‘Every hostage poster on campus has been defaced,’ says Jewish student suing Harvard

A group of Israeli students are filing a complaint about the antisemitic vandalism. 

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Jewish Harvard students returned from winter vacation recently only to find that at a large number of posters of hostages on campus have been defaced with antisemitic graffiti.

This comes after the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay, who was widely criticized for her refusal to say in a congressional hearing that calling for the genocide of Jews violated the university’s code of conduct.

A group of Israeli students are filing a complaint about the antisemitic vandalism.

On his X account, Jewish student Shabbos Kestenbaum posted a video showing defaced posters of Israelis held in Gaza and posted, “The night before Harvard begins a new semester, every single Jewish hostage poster on campus has been defaced with vile antisemitism.”

He added, “Jews are neither safe nor welcomed at Harvard.”

On the image of Kfir Bibas who turned 1 year old in captivity was written in black marker “Head still on” and “Evidence please?”

On the picture of Gad Haggai, who was confirmed as having died in captivity, is written “I knew Epstein personally” referring to the infamous sex trafficker, Jeffery Epstein.

Romi Gonen was shot while escaping Hamas at the Nova music festival before being caught and taken to Gaza, and on her image someone wrote, “Sure, Jan!” an expression conveying skepticism and contempt.

Judith Lynne Weinstein, who was confirmed dead several weeks ago, is pictured wearing dark glasses, and a vandal wrote, “I may be blind, but I can see Israel did 9-11.”

The night before Harvard begins a new semester, every single Jewish hostage poster on campus has been defaced with vile antisemitism. @LHSummers @BillAckman pic.twitter.com/uVg4mLV1rZ

— Shabbos Kestenbaum (@ShabbosK) January 22, 2024

Shabbos Kestenbaum told The Daily Mail before returning from winter break that he felt unsafe on campus, and  he says he intends to sue Harvard for a refund of his tuition.

He said that his parents tried to persuade him not ot return to Harvard.

‘There’s a tremendous amount of tension, nerves, anxiety… I am home just now for the break and my parents don’t want me to go back to campus,” Kestenbaum said.

‘They’re afraid for my physical safety… I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if there are physical attacks on Jewish students when we go back,” he added.

‘We have no reason to believe the spring semester will be any better, and actually a lot of reason to believe that there will be increased and intensified acts of antisemitism given the accelerated antisemitic posts on social media,” Kestenbaum concluded.

antisemitic vandalismcampus antisemitismhamas hostagesHarvard