New School Student Gov’t Votes to Drop Hillel

Dear Hillel at The New School Community Members, Friends, and Colleagues,

I wanted to make sure you heard from me directly, with both an important update and some good news.

As many of you may know, The New School's University Student Senate voted just before Shabbat to suspend our Hillel's funding, demanding that we sever ties with Hillel International, the world's largest Jewish student organization, and to discontinue our trips to Israel as conditions of reinstatement. The antisemitic charges leveled against Hillel to justify this decision were false and rooted in age-old tropes. These preposterous and contrived charges, accusations and actions are fabricated to harass, intimidate, and exclude our students, while continuing the existing climate of hostility and isolation for the Jewish community.

But here is the good news: The New School administration responded clearly. The university stated that the student senate does not have the authority to determine the recognition, funding eligibility, or official status of registered student organizations, and affirmed that Hillel at The New School remains, as it always has been, in good standing and eligible for funding. We are grateful for the administration's prompt and unequivocal response. Thank you, President Towers! We appreciate your steadfast support and clearity! Your statement and actions show your commitment to truth, decency, academic freedom, sustained dialogue, and the immense effort to build bridges and to support student success, respectful exchange of ideas, and communal growth!

Hillel is the home away from home for hundreds of Jewish students at The New School, a place where they find community, explore Jewish culture, access mental health support, celebrate Shabbat, and connect with Jewish students across Manhattan. That is what our Jewish student life looks like, and no vote will change that.

I am in close communication with Hillel International, New School administrators, and Jewish communal partners, and we will remain vigilant to ensure that Hillel at The New School continues to provide the Hillel experience, support, and resources our students deserve. We will not allow this action to disrupt the community that our students depend on.

Our doors remain open. Our programs continue. This hateful action by the Student Senate has not diminished, and will not diminish, one moment of Jewish life at The New School! We will continue to celebrate being Jewish at New School, connecting to all facets of our identity, traveling and supporting Israel, and building strong and resilient communities of Jewish students, staff and faculty, and hundreds of our amazing allies!

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Am Yisrael Chai,

Ilya Bratman 

Executive Director, Hillel at The New School