Shabbos Kestenbaum

Shabbos Kestenbaum (born December 19, 1998) is an American Jewish activist and graduate of Harvard Divinity School. He is known for leading a lawsuit against Harvard University, filed in January 2024, which alleges that the university failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

Early life

Kestenbaum was born on December 19, 1998, in Teaneck, New Jersey, to Daniel and Hadassah Kestenbaum, British immigrants. He is one of seven siblings and was named Shabbos because he was born on the Jewish Sabbath. His family later moved to the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York, where he attended SAR Academy, a local Modern Orthodox Jewish day school. During his youth, he expressed opposition to the Iraq War in a school journal. He then studied at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem for two years, from 2017 to 2019.

Kestenbaum attended Queens College, where he served as president of Hillel and Student Senator and graduated ''summa cum laude''.

Harvard

Kestenbaum then attended Harvard Divinity School, graduating in May 2024. While at Harvard, he became increasingly vocal about experienced antisemitism on campus. This included harassment of Jewish students during protests, antisemitic messages on a university app, and vandalism of posters about Israeli hostages.

Lawsuit against Harvard University

In January 2024, Kestenbaum was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Harvard University. The lawsuit included six anonymous Jewish students under the name Students Against Antisemitism and alleged that the university failed to address antisemitic harassment and discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students, particularly following the October 7 attacks. The plaintiffs claimed that Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by not protecting Jewish and Israeli students from discrimination and harassment, breached contractual obligations, and failed to uphold the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

In April 2024, the university filed to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that they had worked to combat campus antisemitism. However the motion was rejected in August by federal judge Richard G. Stearns, who pointed out that there were many instances when Harvard had failed to respond to antisemitism.

In January 2025, Harvard settled the lawsuit with the other plaintiffs, agreeing to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, host an annual symposium on antisemitism, and partner with an Israeli university. Kestenbaum declined to join the settlement and continued pursuing his claims separately. On May 15, he agreed a confidential settlement with Harvard.

Political involvement

Initially a registered Democrat and supporter of progressive candidates like Bernie Sanders, Kestenbaum gained attention for speaking at the Republican National Convention in July 2024. During his speech, he highlighted issues of antisemitism and criticized Harvard University's handling of such incidents. He expressed disillusionment with antisemitic elements within both far-left and far-right factions. His speech was reportedly well-received by the audience. He endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, citing dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership and the party's handling of antisemitism and emphasizing the need for stronger measures against antisemitism.

Kestenbaum has testified multiple times before the United States Congress regarding antisemitism on college campuses. He has also spoken before the Israeli Knesset, where he was honored for his efforts in combating antisemitism. He also has appeared as a commentator on national news platforms including CNN, Fox News, and Newsmax.

Kestenbaum also ran on Aish HaTorah's Aish Ha’am slate in the elections for the 39th World Zionist Congress, held between March 10 and May 4, 2025.

Reaction

Kestenbaum's advocacy and public statements have elicited varied responses, particularly within the Jewish community and broader public discourse.

Within parts of the Jewish community and among conservative circles, he has been lauded as a courageous and impactful figure. He is viewed by some as a crucial advocate for addressing antisemitism on college campuses and defending Jewish rights, with one publication describing him as a "rising star" and "future leader of the Jewish people." His lawsuit against Harvard received significant national attention and became a focal point in the broader debate about antisemitism in higher education. Kestenbaum himself stated that the lawsuit "drew the nation's attention to the scourge of antisemitism at Harvard and other campuses, and it also caught the attention of President Trump and his Department of Education." Rabbi Shlomo Riskin has remarked that Kestenbaum is "not just a speaker — he's a builder" who is "helping to shape the next chapter of Jewish public life, and he's doing it with both vision and integrity."

However, his approach and alignment with conservative platforms have also drawn criticism. Some critics, including other Jewish students and commentators, argue that Kestenbaum's narrative exaggerates the experiences of Jewish students at universities like Harvard and serves political rather than educational aims. For example, a former classmate from Harvard Divinity School stated that Kestenbaum's depiction of antisemitism at Harvard did not reflect the experience of "much of Harvard's Jewish population" and that his rhetoric was used to "weaponize his individual story and experience to conceal their very real antisemitism." Another opinion piece in the '' Forward'' argued that Kestenbaum "misrepresents Jewish values" and is a "campus provocateur with a record of inflammatory statements and actions" who is exploited by "political opportunists on the right."

Personal

Kestenbaum works with the Jewish community in Poland, preserving Jewish heritage and promoting Jewish education, and has visited numerous times since he turned 18. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he returned to Poland to help support the Ukrainian refugees there. He worked as an intern at the Jewish Community Centre of Kraków in Poland in the summer of 2023 and took part in its Ride For The Living fundraiser.

Kestenbaum identifies as a liberal first-generation American and Orthodox Jew. He remains politically active and continues to advocate for issues he believes in, regardless of party affiliation. he plans to move to Los Angeles for a job in PragerU. In May 2025, he donated his kidney to an anonymous recipient through the Renewal organization.

References

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1998 births
Living people
Jews from New York (state)
Queens College, City University of New York alumni
Harvard Divinity School alumni
Jewish American activists
American Modern Orthodox Jews
American activists
Activists against antisemitism
People from Riverdale, Bronx
People from Teaneck, New Jersey
Opposition to antisemitism in the United States
Jews from New Jersey
American people of British descent