The co-chairs of Harvard University’s new anti-Semitism task force abruptly resigned over the weekend. He reportedly did so because he was frustrated that university officials refused to commit to changes that would make the campus safer for Jewish faculty and staff.
Harvard University officials shockingly announced Sunday that business professor Rafaela Sadoun, who was appointed last month to the newly created Presidential Task Force on Combating Anti-Semitism, has resigned from her position.
Sadun released a statement saying she was “grateful” for the opportunity to serve on the task force and said she would continue to work on this issue as a faculty member.
But insiders say that behind the scenes, she was exasperated by the stubbornness of university authorities.
harvard crimson The professor said Saddun must commit the university to acting on the task force’s recommendations, even before they are formally published, rather than treating them as mere advice. He reported that he repeatedly requested this.
She ultimately decided to resign because the task force’s mandate did not include swift changes to combat anti-Semitism at Harvard, sources told a student-run newspaper. told.
Her resignation marks the second time that an appointee to one of the Ivy League school’s anti-Semitism task forces has announced her resignation.
In December, prominent Rabbi David Wolpe announced he was resigning from then-President Claudine Gay’s Anti-Semitism Commission, saying it had failed to “bring about the change we had hoped.”
Bill Ackman, famous for his anti-Semitic comments at Harvard University, appeared to reference Wolpe’s past resignations in response to Sadun’s resignation.
“The half-life of members of Harvard’s Anti-Semitism Task Force is about 60 days,” he says. I wrote it to X.
“I wonder what’s going on.”
Meanwhile, the task force’s other co-chair, Derek Pensler, will remain in his post despite allegations that he has previously made anti-Semitic comments.
“A vein of hatred runs through Jewish civilization,” Pensler wrote in a 2023 book. He also told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he denied having any responsibility for mitigating anti-Semitism on campus. Outsiders have “exaggerated” the problem.
Mr. Pensler will be joined on the special committee by Harvard Law School professor Jared Elias, who is filling the seat vacated by Mr. Sadun.
The Post has reached out to Harvard University for comment.
