Nexus In The News
Significant news articles that mention Nexus, including Op-Ed articles written by Nexus Board Members and Advisors.
Antisemitism watchdog offers alternative to Trump's campus crackdown
Among American Jews, a Schism Over ICE Arrest of Columbia Activist
Jewish people fear scapegoating as Trump invokes antisemitism to justify crackdowns
For Colleges, Defining Antisemitism Hasn’t Gotten Any Easier
Writing for the CHE, Maddie Khaw references Nexus: With the new Trump administration turning its eye to higher education, Harvard in particular may be “bowing its head” to political pressure, preemptively “cutting [its] losses,” said Jonathan Jacoby, national director of the Nexus Leadership Project.
Netanyahu Defends Elon Musk Amid Spate Of Nazi Puns
After the Israeli prime minister defended Musk following controversy over a gesture at a Trump rally, the tech executive wrote a tweet full of Nazi-related wordplay. Jonathan Jacoby is quoted: “Elon Musk has a long track record of promoting white nationalist and antisemitic ideas and conspiracies,”
One Day After Trump Takes Office, Harvard Settles Two Antisemitism Lawsuits
Harvard reached a settlement in two ongoing Title VI lawsuits accusing the university of mishandling antisemitism. Harvard’s decision to adopt the IHRA definition could blur the lines between legitimate political discourse and antisemitic rhetoric. David H. Myers and Joshua Shanes (both sit on the Nexus Project Task Force) are quoted in the article.
Trump urged deportation of foreign students with pro-terrorism views
“While the rapid rise in campus antisemitism demands serious action by the incoming administration and Congress, threatening to deport students based on their political views about Israel and Palestine would be a dangerous overreach that undermines both academic freedom and America’s democratic values,” said Kevin Rachlin, Nexus.
Will Trump’s Threats to Defund Colleges Over ‘Antisemitic Propaganda’ Become a Reality?
“That, to me, is the hard thing: to say you want to do something while at the same time endorsing classical antisemitic tropes,” said Kevin Rachlin, Washington director for the Nexus Leadership Project, a nonprofit that combats antisemitism. “Actions speak louder than words in this case.”
Democrats Face a Series of Tests Over Support for Israel
“Their goal is to make the Democrats the anti-Israel, anti-Jewish party,” said Jonathan Jacoby, the director of the Nexus Task Force, a national effort to combat antisemitism while making space for political criticism of Israel. “The question the Democrats need to ask is how to stop that without playing into a game of political football underway.”
Trump’s election puts greater pressure on universities to crack down on antisemitism
“Trump will use the idea of fighting antisemitism as a way of suppressing free speech and breaking up coalitions. One of the most important things to ensure Jewish safety is to have strong coalitions with people who are also fighting hatred,” Jonathan Jacoby, director of the Nexus Task Force, told JI. “By exacerbating division, Trump is only going to make us less safe.”
Letters to the Editor: When do campus protests on Israel cross the line into antisemitism?
The report by UCLA’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias underlines the urgency of developing effective strategies for countering antisemitism on college campuses in the wake of the horrific Hamas attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and its aftermath. The Nexus Task Force’s Campus Guide to Identifying Antisemitism in a Time of Perplexity, created by a leading group of academic experts on antisemitism, provides
US colleges failed to hold students accountable for antisemitic harassment, House committee says
“Republican leaders are exploiting the very real danger of antisemitism to advance their own hyper-partisan agenda and to suppress free speech, instead of doing the difficult but important work of building responsible bipartisan coalitions to help students and fight hatred,” Jonathan Jacoby, the National Director of The Nexus Project, a research group dedicated to countering antisemitism, told CNN.
We asked Jewish leaders about their priorities under a second Trump term
The administration and its Republican congressional allies will use last month’s House Education Committee report on campus antisemitism as a platform to target federal funding for higher education and academic freedom. The Nexus Project will continue to advocate for robust funding for the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
A time for reflection and renewal: Countering antisemitism in the wake of October 7th
Hannah Rosenthal, a member of the Nexus Task Force and a former US Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, reflects on this period of profound reflection as we commemorate the Jewish High Holidays and the anniversary of the horrific events of October 7, 2023.
Can legitimate campus protest be distinguished from antisemitism? This guide aims to help
Writing in The Los Angeles Times, David N. Myers and Nomi M. Stolzenberg discuss how university administrators, faculty and students can understand when terms and calls for action in college protests should and should not be considered antisemitic – using the Nexus Task Force’s “Campus Guide to Identifying Antisemitism in a Time of Perplexity.”
Netanyahu confronts his critics by exploiting antisemitism
Writing an opinion for the Boston Globe, Jonathan Jacoby discusses how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will come to America armed with familiar tactics: casting himself as a victim of unjust persecution, portraying his critics as enemies, and labeling Israel’s detractors as antisemites.
The GOP antisemitism bill harms more than it helps
In an opinion piece for The Forward, Alan Solow writes that the Antisemitism Awareness Act handicaps our ability to fight anti-Jewish bigotry. Alan Solow serves on the board of the Nexus Leadership Project and is a former chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. He is also a member of the Forward Association.
Why we should all support the Countering Antisemitism Act
This article appeared in the April 17, 2024 edition of The Hill, Civil Rights Section summarizes the Legislative bill introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen, James Lankford, and Reps. Kathy Manning and Chris Smith and calls for vigorous bipartisan support from all who cherish democratic values and human dignity. The author is Kevin Rachlin, Washington Director of the Nexus Leadership Project.
What Is Antisemitism? A Columbia Task Force Would Rather Not Say
New York Times reporter Sharon Otterman writes about the issue of antisemitism at Columbia University. In the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Columbia University set up a task force to combat and monitor antisemitism on campus. However, definitions of the term are highly contested, and the task force has avoided picking sides. It is still facing criticism because, in attempting to avoid one of the
Why using more than the IHRA definition strengthens, not undermines, the fight against antisemitism
The framers of the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism understood that the IHRA definition is too limiting to carry the weight of fighting antisemitism on its own, so they endorsed additional definitional resources — including the Nexus Document — to help sharpen and clarify the strategy’s application.
Jewish Scholars Defend Harvard Professor on Antisemitism Task Force
Members of the Nexus Task Force defend the appointment of Derek Penslar as co-chair of the Harvard antisemitism task force. “We reject efforts to cynically weaponize antisemitism by inflaming divisions or undermining university initiatives to help students. . . Leaders should applaud appointments like Professor Penslar’s to bring insight rather than ideology to this difficult task.”
How the Nexus Leadership Project is convincing Democrats to separate Israel criticism from antisemitism
The Nexus Project, which has been advocating for a more nuanced understanding of issues related to Israel and antisemitism, has found traction with the White House and Congress — and is staffing up.
Is Anti-Zionism Always Antisemitic? A Fraught Question for the Moment.
Writing for The New York Times, Jonathan Weisman discusses the political debate surrounding anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Jonathan Jacoby said Nexus Task Force had wrestled with the issue for several years now, seeking a definition of antisemitism that captures when anti-Zionism crosses from political belief to bigotry.
Nuance is crucial in fighting hate. That’s why I helped write an alternative definition of antisemitism. – Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Jewish Americans face the threats of escalating antisemitism and growing white nationalism at the same time that the Israeli government’s anti-democratic policies are eliciting increasingly harsh condemnation worldwide. An article written by Jonathan Jacoby which was posted by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Israel mudslinging threatens to overshadow White House antisemitism strategy
Both sides say debate over what definition of antisemitism should be used is a waste of energy — but that hasn’t dampened the dispute
Is Our Fear of Antisemitism Poisoning Our Discussion of Israel?
Overused accusations of antisemitism are preventing open and nuanced debates about Israeli policies and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Outrage over far-right Israeli government has American Jewish leaders stewing
“Our criticisms emanate from a love for Israel and a steadfast support for its security and well-being,” said the statement. “Some will try to dismiss their validity by labeling them antisemitic.” Instead, the statement said, the criticisms “reflect a real concern that the new government’s direction mirrors anti-democratic trends that we see arising elsewhere.”
The Coming Jewish Civil War Over Donald Trump
Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby highlighted Nexus Project’s report, “Fighting Antisemitism, Protecting Democracy: A Strategy for the Trump Era,” stating that “[the Trump administration] cannot exploit our fear for your nefarious purposes. We will not let you destroy our democracy in our name. We will not let you endanger our community, and the communities of disadvantaged groups and of other minorities, and ultimately, all Americans, in our
Progressive Jewish groups oppose Antisemitism Awareness Act ahead of Senate vote
The Nexus Project and 10 progressive Jewish organizations signed onto a joint letter opposing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, stating the legislation would “represent an endorsement of the Trump Administration’s escalating efforts to weaponize antisemitism as a pretext for undermining civil rights, deporting political dissidents, and attacking the fundamental pillars of our democracy.”
Trump Fires Doug Emhoff, Other Biden Appointees From U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council
Following President Trump’s targeted firings of Democratic nominees to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Board of Directors, Nexus said, “the Holocaust Museum, of all places, should not be used by the president as a vehicle for retribution.”
Harvard antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces find widespread fear, bigotry
Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby told Reuters, “By taking a strong stand against antisemitism and Islamophobia without criminalizing dissent and the right to peaceful protest, the report demonstrates what we know: combating antisemitism and protecting democratic freedoms go hand-in-hand.”
The Antisemitism Awareness Act Is Back
Jonathan Jacoby, National Director of the Nexus Project, a nonprofit dedicated to combating antisemitism, discussed the dangers of codifying the IHRA definition, or any other definition” of antisemitism. Jacoby told Moment Magazine that the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA) “goes hand in hand with the Trump administration’s strategy of using accusations of antisemitism as a pretext for undermining educational and democratic institutions.”
Jewish people fear scapegoating as Trump invokes antisemitism to justify crackdowns
Axios reported on measures to monitor immigrants’ social media for alleged antisemitic content, which could be used to justify deportations. Jonathan Jacoby told Axios, “Using vague language like ‘terrorist sympathizer’ to target and punish immigrants will not combat antisemitism or make Jews any safer…The Trump administration continues to exploit our community’s concerns to unfairly target others – all while elevating and engaging in antisemitism themselves.”
U.S. Gov’t Says Immigrants May Face Visa Denial Over ‘Antisemitic’ Social Media Posts
Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby told Haaretz, “The Trump administration continues to exploit our community’s concerns to unfairly target others – all while elevating and engaging in antisemitism themselves,” following U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announcing it would begin to monitor immigrants’ social media for alleged antisemitic comments, including critiques of the ongoing war in Gaza.
Trump administration to screen social media activity of immigrants
Jonathan Jacoby told the Boston Globe the new USCIS policy weaponizes antisemitism as a pretext for deporting immigrants. He “criticized McLaughlin’s use of the term ‘terrorist sympathizer’ as ‘vague’ and said using it ‘to target and punish immigrants will not combat antisemitism or make Jews any safer…The administration continues to exploit our community’s concerns to unfairly target others – all while elevating and engaging in antisemitism themselves.’”
Trump officials to monitor immigrants’ social media for antisemitism
Following the announcement by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that it will begin monitoring immigrants’ social media for alleged antisemitic content, the Nexus Project told The Guardian: Treating antisemitism as an imported problem does not fight antisemitism. Using politically malleable language like ‘terrorist sympathizer’ to go after immigrants does not fight antisemitism. Doing this while elevating antisemitism, as this administration is doing, does not fight antisemitism.”
US to screen social media of immigrants, rights advocates raise concerns
Reuters reported on the announcement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that it would monitor social media posts from immigrants for alleged antisemitism and use it as grounds for deportation. Kanishka Singh wrote, “The Nexus Project, which fights antisemitism, said the Trump administration was going after immigrants in the name of tackling antisemitism and treating antisemitism as an imported problem.”
Opinion: Trump and Netanyahu Steer Toward an Ugly World, Together
Opinion Columnist Thomas Friedman explores the U.S.-Israel relationship under the Trump and Netanyahu administrations and how the two leaders undermine democracy to push their autocratic agendas. Friedman interviewed Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby about Nexus’s recent report Fighting Antisemitism, Protecting Democracy: A Strategy for the Trump Era. Jacoby commented: “President Trump has taken a real phenomenon that needs to be addressed — antisemitism that emerges out of
Trump’s pro-Palestinian activism crackdown closely mirrors a plan from the creators of Project 2025
POLITICO analyzes Heritage Foundation’s Project Esther, which the Trump administration has used as a blueprint to combat antisemitism, including detaining student protestors and pulling funding from universities. Kevin Rachlin commented, “There is real resistance from the Jewish community. There is real resistance from the civil liberties community, from almost across the board in civil society. There is real danger if [Project Esther] is implemented.”
Trump’s Fight Against Antisemitism Has Become Fraught for Many Jews
The New York Times reports on the varying reactions from Jewish groups and Jewish leaders to the Trump administration’s approach to countering antisemitism. Jonathan Jacoby, the national director of the Nexus Project, expressed concern over the safety of Jewish Americans, “[a]nytime you put Jews in the middle on an issue, it’s not good for the Jews…That’s a classic antisemitic position that antisemites like to put Jews. So
Opinion: Jewish community must stand up to Trump’s targeting of international students
Alan Solomont, member of the Nexus Project Board and Dean Emeritus of Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, responded to the detainment of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University PhD student. Solomont editorializes, “What happened to Ozturk, and many other international students, will not make Jewish students safer, nor is it fighting antisemitism. It is weaponizing legitimate Jewish pain and very real concerns about antisemitism
Antisemitism watchdog offers alternative to Trump’s campus crackdown
Axios reports on the release of Nexus’s Antisemitism Strategy for the Trump Era. Nexus National Director Jonathan Jacoby shared, “While the Trump Administration exploits the rise of antisemitism to target democratic freedoms and political opponents, too many Jewish establishment groups are either backing their efforts or remaining silent.”
A growing number of Jewish groups are condemning Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest
In JTA, Nexus Project and other Jewish groups vocally condemned the arrest of pro-Palestinian protestor Mahmoud Khalil. The Nexus statement, while expressing concern about antisemitism and the tome of campus protests, said, “Authoritarian federal overreach and apparent disregard for due process only makes Jews less safe.” NYJA likewise condemned campus antisemitism.
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from deporting pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil
David Knowles quoted Nexus Project’s reaction to the detainment of pro-Palestinian protestor Mahmoud Khalil. “We unequivocally oppose the use of violence and intimidation on campus. At the same time, when legitimate political protest has been recklessly mischaracterized by the administration as support for terrorism, deporting and arresting green card holders over alleged ‘support’ of Hamas is too broad a standard to be the basis of policy.”
Among American Jews, a Schism Over ICE Arrest of Columbia Activist
Jonathan Jacoby, Nexus Project’s national director, expressed concern that the arrest and promised crackdown would widen divides between Jews and other minority groups: “There has never been a safer and more flourishing experience than the American Jewish experience, living as a free people in an open society,” he said. “Anything that endangers that, or our relationships with other Americans — those are all Jewish concerns.”
Trump, GOP Eye Columbia University as Prime Target in Antisemitism Purge
Haaretz reports on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on antisemitism amid increased pressure from the Trump Administration to cut funding or deport students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. “‘Jews have always been safest in pluralistic democracies,’ said Nexus Project Washington Director Kevin Rachlin. ‘True antisemitism thrives in authoritarian environments where civil liberties are curtailed, not in spaces of robust, protected democratic discourse.’”
3 Takeaways From Senate Hearing on Antisemitism
US News and World Report analyzes key moments from the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on antisemitism. “Kevin Rachlin, the Washington director of the Nexus Project, called on Congress to use its power to authorize action instead of scheduling hearings and pointing fingers. He also called on Congress to not discard the 2023 National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, which outlines a broad approach to tackle antisemitism in the
‘We’ll Never Surrender’: Steve Bannon Appears to Perform Nazi Salute at CPA
Haaretz reports on Steve Bannon’s gesture resembling a Nazi salute at CPAC. “Enough with the rationalizations and excuses: the Nazi salute is not a troll, and it is not an accident,” added Nexus Project National Director Jonathan Jacoby. “The neo-Nazi movement is alive and well, and some of the most powerful people in our country have now actively embraced it.”
Eric Adams stands by comparing calls for his resignation to ‘Mein Kampf’
Reporting for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Ben Sales writes that the embattled NYC mayor, facing corruption charges and allegations of a quid pro quo with the Trump administration, said his opponents are engaged in the “big lie.” Adams faced criticism from The Nexus Project, which focuses on antisemitism and called the comment “out of line.”
JD Vance to visit Dachau on Thursday, the latest VP to tour the Nazi camp
Jonathan Jacoby, voicing objections to the visit, noting Vance’s role in pushing Elon Musk (who recently made Holocaust jokes on X) in rehiring a staffer who publicly self-identified as a racist. “. . . until you condemn the many connections to neo-Nazis in your new administration, please stay off the sacred ground upon which our parents and grandparents were slaughtered,” Jacoby wrote.
Trump’s Antisemitism Executive Order Worries Progressive Jewish Groups, Delights Others
Writing for Haaretz, Etan Nechin describes the mixed reaction from Jewish organizations to Trump’s Antisemitism EO. Jonathan Jacoby is quoted for Nexus and said the order “cynically weaponizes legitimate concerns about Jewish safety to suppress constitutionally protected speech and threaten vulnerable student populations.”