Serious threats were leveled against Jewish students and staff at Cornell University over the weekend, sparking massive concern for their safety and the closure of a building that hosts a kosher dining hall and other Jewish-related services. (Cornell is located in Ithaca, New York — about 60 miles south of Syracuse.) The threats were made via anonymous posts on a Cornell discussion forum, which subsequently went viral on social media platforms on Sunday. Screenshots of the troubling posts were shared by a user, believed to be a Cornell alum, on X. The user highlighted messages that called for extreme violence against the Jewish community, including explicit calls for the rape and murder of Jewish women and stalking Jewish individuals to harm them. The posts created panic by claiming that the university’s kosher dining hall, known as 104 West – which also houses the Center for Jewish Living – was on lockdown. This led to heightened fear among Jewish students, with many reportedly too scared to leave their dormitories. Cornell University President Martha Pollack was swift to address the situation. “Earlier today, we became aware of deeply disturbing antisemitic messages threatening our Jewish community. The messages specifically targeted 104 West — the Center for Jewish Living. These posts were found on an external website that has no affiliation with Cornell. We immediately informed law enforcement about this,” she said. Pollack emphasized the university’s stance on the matter, stating, “Any threats of violence are completely unacceptable. We will work diligently to ensure that those responsible face justice to the fullest extent of the law. Our topmost priority at this moment is the safety and well-being of our community.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)