Yale University has 800 Jewish undergraduate students, representing 12% of the undergraduate student body, and 700 Jewish graduate students, 8% of the graduate student population. There is a Hillel called the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In January 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation into Yale following a complaint alleging that two Jewish students were barred from attending a panel called “Gaza Under Siege” based on their being Jewish.

The campus has witnessed a series of incidents and has experienced consistent pro-BDS action. Recent incidents have included a non-Jewish student being named on a flier distributed off campus that read “Jews like [Name of Student] continue to spew their anti-White hatred toward Whites and insists Whites feel guilty for slavery.”

There have been anti-Israel rallies featuring anti-Zionist rhetoric.

The Yale Women’s Center (YWC) intended to host a 3-day conference in April 2024 titled “Pinkwashing and Feminism(s) in Palestine” featuring multiple speakers known for antisemitic rhetoric. The YWC ultimately canceled this event.

University Policies and Responsive Action

Building on work completed by the Yale Antisemitism Campus Climate Group, Yale implemented a standing committee to “amplify the recommendations ... and continue to identify and address issues related to campus climate for the Jewish student community.” As part of this, the University has pledged to incorporate new educational programming on antisemitism into its training curriculum.

In addition, Yale announced it would fully fund the security costs for the Slifka Center and will provide funding to further support provision of kosher meals.

In March 2024, a group of 25 members of the Yale faculty visited Israel to foster connections between the University and Israeli academics.

In April 2024, Yale police arrested 47 protestors for trespassing during an anti-Israel demonstration. That same month, two days after a pro-Palestinian encampment was set up, Yale and New Haven police cleared the encampment. No arrests were made as all protestors disbanded after being asked to leave.