Harvard University has settled a lawsuit with Orthodox Jewish student Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum who alleged the prestigious institution failed to address antisemitic discrimination on campus.
At a Glance
- Harvard and Kestenbaum reached a confidential settlement after a 16-month legal battle over alleged Title VI violations
- The case was dismissed with prejudice, preventing Kestenbaum from reopening his claims
- The settlement comes after Harvard lost nearly $3 billion in federal funding over allegations of failing to address antisemitism
- Harvard has implemented new policies, including adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism
- Both parties acknowledged their commitment to combating antisemitism at Harvard and beyond
Long-Running Legal Battle Comes to an End
Harvard University and Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum have officially ended their legal dispute with a confidential settlement agreement. The lawsuit, which Kestenbaum initially filed in January 2024, alleged that Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to adequately protect Jewish students from discrimination based on their national origin. The case has now been dismissed with prejudice, meaning Kestenbaum cannot reopen these specific claims against the university in the future.
The settlement marks the end of a contentious 16-month legal battle that brought national attention to the issue of antisemitism on elite college campuses. Kestenbaum, a Harvard Divinity School graduate, became a prominent voice in the campaign against antisemitism at American universities, particularly after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel which allegedly triggered an increase in antisemitic incidents at Harvard and other academic institutions.
Financial Consequences and Institutional Response
The controversy surrounding Harvard’s handling of antisemitism has come with significant financial repercussions. The Trump administration cut nearly $3 billion in federal funding to the university, citing its alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus. An additional $450 million was later cut, with officials pointing to both antisemitism concerns and claimed discrimination against white people. University President Alan M. Garber publicly resisted these demands, though some university programs were paused as a result.
“Harvard University and Shabbos Kestenbaum have reached an agreement to resolve their ongoing litigation. Harvard and Mr. Kestenbaum acknowledge each other’s steadfast and important efforts to combat antisemitism at Harvard and elsewhere.”, stated the Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton.
The settlement came just before the discovery deadline in the case, a phase Kestenbaum reportedly sought to avoid. Earlier this year, Harvard had already settled with another group, Students Against Antisemitism, adopting new nondiscrimination policies including the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. However, Kestenbaum was dissatisfied with that initial settlement and continued his case with new legal representation.
A Pattern of Allegations and Reform Efforts
An internal Harvard report revealed widespread hostility and isolation related to antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on campus. Kestenbaum’s lawsuit had demanded Harvard implement comprehensive measures to address these issues, including terminating employees responsible for discrimination and suspending students involved in antisemitic conduct. The university has since launched programs to promote civil dialogue and undertaken reforms specifically targeting antisemitism.
Harvard maintains it has made substantial efforts to address antisemitism, including enhancing training, education, and support for the Jewish community on campus. The settlement with Kestenbaum represents the latest in a series of legal resolutions Harvard has reached regarding antisemitism allegations, though it remains separate from the earlier settlement with Students Against Antisemitism and another group that did not include an admission of wrongdoing by the university.
The confidential nature of the settlement means the specific terms agreed upon by Harvard and Kestenbaum remain unknown. However, the resolution signals at least a temporary conclusion to one of the most high-profile cases of alleged antisemitism at an American university in recent years, even as debates about campus climate and institutional responsibilities toward religious and ethnic minorities continue across the nation.
