Action in the Face of Antisemitism

At Touro University, education is the key to empowerment and action is critical to combating antisemitism. This year, Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center launched the nation’s first-ever antisemitism clinic at a law school. Led by Mark Goldfeder, a rabbi and lawyer whose academic focus has been on constitutional and international law, this clinic is designed to train the next generation of legal advocates.

“We plan to produce advocates who will contribute in a meaningful way to the community, whether through litigation, legislation or education,” says Goldfeder. “Our graduates will use the skills they learn to defend individuals or institutions, advocate for meaningful change and address antisemitism in real-life, impactful ways, including, for example, in employment and housing discrimination. The training we provide will equip our students with the skills and legal background they need to make a difference.”

The Touro Law students are learning from a professor whose real-world experience is already influencing policy. In fact, Goldfeder wrote the seminal law review article, “Defining Antisemitism,” after much discussion in the national arena around the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Largely as a result of his work, a supermajority of U.S. states have now adopted this definition in some form. Beyond that, Goldfeder founded The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC), a nonprofit that addresses antisemitism with advocacy, expert testimony, legislation and litigation. In that role, he has testified before Congress and the Senate on antisemitism and engages in strategic impact litigation, using new legal theories to expand the toolbox of ways in which the legal system can address anti-Jewish discrimination.

Hands-On, Real-World Training

Touro Law students enrolled in the clinic are given extensive background training on various areas of law ranging from Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to the Anti-Terrorism Act. They are then assigned hands-on opportunities to develop their legal skills; working under a team of dedicated experts supervised by Goldfeder, they interact directly with clients and learn the process of handling a case from start to finish. The goal is that by the end of their training, they will be equipped to handle matters on their own. The students are also offered the opportunity to extend their training and experience through internships and externships at organizations that fight antisemitism.

“I’m grateful to Touro for creating a space where students can pursue justice while standing proudly for our Jewish identity and the broader community,” says Jacob Gaon, a third-year Touro Law student who is participating in the antisemitism clinic. “The clinic provides us with a rare opportunity to engage in meaningful legal advocacy under the guidance of one of the nation’s leading experts on religious liberty and Jewish civil rights.”

This semester, clinic students have completed trainings on antisemitism for the FBI, Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies; worked with the NYC Antisemitism Task Force; and met with senior administration officials. The students have worked on state, federal and international cases, and are developing areas of expertise. Several are also working on accompanying academic papers to submit for publication.

“It’s amazing how quickly the Antisemitism Law Clinic has made an impact—in the community and in the classroom,” says Goldfeder. “Our students aren’t just studying the law—they’re out there using it—helping real clients, shaping policy and standing up for Jewish civil rights. You can see them growing into advocates in real time. We’re really proud of what’s being built here, and we’re just getting started—next semester, we’ll be expanding our partnerships and taking on new cases that push the boundaries of what civil rights protection can look like.”