First-of-Its-Kind Antisemitism Institute Aimed at Dismantling Antisemitism in Academia

The Institute builds on Touro’s decades-long legacy of providing academic and practical resources to root out antisemitism and hatred of all kinds, specifically in academia. Through the establishment of the Touro University Antisemitism Institute, Touro will take a multi-pronged approach: partnering with and educating professors from universities nationwide to teach rigorous courses on antisemitism and Jewish peoplehood within their own disciplines; disseminating research on the causes and impact of antisemitism; studying how existing laws can be used to combat hate, and evaluating the need for new legislation; examining the role of social media in the spread of antisemitism; teaching the next generation of Jewish civil rights attorneys how to actually handle cases in the field; and convening leaders across academia, policy, law, media, and business to share key learnings and develop new strategies for confronting antisemitism.

“As we approach the two-year anniversary of the encampments on college campuses, it is not lost on me that more than 70% of Jewish college students have experienced antisemitism of some sort at their universities,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, President of Touro University. “While we can’t protect against every instance, education is the first step to rooting out hatred, bias and violence, which is why Touro has established this institute. The college years are among the most formative in a young person’s life and through the establishment of this institute, Touro is committing to serve as a beacon for those interested in taking a stand against hatred and making campuses and communities safe for all.”

While the institute will unveil new programming in the months to come, an inaugural effort will begin this summer with The Touro University Teaching Fellowship to Combat Campus Antisemitism, led by Professor Mark Goldfeder in association with National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC). This new initiative is designed to help professors build and teach rigorous undergraduate and graduate courses—within their existing academic specialties—that strengthen campus understanding of antisemitism, civil rights protections and the modern challenges facing Jewish students and Israel today. The first cohort of fellows will take part in this program in the Summer of 2026.

“This fellowship is about reclaiming the campus as a serious place for scholarship, fairness and safety—through the most powerful tool available to universities—the classroom,” said Professor Goldfeder.

In addition, the Institute will also host Touro’s first-ever conference on antisemitism in New York City in the Fall of 2026, bringing together leaders in politics, academics, media and business to understand, confront and combat antisemitism through education and research, coalition building, and legal strategies with the goal of weeding out antisemitism across academia. The conference will be led by Professor Ido Aharoni Aronoff, former Israeli Consul General.

The institute will serve as an umbrella for Touro’s existing work in this space, bringing together under one roof:

• The Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, which promotes tolerance and human rights through advocacy and education.
• The Antisemitism Law Clinic at Touro Law Center, which launched last year in the wake of October 7 and is the nation’s first law school clinic dedicated to combatting antisemitism.
• The Jewish Law Institute at Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, which provides a scholarly framework for studying the intersection of Jewish law, American law, and legal ethics, and serves as a national clearinghouse for new ideas and independent research.
• A History of Antisemitism Course, open to all Touro undergrad and graduate students and the community at large.

“Touro University’s launch of an Antisemitism Institute is both timely and essential. At a moment when Jewish communities in New York and across the country are facing a disturbing rise in antisemitism, initiatives like this play a critical role in education, research, and combating hate. I commend Touro for its leadership and commitment to ensuring the next generation is equipped to stand up against antisemitism in all its forms,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

The institute will bridge academic research, policy, legal response, and on-the‑ground education – serving as a central hub for students, faculty, community members, researchers, and practitioners, and empowering them with the tools to understand, prevent, and counter antisemitism in all its forms.

For more information about the Touro University Antisemitism Institute, please contact the Institute Director, Malka Fleischmann at malka.fleischmann@touro.edu.