Dear President Shafik,

We write to you as Jewish alumni of Columbia University to express our unwavering support for the brave students who have erected the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on East Butler Lawn. We feel that it is important to speak up at this moment in particular as your administration weaponizes our Jewish identities to silence current students and faculty expressing dissent against the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.

We condemn far-right House Members’ attempts to define experiences of discomfort among Zionist students and faculty as antisemitic violence, and we condemn your administration’s acquiescence and complicity in this attempt to suppress students’ rights to speak out against the brutal oppression of the Palestinian people. We condemn your weaponization of our Jewish identity to stifle political discourse and silence demands for basic human rights and compliance with international law. We respond: Not in our name. 

We reject Zionism because it is antithetical to our Jewish values. Zionism tells us that as Jews, we are only safe when we isolate ourselves from others, insisting on a demographic majority to maintain political power. We reject the idea that our safety, in America or abroad, is contingent upon the genocide of the Palestinian people. We reject the idea that wars, weaponry, or border walls make Jews safe. As Jews, we understand that antisemitism is part of a larger tide of white supremacy and reject the assertion that a Jewish ethnostate acting in defiance of international law is necessary for Jewish safety. We respond: Not in our name. 

Columbia University has long positioned itself as a beacon of academic excellence, free speech, and international education. And yet, we have watched in sadness and anger as your administration has defended and protected Zionist students and faculty on campus while simultaneously targeting students and faculty who stand in solidarity with Palestine. These students and faculty speaking out in support of Palestine at Columbia face active repression including harassment and threats, unjust suspensions and evictions, and even a chemical attack at the hands of Zionist students on campus. We are deeply concerned by the politically repressive tactics Columbia is employing. We urge you to consider the environment you are creating – one that endangers the university as a place where new and challenging ideas can be freely explored.

The Gaza Solidarity Encampment is a testament to the power of student organizing and extends Columbia’s rich history of transformative student activism. To deny students the right to civil protest on campus is to reject Columbia’s dedication to the principles of free speech and open discourse, which are fundamental to the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Rather than silencing them, the administration should be celebrating these students for upholding the highest ideals of the university – to be educated and active members of society.

We cannot in good conscience stand by an institution who punishes students for protesting against a genocide. We will withhold all financial support for our alma mater until the following demands of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment are met:

• Divest all finances, including the endowment, from corporations that profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
• Reverse the unfair suspension of Columbia/Barnard Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.
• Reverse the recent suspension and eviction of student activists.
• Provide amnesty to all encampment participants from legal and institutional disciplinary action.

In solidarity,

Jewish Alumni of Columbia University

1. Sophie Abramowitz - Barnard College ‘11
2. Sophie Adelman - Barnard College ‘19
3. Bex Allen - Barnard College ‘21
4. Maya Alper - Barnard College ‘17
5. Miriam Alvarez-Rosenbloom - Columbia College ‘23
6. Delia Anderson-Colson - Barnard College ‘22
7. Jess Applebaum - School of Arts ‘12
8. Jake Arlow - Barnard College ‘19
9. Anna Arons - Barnard College ‘10
10. Marco Balestri - Columbia College ‘22
11. Eliza Bates - SIPA ‘09
12. Mira Baum - Columbia College ‘20
13. Eleanor Bechman - Columbia College ‘16
14. Raquel Belkin - UTS ‘23
15. Heather Benjamin - School of Social Work ‘12
16. Miriam J. Bensman - Columbia School of Journalism ‘86
17. Celia Bernhardt - Barnard College ‘23
18. Rachel Berger - School of Arts ‘18
19. Nicole Bernstein - Columbia College ‘16
20. Maya Bickel - Columbia College ‘21
21. Kara Blake - School of Social Work ‘14
22. Dina Blanc - Barnard College ‘83
23. Robin Blanc - Teacher’s College ‘18
24. Suzanne Blanc - Barnard College ‘70
25. Kyra Bloom - Barnard College ‘15; Teacher’s College ‘22
26. Maya Bickel - Columbia College ‘21
27. Rana Bickel - Barnard College ‘21
28. Sylvie Binder - Columbia College ‘22
29. Jonah Birch - Columbia College ‘05
30. Sarah Bishop-Stone - Columbia College ‘04
31. Rachel Boehr - General Studies ‘13; SIPA ‘14
32. Dorian Bon - Columbia College ‘15
33. Jason Bowen - Columbia College ‘21
34. Wendy Brandes - Columbia College ‘89
35. Bernadette Bridges - Columbia College ‘19
36. Molly Bryck - Barnard College ‘14
37. Shira Burton - Columbia College ‘09
38. Julia Mae Butler - Columbia College ‘23
39. Ravi Campbell - Columbia College ‘18
40. Breton Carter - Barnard College ‘17
41. Laura Charney - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘20
42. Jesse Chevan - Columbia College ‘12
43. Ty Citerman - Columbia College ‘96
44. Emmeline Clein - Columbia College ‘16 & School of Arts ‘22
45. Maddy Cohen - Barnard College ‘19
46. Tess Cohen - Columbia College ‘09
47. Joanna Cole - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘69
48. Susanna Cole - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘13
49. Carlyn Cowen - SIPA ‘13
50. Melanie Cristol - Columbia College ‘04; CLS ‘09
51. Alison Damich - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘19
52. Avery Dement - Architecture, Planning, & Preservation ‘18
53. Lucy Danger - Barnard College ‘21
54. Sarah Deutsch - Columbia College ‘11
55. Hilary Devaney - School of Arts ‘22
56. Annie Diamond - Barnard College ‘15
57. Tess Domb Sadof - Columbia College ‘16
58. Abigail Drach - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘23
59. S. Dyen - Barnard College ‘08
60. Sophie Edelhart - Barnard College ‘19
61. Sophie Ellman-Golan - Barnard College ‘14
62. Clara Epstein - Barnard College ‘22
63. Ella Every-Wortman - Columbia College ‘16
64. Rachel Farber - Barnard College ‘11
65. Isaiah Feldman-Schwartz - Columbia College ‘18
66. Julia Fierman - Columbia College ‘08; Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘18
67. Max Fineman - Columbia College ‘18
68. Naomi Fischer - Barnard College ‘18
69. Batya Franklin - Jewish Theological Seminary ‘16
70. Arianna Friedman - Barnard College ‘15
71. Carolyn Friedman - Columbia College ‘21
72. Lia Friedman - Columbia College ‘13
73. Gabriel Garon - Columbia College ‘21
74. Jessica Geddes - Columbia College ‘16
75. Emmaia Gelman - Columbia College ‘97
76. Eve Glazier - Barnard College ‘23
77. Chris Godshall-Bennett - Columbia College ‘15
78. Alison Gold - Columbia College ‘02
79. Sam Goldberg - Columbia College ‘18
80. Samuel Goldberg - Columbia College ‘05
81. Maia Golzar Anderson - Barnard College/Jewish Theological Seminary ‘23
82. Nina González Silas - Barnard College ‘20
83. Rebecca Gordon - Public Health ‘10
84. Yaniv Goren - Columbia College ‘22
85. Rebecca Gray - Barnard College ‘13
86. Noam Green - Barnard College/JTS ‘20
87. Corinne Greenblatt - Barnard College ‘20
88. Julia Greenblatt - Barnard College ‘23
89. Arielle Gross - Public Health ‘23
90. Zoe Guttenplan - Columbia College ‘14
91. Julia Halperin - Columbia College ‘11
92. Ally B. Hand - Barnard College ‘18
93. Rache; Hand - Public Health and School of Social Work ‘21
94. Marina Hansen - Columbia College ‘18
95. Renata Happle - Barnard College ‘24
96. Calvin Harrison - Architecture, Planning, & Preservation ‘23
97. Nina Havivi - Barnard College ‘20
98. Emily Hayflick - Barnard College ‘15
99. Isabel Hellman - Columbia College ‘19
100. Ethan Heitner - Columbia College ‘05
101. Allison Henry - Columbia College ‘16
102. Katherine Herman - Columbia College ‘05
103. Suzanne Herman - Barnard College ‘15
104. Hannah Hessel - School of Arts ‘11
105. Sasha Hill - Barnard College ‘17
106. Jessica Ho - College of Physicians and Surgeons ‘23
107. Alexandra Horn - Barnard College ‘16
108. Mara Horowitz - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘07
109. Sania Imran - Columbia College ‘26
110. Matthew Jacobs - Columbia College ‘11
111. Kalila Jaeger - Barnard College ‘17
112. Valerie Jaharis - Barnard College ‘19
113. Anna Jessurun - Columbia College ‘17
114. Zachary Kahn - Columbia College ‘20
115. Lindsey Kaley - Columbia College ‘09
116. Eva Kalikoff - Barnard College ‘18
117. Anna Kalm - Barnard College ‘19
118. Triana Kalmanoff - Barnard College ‘15
119. Aaron Kaiser-Chen - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘16
120. Talia Kamran - Barnard College ‘18
121. Sofia Karliner - Barnard College ‘19
122. Jacqueline Karp - Barnard College ‘17
123. Noa Kattler Kupetz - Barnard College ‘18
124. Molly Kelleher - Barnard College ‘21
125. Alice Kentridge - Columbia College ‘06
126. Sarah Kerson - Barnard College ‘17
127. Claire Klinger - Columbia College ‘18
128. Shana Knizhnik - Columbia College ‘10
129. Elana Kravitz - Columbia College ‘20
130. Sophie Kreitzberg - Barnard College ‘19
131. John Krinsky - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘02; Architecture, Planning & Preservation ‘94
132. Mark Krotov - Columbia College ‘08
133. Ben Kurland - Columbia College ‘11
134. Ruby Landau-Pincus - Columbia College ‘22
135. Shoshana Lauter - Barnard College ‘18
136. Maya Lee-Parritz - Barnard College ‘15
137. Dade Lemanski - Columbia College ‘13
138. Olivia Levine - Barnard College ‘14
139. Madeleine Levin - Columbia College ‘18
140. Perry Levitch - Barnard College ‘19
141. Heather Levitt - Barnard College ‘95
142. Steven Levitt - Columbia College ‘94
143. Kayla Levy - Barnard College ‘19
144. Benjamin Lieberman - Columbia College ‘08
145. Caitlin de Lisser-Ellen - Columbia College ‘16
146. Gabrielle Lipson - Barnard College ‘18
147. Miranda Litwak - Columbia College ‘17
148. Devin Lloyd - Columbia College ‘15
149. Sam Losee - Columbia College ‘22
150. Natalie Lovinger - Barnard College ‘22
151. Leanna Lupin - Columbia College ‘16
152. Jessica Madris - Barnard College ‘13; SIPA ‘17
153. Sula Malina - School of Social Work ‘21
154. Daniel Malinsky - Columbia College ‘11
155. Amy Maltz - School of Social Work ‘23
156. Max Marder - SIPA ‘14
157. Alejandro Marx - Columbia College ‘98
158. Sarah McCaffrey - Public Health ‘23
159. Rachel Meirs - Columbia College ‘14
160. Madeleine Mendell - Columbia College ‘18
161. Sarah Miller - Barnard College ‘15
162. Olivia Mitchell - Barnard College ‘23
163. Maddie Molot - Barnard College ‘18
164. Sophia Morris - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘15
165. Eliza Moss-Horwitz - Barnard College ‘19
166. Annika Mukherjee - Barnard College ‘20
167. Celia Muller - Law School ‘11
168. Tali Myers - Barnard College ‘14
169. Katie Neexle - Barnard College ‘12
170. Abigail Neiman - Barnard College ‘15
171. Katy Nelson - Columbia College ‘16
172. Sara Newman - Columbia College ‘18
173. Killian O’Brien - Columbia College ‘02
174. Kate O’Carroll - Columbia College ‘23
175. Jeff Ordower - Columbia College ‘91
176. Alex Owen - Teacher’s College ‘21
177. Benjamin Parisi - Columbia College ‘07
178. Lydia Paris - Barnard College ‘21
179. Jordan Paul - Columbia College ‘08
180. Julia Peck - Columbia College ‘16
181. Gabriela Pelsinger - Columbia College ‘15
182. Eva Peskin - Barnard College ‘09
183. Rosalind Petchesky - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘74
184. Jake Petterson - SEAS ‘18
185. Giulia Pines - Columbia College ‘08
186. Raphael Pope-Sussman - Columbia College ‘11
187. Maddy Popkin - Barnard College ‘14
188. Ariel Poster - Barnard College ‘07
189. Emily Prokesch - Barnard College ‘05
190. Emma Quaytman - Barnard College ‘11
191. Herbert Quester - Columbia College ‘85
192. Avital Raff - Barnard College ‘20
193. Rivka Rappoport - Columbia College ‘15
194. Elana Rebitzer - Barnard College ‘20
195. Thomas Reed - Columbia College ‘11
196. Natalie Robin - Columbia College ‘02
197. Lena Rogow - Columbia College ‘14
198. Carly Roth - Columbia College ‘21
199. Sylvie Rosen - Barnard College ‘19
200. Emilie Rosenblatt - Columbia College ‘08
201. Hannah Rosner - Columbia College ‘14; Law School ‘21
202. Hannah Rubashkin - Barnard College ‘13
203. Hannah Rubenstein - Barnard College ‘21
204. Jessie Rubin - Barnard College ‘19
205. N S - Barnard College ‘22
206. Maya S. - Barnard College ‘20
207. Samantha Sachs - Teacher’s College ‘22
208. Nora Salitan - Columbia College ‘21
209. Al Salwen - Barnard College ‘21
210. Goutami Sanyal - Columbia College ‘07
211. Alec Schachner - Columbia College ‘08
212. Miriam Schachter - Columbia College ‘11
213. Michaela Schwartz - Barnard College ‘18
214. Anna Schwartzman - School of Arts ‘23
215. Madison Seely - Columbia College ‘15
216. Mike Selick - School of Social Work ‘12
217. Hannah Selinger - Columbia College ‘02
218. Sam Sheldon - Columbia College ‘21
219. Gabriela Siegel - Columbia College ‘13
220. Gabrielle Siegel - Barnard College ‘14
221. Kevin Siegel - Columbia College ‘13
222. Dara Silbermann - Barnard College ‘10
223. Malka Solomon - Barnard College ‘99
224. Anna Solow - Barnard College ‘16
225. Marla Solow - Barnard College ‘19
226. Jack Snyder - Jewish Theological Seminary ‘19
227. Eleanor Stern - Barnard College ‘19
228. Elizabeth Stern - Barnard College ‘20
229. Meg Sullivan - Professional Studies ‘14
230. Aleza Summit - Public Health ‘12
231. Rachel Suss - Public Health ‘22
232. Alexandra Tabachnikova - Columbia College ‘18
233. Aliyah Taylor - Teacher’s College ‘17
234. Kap Taylor - Columbia College ‘18
235. Rebecca Teich - Columbia College ‘18
236. Yakira Teitel - Columbia College ‘03; Public Health ‘15
237. Naomi Tinkelman - School of Public Health ‘19
238. Leah Todd - Columbia College ‘04
239. Alyza Tuchler - SEAS ‘21
240. Julie Ugoretz - Jewish Theological Seminary ‘18
241. Beila Ungar - General Studies ‘22
242. Emma Beatrice Urofsky - Columbia College ‘23
243. Rebecca Vitale - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘14
244. Henri Vrod - Columbia College ‘22
245. Stuart Waldmy - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘65
246. Adam Waytz - Columbia College ‘03
247. Michela Weihl - Barnard College ‘17
248. Natalie Weiner - Columbia College ‘13
249. Tess Weiner - School of Social Work ‘21
250. Joseph Weiman - SIPA ‘22
251. Mindy Weisberger - Columbia College ‘90
252. Anne-Laure White - Columbia College ‘17
253. Sarah Whitman-Salkin - Barnard College ‘06
254. Sam Wise - Teacher’s College ‘23
255. Rebecca Wolff - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ‘14
256. Elizabeth Wolozin - Barnard College ‘16
257. Gregory Woodward - Columbia College ‘05; Teacher’s College ‘06
258. Emily Young - Barnard College ‘20
259. Halle Young - Barnard College ‘20
260. Lily Zalon - Barnard College ‘16
261. Eleni Zimiles - School of Social Work ‘14