Leaving MIT Due to Rising Antisemitism on Campus

Just a few months ago, I was a proud Ph.D. student at MIT, highlighted in a profile for my background and academic goals. At that time, I was considering a future in academia and actively engaged in campus Jewish life, serving as president of MIT Grad Hillel, to showcase Jewish culture amid increasing antisemitism.

However, following the deadly Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, the reality drastically changed. Instead of solidarity, I witnessed students celebrating violence against Jews, including chants and protests rooted in antisemitism. These hostile acts escalated, with incidents such as protests inside and outside campus offices, vandalism, and interruptions of campus events.

During this period, MIT’s leadership failed to take decisive action. Despite Dr. Sally Kornbluth’s testimony in Congress acknowledging the issue, the violent and discriminatory environment persisted. It became impossible to focus on my research; protests and acts of intimidation became routine, disrupting campus life.

The harassment grew more personal. A professor posted online claiming that Jewish student organizations funded antisemitic “mind infections.” When I confronted him, he targeted me publicly and repeatedly, even promising to include me as a case study in his class. His targeted campaigns, emails, and false accusations invited widespread harassment from students and staff alike. I was labeled a racist and faced threats, including a flyer circulated to my dormitory suggesting violence against me, styled after Hamas propaganda.

The professor’s seminar explicitly referenced me, claiming to discuss a “genocide” while speaking about the conflict, with no action taken by MIT’s discrimination office despite my formal complaints. Their response claimed that his language was not antisemitic because he attributed it to “Zionist propaganda,” dismissing the clear hostility I faced.

Faced with escalating threats and an unresponsive university, I felt I had no choice but to leave my Ph.D. program — abandoning my dream and academic pursuits — simply for being Jewish.

I hope sharing my experience raises awareness about the severity of campus antisemitism and the failure of institutions to protect Jewish students.