Thank the Columbia Spectator for publishing David Lederer’s op-ed on antisemitism at Columbia​

Irie Sentner, Editor in Chief


David Lederer’s op-ed exposes the dangerous sanitizing of antisemitism at Columbia, where groups like CUAD and SJP justify hatred under the guise of activism. Signing this letter reinforces the need to confront blatant Jew-hatred, push back against faculty who excuse it, and demand a safe, respectful environment for Jewish students.
Let’s thank the Spectator for publishing this important perspective.
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To: Irie Sentner, Editor in Chief
From: [Your Name]

Dear Columbia Spectator Editorial Team,

I am writing in strong support of David Lederer’s recent op-ed, “Protecting Our University from the Whitewashing of Antisemitism”. His piece effectively exposes the deliberate misrepresentation of antisemitism on Columbia’s campus and the dangerous rhetoric used by organizations like CUAD and SJP to justify their hostility toward Jewish students.

The claim that antisemitism accusations are being "weaponized" to silence criticism of Israel is an insidious deflection, one that allows blatant Jew-hatred to masquerade as political discourse. Lederer rightly highlights how these protests extend far beyond policy critique and instead openly endorse terrorism, celebrate mass murder, and deny Israel’s right to exist. When students post flyers depicting the Israeli flag in flames and chant in support of Hamas, there is no ambiguity—this is antisemitic hate, not “resistance.”

It is particularly alarming that certain Columbia faculty members, including the signatories of the op-ed Lederer critiques, are willing to overlook or excuse this rhetoric. Whether due to ignorance, ideological bias, or deliberate misrepresentation, their defense of these protests contributes to an increasingly hostile environment for Jewish students. Their attempts to minimize clear expressions of antisemitism—such as CUAD’s celebration of the October 7 massacre and its open support for “armed resistance”—are not just misguided but actively harmful.

Lederer’s comparison to historical instances of Jewish individuals enabling antisemitism is difficult but necessary. Jewish identity does not exempt anyone from engaging in or excusing antisemitic rhetoric, and Columbia’s Jewish students should not be gaslit into believing that their concerns are unfounded simply because a handful of Jewish faculty members claim otherwise.

Columbia should be a place where all students, including Jewish students, feel safe and respected. That requires confronting the reality of antisemitism on campus, not distorting it to fit a political narrative. I appreciate the Spectator for publishing Lederer’s much-needed perspective, and I urge you to continue providing a platform for voices that refuse to tolerate hatred, no matter how it is disguised.

Sincerely,