Hillel files, then withdraws, brief supporting Harvard's campus antisemitism fight against Trump

Hillel International filed and subsequently withdrew an amicus brief that supported Harvard University in its legal battle with the Trump administration concerning campus antisemitism enforcement. The brief, submitted on Wednesday, was reportedly filed without undergoing the organization's internal review process, according to a Hillel representative.

The swift reversal by Hillel International added another layer of complexity to the ongoing efforts by institutional Jewish organizations to combat campus antisemitism while simultaneously expressing apprehension about aggressive government enforcement mechanisms. In its now-withdrawn brief, Hillel had asserted that Harvard had made progress in addressing antisemitism on campus.

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was filed without having gone through our internal review process.

Furthermore, the brief contended that the Trump administration's threats to defund the university "do not help Jewish students or improve the campus climate." It argued that such measures "disproportionately impact the very Jewish students and Jewish researchers the government purportedly seeks to help." This filing followed Harvard's own brief, which addresses federal attempts to freeze over $2 billion in government contracts and grants based on antisemitism concerns.

Jewish legacy groups have been navigating a delicate balance between demanding stricter measures against campus antisemitism and worrying that the Trump administration's threats of significant funding cuts could negatively affect research and students. Mark Rotenberg, Hillel International's general counsel, and attorney David Zimmer, who signed the brief, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Harvard Hillel, an independent entity, stated it was not involved in the filing or withdrawal decision.

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do not help Jewish students or improve the campus climate. To the contrary, they disproportionately impact the very Jewish students and Jewish researchers the government purportedly seeks to help.