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An insider’s account of the Harvard Antisemitism Committee — with Rabbi David Wolpe

Dec 22, 2023

Rabbi David Wolpe, a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School and a member of Harvard's Antisemitism Advisory Group, shares his perspective on addressing antisemitism at Harvard. They discuss the paradox of Jewish success and prejudice, the complexities of the conflict in Israel, the misunderstandings surrounding the chant 'from the river to the sea', the global spread of violence against Jewish civilians, and the challenges in addressing antisemitism at institutions.

57:17

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Episode guests

Rabbi David Wolpe

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Quick takeaways

The podcast discusses the rise of anti-Semitism at Harvard University and the contradiction between hate crimes against Jews and their representation in positions of power.

The speaker emphasizes the weak response from the administration and the broader context of intolerance for free speech on college campuses.

Deep dives

The Rise of Anti-Semitism and its Impact on Harvard University

This podcast episode discusses the rise of anti-Semitism and its impact on Harvard University. It highlights the contradiction between high rates of hate crimes against Jews and their representation in positions of power. The speaker reflects on the campus response to anti-Semitism following a Hamas massacre, emphasizing weak statements from the administration. The podcast also delves into the broader context of intolerance for free speech on college campuses and the pressures faced by university leaders. The speaker shares their decision to step down from a committee due to the lack of progress in addressing anti-Semitism, while urging young Jews to stay resilient and highlighting the importance of embracing friends and building supportive institutions.

Introduction

5min

Formation of Harvard Anti-Semitism Advisory Group

19min

The Paradox of Jewish Success and Prejudice

3min

The Multi-Dimensional Conflict in Israel

7min

Understanding the Chant 'From the River to the Sea'

4min

The Global Spread of Violence Against Jewish Civilians: A Disturbing Reality

4min

Challenges in Addressing Antisemitism

17min

Understanding where and how antisemitism has come to exist at an institution like Harvard is the focus of today’s conversation. We will hear the perspective of Rabbi David Wolpe — visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School — who tried to advise Harvard’s leadership on how to address it; after October 7, he joined Harvard’s Antisemitism Advisory Group. Rabbi Wolpe is also the inaugural rabbinic fellow at the Anti-Defamation League, and he was the long-time rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. He is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller “Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times”. His book “David: The Divided Heart” was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Awards.

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