Entries by Pamela Nadell

A Brief History of Antisemitism in U.S. Higher Education

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A recent Washington Post article traces the deep-rooted history of antisemitism in American higher education from the 18th century to today’s campus tensions. Pamela Nadell, a historian and director of American University’s Jewish Studies Program, explains how Columbia University, like other elite institutions in the 1920s, restricted Jewish admissions to preserve its Protestant-dominated culture. The article highlights how such exclusionary policies shaped university demographics and how antisemitism continues to manifest in academic settings today.

The Gaza Crisis is Stoking Antisemitism in the U.S.

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As antisemitic incidents spike across the U.S. in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, experts warn of an alarming rise in hate crimes, online vitriol, and harassment of Jewish students. NBC News reports on this disturbing trend, with historian Pamela Nadell noting that while antisemitism has long been part of American history, the unprecedented scale and intensity of social media-fueled hatred make this moment particularly dangerous.