Harvard University has reached an agreement with an Orthodox Jewish student who brought a lawsuit against the institution, alleging it turned a blind eye to antisemitism on its campus.
The case, filed by Alexander Kestenbaum—who also goes by the name Shabbos—was formally dismissed after both sides came to a mutual resolution, as indicated in a court filing submitted Thursday in federal court in Boston.
“Harvard and Mr. Kestenbaum acknowledge each other’s steadfast and important efforts to combat antisemitism at Harvard and elsewhere,” the university stated. “Harvard and Mr. Kestenbaum are pleased to have resolved the litigation.”
Details of the settlement were not made public. Attorneys representing Kestenbaum declined to comment immediately.
This development follows Harvard’s earlier pledge to implement new safeguards for Jewish students, announced in response to two other lawsuits that accused the university of failing to protect against widespread antisemitic behavior.
These legal actions were part of a broader wave of claims that academic institutions allowed antisemitism to flourish after the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in southern Israel—a tragedy that ignited the current war in Gaza and unleashed pro-Palestinian demonstrations at colleges across the U.S.
Students of Jewish faith reported being labeled “murderers,” targeted in online smear campaigns, and subjected to a hostile campus climate. The lawsuits also cited faculty appointments of individuals accused of glorifying anti-Jewish violence and promoting hate.
The cases were initiated by Students Against Antisemitism, Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education, and the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law.
Kestenbaum was among those who sued as part of the Students Against Antisemitism suit, though he initially declined to settle when others did.
He earned his degree from Harvard Divinity School last year and has since become an increasingly prominent figure in Republican efforts to combat antisemitism at major U.S. colleges.
Harvard has been a principal focus of that campaign, and President Donald Trump’s administration has recently frozen or revoked over $2.6 billion in federal research funding and contracts tied to the university.
In response, Harvard has filed suit against the Trump administration, arguing that cutting off funds—particularly for medical research—is a violation of free speech and academic independence.
Columbia University, another Ivy League institution, has also found itself in the spotlight of the White House’s efforts to tackle antisemitism on campus.

{Matzav.com}