UC Davis Rabbi Confronts Campus Antisemitism and Faces Rebuff from University Leadership

A rabbi who reached out to the University of California, Davis's chancellor to address rising antisemitism on campus was reportedly dismissed when the official realized the rabbi sought meaningful action beyond mere words. UC Davis has faced ongoing issues with antisemitic incidents, including faculty members involved in threatening social media posts and publicly celebrating violent events. Despite reports and concerns raised over a year ago, little concrete action has been taken. In late May, Rabbi Pini Dunner from Beverly Hills Synagogue visited UC Davis at the request of Jewish faculty members troubled by the pervasive hostility. After witnessing multiple incidents, he published an article titled "Davis and the Battle for Jewish Identity" to highlight these issues and shared it with Chancellor Gary S. May. The chancellor responded publicly condemning antisemitism and affirming its unacceptability. Dunner proposed specific measures, including adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, enforcing campus policies, safeguarding Jewish and pro-Israel students from harassment, and holding faculty accountable for incitement. However, after...