Thread by @BarakMendelsohn

As Haverford College still ignores & enables anti-Semitism, Jews take note. Below a sad email from incoming student who decided he no longer interested in studying in an environment of anti-Semitism. I doubt the college cares. Not sure they won't be happier with fewer Jews 1/

Professor Mendelsohn,
sorry about being absent, currently in Israel & been here the whole summer volunteering at an organization called Achim L’Chaim (Brothers for Life) that helps with the rehabilitation of injured IDF soldiers and helping them get their lives back together 2/

This is a very tough decision for me as I truly though Haverford would be the place for me to thrive academically and socially. I thought that everything would pass over the summer and I’d be able to fight the last parts of anti-semitism on campus when I got to Haverford 3/

but it doesn’t seem that way. I’ve connected with a good amount of people through social media that would be in my Haverford class had several issues. 4/

First, had some great conversations with other students but when they hear that I went to Jewish Day School and am Jew, I get asked almost immediately if I support Israel and if I’m Zionist, I either get blocked or ridiculed by other Haverford students who I barely even know 5/

Additionally I’m on multiple Haverford class of 2028 group chats where we go meet & ask questions & various individuals have just been sending posts & threads about how Israeli Jews are colonizers and murders — I replied back asking them to create a new group chat 6/

or something where they can voice their opinions on this stuff but it would be better to not have this stuff sent on a new admitted student group chat as this is not the place to do that as well as the fact that these posts are making me uncomfortable 7/

Several people asked me to explain why these posts make me uncomfortable. I explained myself to only then be told hurtful things that I’m supporter of genocide, that they're glad I feel uncomfortable, that I’m brainwashed, & that I don’t belong @ Haverford if I support Israel 8/

Other instances where new students just post anti-zionist stuff on their accounts just didn’t help with the over all feeling that I’m not going to be safe, respected, or accepted into the Haverford community 9/

Secondly, I see all of the SJP, JVP, and faculty justice for Palestine posting how proud they are about what happened at graduation and even summer reading lists to prepare Haverford students for the “free Palestine” movement in the fall. 10/

And although these posts are bothering the part that really got me is that these accounts are encouraging these books and articles to the new Haverford students to join and integrate in the Haverford community. 11/

And not just are these accounts posting this stuff, new Haverford admits are commenting on the posts that they can’t wait to join the movement next year and talking in chats about reading these “summer reading lists” to join the movement and the Haverford community. 12/

Finally, I fear that the administration doesn’t care. I haven’t heard any communication addressing the anti-semitism on campus. 13/

what specifically bothered me was email by President Raymond at end of the year about her hopes for next year where she addresses certain things she wants community to work on. Nowhere email was there anything about the rampant anti-semitism & intimidation at Haverford. 14/

Her communication as well as the whole administration’s communications seem to act like there is no issue making me feel like they don’t care about Jewish students and what they’re experiencing. 15/

b/w social media interactions w/ new students, promotion of “reading lists” to get accepted into Haverford community & lack of any communication regarding antisemetism makes me think I’m not wanted, won’t be accepted, & will have to spend all of my energy fighting 16/

w/ no support or backing. I’m really sorry because I truly wanted to attend Haverford, but I’m scared that I’m not going to learn and I’m not going to be safe. 17/

It sounds crazy but I feel safer in Israel in a war zone that is about to be attacked by Iran and its proxies then I do in America and I fear that this feeling will be what I feel like everyday at Haverford — scared to be a Jew in what was supposed to be my second home. 18/

I want you to know that this was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make and that you being at Haverford and being able to talk to you and be in your classes was one of the only, if not the only thing that led me to keep considering staying in Haverford. 19/