43. Unpacking Antisemitism on College Campuses with Shai Goldman

The Estee Show - Product Management & Business Insights

In this episode, Estee and Shai delve into the unsettling rise of antisemitism on college campuses since the fall of last year, triggered by chants and protests calling for violence against Jews. They discuss a significant Congressional hearing involving leaders from top universities and their controversial stance on whether such chants violate school policies. The conversation includes an exploration of the ideological environment within universities, comparing it to the educational values in Orthodox yeshivas. The guest shares insights from his experience at Columbia University and reflects on the broader implications for Western values, student behavior, and institutional integrity. The discussion also tackles the role of administration, faculty, and the potential long-term consequences for American society, emphasizing the need for awareness and action against these growing issues.

00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview

00:31 Protests and University Responses

02:35 Comparing Educational Experiences

04:49 Critique of University Attitudes

08:55 Historical and Cultural Context

13:08 Normalization of Anti-Semitism

24:18 Future Implications and Solutions

31:22 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Shai’s article: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/tale-of-two-academies

Bio: Shai Goldman is a software engineer based in New York City. He spent three years studying Talmud at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut before going on to receive his B.A. from Columbia University in 2024. His article, "Tale of Two Academies," was recently published in Tablet Magazine and explores the difference between the yeshiva and university models of education in order to explain why today's top American universities are subsumed by backwards ideologies and pedagogical missteps.