At this year’s Harvard graduation, Jewish attendees felt particularly unwelcome, with tensions exacerbated by the display of Palestinian flags. The situation escalated when Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi, head of the Chabad house at Harvard, confronted Nobel laureate Maria Ressa over remarks in her commencement address that he and others perceived as antisemitic. Ressa, a prominent Filipino American journalist, mentioned facing online attacks accusing her of antisemitism linked to “power and money,” comments that many interpreted as perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Rabbi Zarchi found her comments troubling and, after she refused to clarify them, he chose to walk off the stage following the benediction.
Rabbi Zarchi’s reaction underscored the broader discomfort among Jewish attendees at the ceremony. He expressed his frustration, highlighting that student speeches called for a cease-fire in Gaza without addressing the plight of hostages or condemning violence, instead praising protesters and encampments. This incident at Harvard’s graduation not only spotlighted the challenges of addressing sensitive political topics in academic settings but also the impact of perceived antisemitic rhetoric on Jewish communities.
