Columbia University

Meet the Jews who played pivotal roles in American history

Jews have played pivotal roles throughout key moments in American history. Throughout 2026, monthly online conversations with Jewish historians will journey across American and Jewish history.

A group of young Austrian immigrants wave to the Statue of Liberty upon their arrival in America aboard the S.S. Harding. The 50 Jewish children, who were greeted by their new adoptive families, were fleeing Nazi persecution in their homeland.
Demonstrators hold placards that read "Free Mohsen" in reference to Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University, who was detained, as they gather at Foley Square in Manhattan, New York City, US, April 15, 2025.

US Immigration judge rejects effort to deport Palestinian Columbia student, anti-Israel activist

 JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN, the father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, speaks to reporters after he and other family members of American hostages being held by Hamas, participated in a meeting with US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 25, 2024.

Father of former Gaza hostage joins Columbia as a Jewish history professor

 Jennifer Mnookin attends UCLA Black Law: 50th Anniversary Solidarity Gala at The Beverly Hills Hotel on April 04, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.

Columbia appoints new President, Jewish legal scholar Jennifer Mnookin, after two years of unrest


Acting Columbia president suggested ousting Jewish trustee in favor of Arab one, House c'mttee says

Acting president of Columbia University suggested ousting of Jewish trustee while advocating for the appointment of “Arab on our board."

 Columbia University Acting President Claire Shipman speaks during the Commencement Ceremony at Columbia University in New York on May 21, 2025

Mahmoud Khalil says detainment ‘felt like kidnapping’ in first interview since release

Khalil, a 30-year-old Columbia University graduate and permanent US resident, was the first student pro-Palestinian protest leader to be detained by the Trump administration.

 Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil stands next to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a day after he was released from immigration custody, at Newark airport in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., June 21, 2025.

Mahmoud Khalil vows to resume pro-Palestinian activism after release from US jail

Khalil, who was greeted by American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez upon his arrival in Newark, said that he would continue his activism even after his time in prison.

 Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil gestures next to his wife Dr. Noor Abdalla and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) at Newark airport, a day after he was released from immigration custody, in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., June 21, 2025.

Over half of Jewish students at Columbia experienced discrimination, exclusion after Oct. 7

Just over half of Muslim students reported frequently feeling not accepted over their identity — fewer than Jewish students, but far more than in the overall student population.

 Columbia student demonstrators show support as others chain themselves to the gates of St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University to denounce the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil in New York City, US, April 2, 2025.

Pro-Palestinian activist Khalil walks free after US judge orders release

Mahmoud Khalil says he is being punished for his political speech in violation of the US Constitution's First Amendment.

Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil gestures as he is released from immigration custody in Jena, Louisiana, U.S. June 20, 2025.

Federal judge orders Mahmoud Khalil to be released by Friday on $1 bond

Khalil was the first leader of last year’s pro-Palestinian student protests to be arrested under the Trump administration’s push to deport non-citizens who they said fueled antisemitism on campuses.

 Demonstrators gather outside the Federal Courthouse in New York City to show support for Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and to demand his release from ICE detention on March 12, 2025.

Alan Garber’s stand against Washington: A Jewish hero at Harvard - opinion

Garber spoke truth to power in standing strong against the efforts of the current US administration to take control of all facets of academia under the false narrative of combating antisemitism.

 HARVARD UNIVERSITY President Alan Garber acknowledges sustained applause from students, during commencement exercises, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, last month. All of those assembled understood that they were in the presence of greatness, states the writer.

US Education Department says Columbia University violated federal anti-discrimination law

“After October 7, 2023, Columbia University’s leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus," said the US Education Secretary.

 Protesters gather at a main entrance in front of Columbia University during convocation, in New York City, US, August 25, 2024

My third front: A Jewish student's perspective on pro-Palestine campus encampments - opinion

Now, more than ever, we need to stand with our fellow Jewish students and show that we won’t cower in the face of hate.

 AN ISRAELI FLAG is hung high on the Columbia University campus on the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, in New York City. Attending a US university won’t be about agreeing with everyone but about insisting that we have a place at the table, says the writer

Trump admin. argues Columbia University violated Jewish students' civil rights

Columbia violated Title VI by "acting with deliberate indifference towards student-on-student harassment of Jewish students from October 7, 2023, through the present," the White House argued.

 Protesters gather at a main entrance in front of Columbia University during convocation, in New York City, US, August 25, 2024