Dr. Mark Goldfeder, head of the National Jewish Advocacy Centre, recently appeared on CNN. He was there to discuss a lawsuit he filed against Palestinian activist Mahmoud Halil, among other topics. The panel, which included Jake Tapper, Margaret Hoover, and her husband John Avlon, seemed unprepared, and their discomfort was evident throughout the discussion.
During the segment, Goldfeder highlighted the potential consequences for Harvard, suggesting that the university could risk losing its tax-exempt status for not addressing anti-Semitism and related issues adequately. He referenced a Supreme Court case from 1983 concerning charities and universities losing such status when they violate fundamental policies.
Goldfeder expressed concern that elite institutions are eroding trust within their educational sector. He noted that Jewish students face harassment and violence on campuses, even citing Harvard for its inaction. Avlon, on the other hand, compared Harvard to Bob Jones University, which lost its tax status due to discriminatory practices.
When Goldfeder agreed with the comparison, Avlon appeared skeptical, questioning how effectively that would function as an analogy. He expressed frustration, asking why funding for scientific or medical research should be cut in this context. Goldfeder’s reply was straightforward: Harvard possesses a hefty endowment of $53 billion and can afford to stop discrimination without sacrificing essential funds.
He pressed the point, questioning why, if there’s concern over funding for hospitals and research, a segment of the endowment couldn’t be utilized to address these pressing social issues instead. “It’s simple,” he posed. “Just stop the racism and anti-Semitism.” Levin added that if Black students were at risk, Avlon wouldn’t be so dismissive. He described the dangerous environment for Jewish students on campus, pointing to instances where students felt compelled to seek safety.
Levin concluded by criticizing Avlon and Hoover for their apparent lack of understanding about the severity of the situation. For those who want to see Dr. Goldfeder’s segment on CNN and hear Mark Levin’s additional thoughts, the clip is available above.
