Press Releases
On Sunday, May 18, 2025, the Center for Jewish History will host The End of an Era? Jews and Elite Universities, a daylong symposium examining the historic and contemporary relationship between Jews and elite American universities.
Prompted by a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents on campuses including Harvard, Columbia, and others, the symposium will bring together leading scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals to consider whether the longstanding relationship between American Jews and higher education is fraying—and what can be done about it.
Martin Peretz, Symposium Chair and longtime observer of American intellectual culture, says, “I’ve watched the rise—and now the erosion—of a historic bond between American Jews and the universities they helped shape. This gathering convenes some of our most serious and preeminent thinkers to make sense of what’s unraveling—and what must come next.”
The symposium is presented by the Jewish Public History Forum, an initiative of the Center for Jewish History dedicated to confronting urgent questions of Jewish identity, memory, and public discourse.
“Conversations like this are more than timely—they’re essential,” said Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History. “We are witnessing a profound shift in the cultural landscape of higher education. As an institution committed to preserving and interpreting Jewish history, the Center has a responsibility to convene open, thoughtful, and rigorous dialogue. The stakes—for both the Jewish community and the future of our universities—could not be higher.”
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Welcome Remarks and Keynote Address
Session 1: 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Jews and Elite Universities: From Prejudice to Prominence
Session 2: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
The Current Campus Crisis: What Went Wrong?
Session 3: 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Columbia and Harvard: The Exception or the Rule?
Session 4: 3:30 – 4:30 PM
Keynote Panel
The Future of Jews and Elite Universities: What Is to Be Done?