University to pursue investigation, increase security following antisemitic emails

This story is breaking and will be updated.

The FBI and law enforcement are working with the University to conduct an ongoing investigation into antisemitic emails sent to members of Stanford’s Jewish community over the weekend, according to a University statement issued Monday morning.

An email sent to seven members of Stanford Hillel leadership and Jewish leaders on campus accused Jewish community members of numerous unfounded and conspiracist claims, threatening a program to “monitor” their behavior. The email was also sent to The Daily’s Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer, and the Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS).

In their emails, the authors claimed to belong to a “watchdog” based in Europe and composed of Stanford alumni. The group communicated via an email address with the username “exposingstanfordjews.”

In a second message, the group alleged the existence of “acute credible threats against the personal safety of Jewish Stanford undergraduate and graduate students.” The message was sent to The Daily, SUDPS, Stanford’s Office for Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) and leadership of the Taube Center for Jewish Studies.

“The university strongly condemns the targeting of our Jewish community in this manner,” Vice Provost for Institutional Access, Equity and Community Patrick Dunkley wrote in the statement. “The security and well-being of our campus is our top priority, and we are following up with the affected individuals to provide all necessary support.”

In a message to Jewish community members Monday morning, Hillel executive director and Senior Rabbi Jessica Kirschner wrote, “It is very disturbing to receive these kinds of emails, but the folks most directly impacted are all doing ok.” 

“While the FBI and other professionals do their work, the best way I know to combat hate is to be proudly, deeply Jewish, and to keep building community with each other and with caring people across Stanford,” she wrote.

The emails came over a year after a University Subcommittee on Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias (ASAIB) detailed several dozen instances of antisemitism on campus. The ASAIB report identified swastika-related vandalism and physical threats to pro-Israel students, concluding that antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias is “widespread and pernicious” at Stanford.

“There has been an increase in incidents over the last 5+ years, with a steep increase following October 7, 2023,”  Kirschner wrote to The Daily. “As much as we might think Stanford is a bubble, this follows national and international trends of increasing antisemitism. No one should do this to other people, and no one should have to receive it.”

According to Kirschner’s message to Jewish community members, Purim celebrations will continue this week with additional security in place.

“We are proud of who we are and what we have to share as Stanford citizens,” Kirschner wrote. “The best way to address hate is to strengthen the bonds of mutual connection and trust.”

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