Antisemitism and Academia: A Conversation with Professor Menahem Ben-Sasson

On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Professor Menahem Ben-Sasson, Chancellor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, spoke at the home of Dr. Jeffrey and Emily Kuvin on the topic of Antisemitism and Academia. Dr. Kuvin, who serves as the AFHU Northeast Region Board President, offered opening and closing remarks referencing his family’s long affiliation with Hebrew University over three generations. Dr. Kuvin is the Chair of the International Advisory Committee of the Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, which was founded by his father in 1976.

As a scholar in the Department of the History of the Jewish People at the Hebrew University, Professor Ben-Sasson is an expert in Jewish Studies and has researched and written extensively on a wide variety of topics, including the Jewish communities in Muslim countries, relations between religion and economy, and law and spirituality as authoritative sources in the Eastern society of the Middle Ages. At the Kuvin reception, Prof. Ben-Sasson framed the current spike in antisemitism on campuses across the world within the context of Jewish history and other forms of antisemitism throughout millennia. The Chancellor shared Hebrew University’s response to leadership at U.S. universities and emphasized the vital role that academia must play in modeling coexistence. Importantly, the campuses at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have been very positive examples of open dialogue and respect.

At the event, Professor Ben-Sasson reinforced Hebrew University’s commitment to its students and faculty during this difficult time, and many guests made new commitments to support AFHU’s We Are One Fund to support emergency needs during this crisis.