate, but imposed quotas to restrict the number of Jewish students, making it difficult for many Jewish students from impoverished families to attend. Antisemitism at Columbia has persisted into the 21st century, with discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict leading to accusations of antisemitism. After the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, allegations of antisemitism increased as students and faculty began to organize protests and make statements.
In February 2024, Congress opened an investigation into the allegations of widespread antisemitism at Columbia, and in April 2024, university president Minouche Shafik condemned antisemitic acts by students and faculty, acknowledging that the university was in a "moral crisis". Despite this, Columbia's administration was criticized for its inadequate response to protecting Jewish students, including switching to a hybrid class model and deactivating key card access for a vocal Jewish professor. This led to concerns about the safety of Jewish students and a potential decline in Jewish enrollment.
In August 2024, President Shafik resigned, and Katrina Armstrong became the interim president. The university's antisemitism task force reported that Columbia had failed to prevent violence, hate, and protect its Jewish students. In response to these concerns, Columbia has implemented several measures to combat antisemitism and foster an inclusive campus environment. They have increased clarity and education around university rules, established a centralized Office of Institutional Equity to swiftly address reports of antisemitism, and strengthened the capabilities of their Public Safety team. They have also acted to quickly condemn and investigate incidents of vandalism, antisemitic imagery, and classroom disruptions.
Additionally, Columbia has committed to reviewing its admissions procedures to ensure an unbiased process and specifically studying the decline in Jewish student admissions. They have clarified restrictions on protests in academic buildings, enforced an anti-masking policy, and reviewed their regional studies programs, particularly those teaching about the Middle East and Israel. The university has also expanded its security personnel to maintain a safe and inclusive campus. These actions have been welcomed by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration as positive steps towards maintaining a financial relationship with the government.
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Jewish student enrollment decline
Columbia University has a large Jewish student population, with around 1,500 Jewish students out of 6,578 students (22.8%) at Columbia University and Barnard College, and 3,500 Jewish students out of 22,000 (15.9%) across all undergraduate colleges. However, Jewish student enrollment at Columbia and other Ivy League schools has been declining in recent years due to rising antisemitism and the failure of university administrators to adequately address it.
In 2024, Columbia University became the center of controversy due to protests by pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel groups on campus. The protests, which included the occupation of the university library and the West Lawn, disrupted campus life and made many Jewish students feel unsafe due to the increasing antisemitic rhetoric and threats. Some Jewish students reported experiencing verbal abuse and feeling that the administration was unable or unwilling to protect them. This led to a decline in Jewish student enrollment as students chose to attend classes virtually or avoid campus altogether.
The university administration's response to the protests was widely criticized as inadequate and shameful. President Minouche Shafik's handling of the situation resulted in her resignation, and the university faced scrutiny and financial consequences, including the loss of $400 million in federal grants from the Trump administration due to its "failure to protect Jewish students."
The rise in antisemitism at Columbia University is part of a broader trend across Ivy League campuses, with similar incidents occurring at Harvard, Yale, Cornell, UPenn, and other institutions. The failure of administrators to take decisive action against antisemitism and protect Jewish students has contributed to a perception of these campuses as unsafe and unwelcoming for Jewish students, likely impacting enrollment decisions.
While it is challenging to quantify the direct impact of these incidents on Jewish student enrollment, the combination of rising antisemitism, inadequate administrative responses, and public scrutiny has likely contributed to a decline in the number of Jewish students choosing to attend Columbia University and other Ivy League schools. The trend underscores the urgent need for universities to address antisemitism and ensure the safety and well-being of their Jewish student populations.
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Columbia's failure to protect Jewish students
Columbia University has been criticised for its failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitism on campus. In 2025, pro-Palestinian protests swept across the university, with activists occupying the main library building and setting up an encampment, causing an hours-long standoff with security. While the university's response to these protests has been described as necessary to secure the safety of the community, it has also been criticised as shameful and despicable, with a focus on the university's inaction in protecting Jewish students from harassment and antisemitism.
The protests in 2025 are not an isolated incident. In 2024, student protesters at Columbia University, many shouting hateful antisemitic rhetoric from behind masks, set up unlawful encampments to voice their displeasure with Israel's response to the Hamas terrorist attack on the Jewish nation. These protests disrupted campus life and jeopardised the safety of Jewish students, with the Columbia administration's response being heavily criticised. The administration switched to a hybrid class model and deactivated key card access for one of its most vocal Jewish professors, failing to address the rising antisemitism on campus.
The Trump administration has taken aim at Columbia University, accusing it of failing to fight antisemitism and tolerating the harassment of Jewish students. In March 2025, the administration cancelled $400 million in federal grants and contracts, citing Columbia's failure to protect Jewish students from discrimination, violence, and intimidation. This decision led to layoffs and leadership changes at the university. The Department of Justice, joined by other government agencies, supported this action, stating that Columbia had abandoned its obligation to protect Jewish students and staff from harassment and antisemitism.
The university's response to the 2025 protests has been mixed. While the acting president, Claire Shipman, requested assistance from the NYPD to clear the occupied library, some saw this as a failure to protect free speech and democracy. The Columbia University president asked students to stay away from the library during the protest, and the university suspended and expelled protesters who occupied the building. These actions were taken to ensure the safety of the community, but they have also been perceived as a crackdown on free speech and a failure to adequately address the underlying issues of antisemitism and the protection of Jewish students.
In conclusion, Columbia University has faced scrutiny for its handling of antisemitic incidents and its failure to protect Jewish students. The university's response to protests and rising antisemitism has been criticised as inadequate, resulting in federal funding cuts and leadership changes. While the university has taken steps to maintain safety and order on campus, the protection of Jewish students from discrimination and harassment has been called into question, highlighting a complex and challenging issue facing Columbia and other educational institutions.
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