Shabbos Kestenbaum, a Harvard graduate and contributor to PragerU, recently expressed his support for former President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University. This action came after the university failed to address concerns about anti-Semitism on campus.
In a recent interview on "The Alex Marlow Show," Kestenbaum criticized Harvard, describing it as “an elitist corporation” and argued that taxpayer money should not support an institution that he believes gives in to radical elements. He shared his experiences at Harvard, highlighting incidents of anti-Semitism that he and other Jewish students faced.
Kestenbaum mentioned a lawsuit he filed against Harvard last January over civil rights violations against Jewish students. He recounted various troubling incidents, including a Jewish student being told to leave a classroom by a professor and another student being spat on for wearing a kippah. He also pointed out the troubling behavior of a university employee who vandalized posters related to Jewish hostages and made threatening remarks.
He described a pattern of harassment where he and other visibly Jewish students were followed and recorded by classmates acting as “safety marshals.” Kestenbaum noted that despite reporting these incidents to Harvard’s administration, he received no responses. He criticized the university for rewarding those who harassed Jewish students while ignoring their concerns.
Kestenbaum’s frustration grew as he pointed out that while he and other Jewish students were seeking dialogue with university leaders, those who engaged in anti-Semitic actions were given opportunities to meet with faculty and discuss issues related to Israel.
He firmly stated that it is unreasonable for American taxpayers to fund an institution that he believes capitulates to radical views. Kestenbaum emphasized that Harvard, which has significant financial resources, should not rely on federal funding while allowing such behavior on its campus.
The conversation has sparked broader discussions about how universities handle issues of anti-Semitism and the responsibilities they have to protect all students. Kestenbaum’s experiences and the reactions from the university community continue to raise questions about the state of free speech and tolerance on college campuses today.