University of California, Berkeley has a Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations, a Center for Jewish Studies, and the Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights initiated a Title VI investigation following reports that several student organizations at UC Berkeley’s Law School adopted a pledge to not invite any speaker who supports Israel or Zionism.

In November 2023, Jewish groups sued UC Berkeley for its alleged failure to respond to “unchecked” antisemitism on campus, citing incidents of protesters assaulting a Jewish student draped in an Israeli flag with a metal water bottle, and of a professor cutting class short to rant against Israel.

In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened an additional Title VI investigation into allegations of antisemitism at UC Berkeley.

In February 2025, the Department of Education launched an investigation into alleged antisemitic discrimination at UC Berkeley. These matters were opened using the Department's power to launch investigations.

In March 2025, UC Berkeley was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI. In July 2025, UC Berkeley Chancellor Lyons testified in front of a U.S. House committee during a hearing on antisemitism. In September 2025, the University provided the federal government with the names of 160 faculty members and students as part of an investigation into “alleged antisemitic incidents.”

What’s Happening on Campus?

On February 26, 2024, several students reportedly disrupted an event featuring Israeli lawyer Ran Bar-Yoshafat. There were reports of intimidation, assault, and destruction of university property, and campus law enforcement had to escort Jewish students through underground hallways to evacuate the event. Bears for Palestine, a recognized student organization and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) affiliate, promoted the protest with the explicit aim of preventing the program from going forward.

In April 2024, an anti-Israel encampment, dubbed the Free Palestine Camp, was established. Signs at the encampment included ones stating “Hitler would be proud of Netanyahu” accompanied by an Israeli flag image with a swastika in its center, and “Glory to the Martyrs, victory to the Resistance!” “ANTI-ZION ZONE” was allegedly chalked in large letters on the main campus and the word “INTIFADA” was spray-painted near the campus gate. In April 2024, a Jewish student was reportedly punched in the face at the encampment after he refused to stop filming. In May 2024, a pro-Israel student was reportedly physically attacked when documenting the protests and the founder of Students Supporting Israel was reportedly punched in the head and verbally assaulted while waving an Israeli flag.

In October 2024, a van parked on the edge of campus displayed antisemitic and anti-Israel messages and symbols including: "Ashkenazis Europeans," a Star of David inside a swastika and an inverted red triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas. That same month, anti-Israel protesters celebrated the anniversary of Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel by dropping a banner from Sather Tower that read “Glory to the Resistance” with inverted red triangle imagery.

In September 2025, fake "Wanted" posters that depicted two Jewish regents and disparaged them as Zionists were distributed on campus.

In September 2025, a man not affiliated with the University was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for firebombing a UC Berkeley police car in a protest against Israel in June 2024.

University Policies and Responsive Action

In 2015, UC Berkeley established the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Jewish Student Life and Campus Climate. Berkeley launched the Antisemitism Education Initiative (AEI) in 2019, which is headed by a Program Director. AEI’s work has led to multiple training sessions for Equity & Inclusion, Student Affairs, and the Student Senate, UCPD and the Multicultural Community Center (MCC). Berkeley has also participated in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative; in Academic Engagement Network’s ‘Signature Seminar Series’; and Brandeis University’s Frieze Family Foundation Summer Institute on Antisemitism in Higher Education.

In Fall 2023, UC Berkeley increased security, using uniformed and plainclothes officers, as well as hiring private security at rallies and protests. Berkeley also reiterated its policy limiting faculty and instructors from using the classroom for political advocacy.

All students who file complaints with the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination receive a response with information about supportive services.

In March 2024, Chancellor Carol Christ agreed to a list of requests from Jewish professor Ron Hassner following a two-week-long sit-in protest in his office. These requests include ensuring that all students can freely pass through Sather Gate unobstructed, inviting back any speaker whose event had been disrupted or cancelled and funding mandatory antisemitism and Islamophobia training on campus for staff and incoming students.

In August 2024, University of California President Drake launched a UC-wide Campus Climate Initiative to help all UC locations develop campus climate action plans for fall 2024 and beyond. President Drake also issued a directive to all UC campuses to make clear to their campus communities that certain activities – including encampments, masking to conceal identities, and restricting free movement – are prohibited. UC Berkeley’s Chancellor, Richard Lyons followed up on the directive stating that harassment and discrimination would not be tolerated.

Beginning in the 2024-25 academic year, UC Berkeley began providing education about antisemitism to all new students, leaders of student organizations, and Resident Advisors. Additionally, efforts to promote civil discourse include a series of Bridge Builders workshops, a series on Effective Communication Across Differences, and a new Berkeley Bridging Fellowship Program organized by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Center for Jewish Studies.

Other programs on campus include a year-long Democracy and Dialogue series focusing on media literacy and misinformation, a Healing Justice series, and a faculty-specific Teaching and Working in Troubled Times skills course. Berkeley Hillel has also provided multiple resources and workshops for students to learn how to identify and address antisemitism on campus.

Ahead of the 2025-26 academic year, UC Berkeley released a new Expressive Activity Policy that governs protests and demonstrations. The University also created a new position within the campus police department’s Security Patrol Officer Program, dedicated solely to monitoring awareness and enforcement of Time, Place, and Manner rules. At the same time, the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, which oversees Title VI and Title VII compliance, has now established a process to track antisemitic incidents separately from other reported hate incidents, creating greater transparency and accountability.

In Summer 2025, Berkeley administrators participated in the Brandeis Summer Institute on Antisemitism in Higher Education. The Program Director of the Antisemitism Education Initiative has since provided trainings for student senators in student government, for officers in the UC Police Department, and - in October 2025 - for all campus staff in partnership with Human Resources.

The University has also appointed a Campus Director of Mediation and Conflict Transformation to help students and faculty engage across differences and has expanded its Bridging Fellowship Program with increased funding for at least three years, launched a new course titled Openness to Opposing Views, and developed a new community standards website.

In addition, the University committed $500,000 in new funding for the Israel Studies Program, and the Helen Diller Institute welcomed six visiting faculty from Israel in 2025–26 to teach more than fifteen courses across literature, history, law, film, architecture, and sociology.

University of California, Berkeley has a Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations, a Center for Jewish Studies, and the Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights initiated a Title VI investigation following reports that several student organizations at UC Berkeley’s Law School adopted a pledge to not invite any speaker who supports Israel or Zionism.

In November 2023, Jewish groups sued UC Berkeley for its alleged failure to respond to “unchecked” antisemitism on campus, citing incidents of protesters assaulting a Jewish student draped in an Israeli flag with a metal water bottle, and of a professor cutting class short to rant against Israel.

In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened an additional Title VI investigation into allegations of antisemitism at UC Berkeley.

In February 2025, the Department of Education launched an investigation into alleged antisemitic discrimination at UC Berkeley. These matters were opened using the Department's power to launch investigations.

In March 2025, UC Berkeley was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI. In July 2025, UC Berkeley Chancellor Lyons testified in front of a U.S. House committee during a hearing on antisemitism. In September 2025, the University provided the federal government with the names of 160 faculty members and students as part of an investigation into “alleged antisemitic incidents.”

What’s Happening on Campus?

On February 26, 2024, several students reportedly disrupted an event featuring Israeli lawyer Ran Bar-Yoshafat. There were reports of intimidation, assault, and destruction of university property, and campus law enforcement had to escort Jewish students through underground hallways to evacuate the event. Bears for Palestine, a recognized student organization and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) affiliate, promoted the protest with the explicit aim of preventing the program from going forward.

In April 2024, an anti-Israel encampment, dubbed the Free Palestine Camp, was established. Signs at the encampment included ones stating “Hitler would be proud of Netanyahu” accompanied by an Israeli flag image with a swastika in its center, and “Glory to the Martyrs, victory to the Resistance!” “ANTI-ZION ZONE” was allegedly chalked in large letters on the main campus and the word “INTIFADA” was spray-painted near the campus gate. In April 2024, a Jewish student was reportedly punched in the face at the encampment after he refused to stop filming. In May 2024, a pro-Israel student was reportedly physically attacked when documenting the protests and the founder of Students Supporting Israel was reportedly punched in the head and verbally assaulted while waving an Israeli flag.

In October 2024, a van parked on the edge of campus displayed antisemitic and anti-Israel messages and symbols including: "Ashkenazis Europeans," a Star of David inside a swastika and an inverted red triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas. That same month, anti-Israel protesters celebrated the anniversary of Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel by dropping a banner from Sather Tower that read “Glory to the Resistance” with inverted red triangle imagery.

In September 2025, fake "Wanted" posters that depicted two Jewish regents and disparaged them as Zionists were distributed on campus.

In September 2025, a man not affiliated with the University was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for firebombing a UC Berkeley police car in a protest against Israel in June 2024.

University Policies and Responsive Action

In 2015, UC Berkeley established the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Jewish Student Life and Campus Climate. Berkeley launched the Antisemitism Education Initiative (AEI) in 2019, which is headed by a Program Director. AEI’s work has led to multiple training sessions for Equity & Inclusion, Student Affairs, and the Student Senate, UCPD and the Multicultural Community Center (MCC). Berkeley has also participated in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative; in Academic Engagement Network’s ‘Signature Seminar Series’; and Brandeis University’s Frieze Family Foundation Summer Institute on Antisemitism in Higher Education.

In Fall 2023, UC Berkeley increased security, using uniformed and plainclothes officers, as well as hiring private security at rallies and protests. Berkeley also reiterated its policy limiting faculty and instructors from using the classroom for political advocacy.

All students who file complaints with the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination receive a response with information about supportive services.

In March 2024, Chancellor Carol Christ agreed to a list of requests from Jewish professor Ron Hassner following a two-week-long sit-in protest in his office. These requests include ensuring that all students can freely pass through Sather Gate unobstructed, inviting back any speaker whose event had been disrupted or cancelled and funding mandatory antisemitism and Islamophobia training on campus for staff and incoming students.

In August 2024, University of California President Drake launched a UC-wide Campus Climate Initiative to help all UC locations develop campus climate action plans for fall 2024 and beyond. President Drake also issued a directive to all UC campuses to make clear to their campus communities that certain activities – including encampments, masking to conceal identities, and restricting free movement – are prohibited. UC Berkeley’s Chancellor, Richard Lyons followed up on the directive stating that harassment and discrimination would not be tolerated.

Beginning in the 2024-25 academic year, UC Berkeley began providing education about antisemitism to all new students, leaders of student organizations, and Resident Advisors. Additionally, efforts to promote civil discourse include a series of Bridge Builders workshops, a series on Effective Communication Across Differences, and a new Berkeley Bridging Fellowship Program organized by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Center for Jewish Studies.

Other programs on campus include a year-long Democracy and Dialogue series focusing on media literacy and misinformation, a Healing Justice series, and a faculty-specific Teaching and Working in Troubled Times skills course. Berkeley Hillel has also provided multiple resources and workshops for students to learn how to identify and address antisemitism on campus.

Ahead of the 2025-26 academic year, UC Berkeley released a new Expressive Activity Policy that governs protests and demonstrations. The University also created a new position within the campus police department’s Security Patrol Officer Program, dedicated solely to monitoring awareness and enforcement of Time, Place, and Manner rules. At the same time, the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, which oversees Title VI and Title VII compliance, has now established a process to track antisemitic incidents separately from other reported hate incidents, creating greater transparency and accountability.

In Summer 2025, Berkeley administrators participated in the Brandeis Summer Institute on Antisemitism in Higher Education. The Program Director of the Antisemitism Education Initiative has since provided trainings for student senators in student government, for officers in the UC Police Department, and - in October 2025 - for all campus staff in partnership with Human Resources.

The University has also appointed a Campus Director of Mediation and Conflict Transformation to help students and faculty engage across differences and has expanded its Bridging Fellowship Program with increased funding for at least three years, launched a new course titled Openness to Opposing Views, and developed a new community standards website.

In addition, the University committed $500,000 in new funding for the Israel Studies Program, and the Helen Diller Institute welcomed six visiting faculty from Israel in 2025–26 to teach more than fifteen courses across literature, history, law, film, architecture, and sociology.

University of California, Berkeley has a Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations, a Center for Jewish Studies, and the Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights initiated a Title VI investigation following reports that several student organizations at UC Berkeley’s Law School adopted a pledge to not invite any speaker who supports Israel or Zionism.

In November 2023, Jewish groups sued UC Berkeley for its alleged failure to respond to “unchecked” antisemitism on campus, citing incidents of protesters assaulting a Jewish student draped in an Israeli flag with a metal water bottle, and of a professor cutting class short to rant against Israel.

In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened an additional Title VI investigation into allegations of antisemitism at UC Berkeley.

In February 2025, the Department of Education launched an investigation into alleged antisemitic discrimination at UC Berkeley. These matters were opened using the Department's power to launch investigations.

In March 2025, UC Berkeley was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI. In July 2025, UC Berkeley Chancellor Lyons testified in front of a U.S. House committee during a hearing on antisemitism. In September 2025, the University provided the federal government with the names of 160 faculty members and students as part of an investigation into “alleged antisemitic incidents.”

What’s Happening on Campus?

On February 26, 2024, several students reportedly disrupted an event featuring Israeli lawyer Ran Bar-Yoshafat. There were reports of intimidation, assault, and destruction of university property, and campus law enforcement had to escort Jewish students through underground hallways to evacuate the event. Bears for Palestine, a recognized student organization and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) affiliate, promoted the protest with the explicit aim of preventing the program from going forward.

In April 2024, an anti-Israel encampment, dubbed the Free Palestine Camp, was established. Signs at the encampment included ones stating “Hitler would be proud of Netanyahu” accompanied by an Israeli flag image with a swastika in its center, and “Glory to the Martyrs, victory to the Resistance!” “ANTI-ZION ZONE” was allegedly chalked in large letters on the main campus and the word “INTIFADA” was spray-painted near the campus gate. In April 2024, a Jewish student was reportedly punched in the face at the encampment after he refused to stop filming. In May 2024, a pro-Israel student was reportedly physically attacked when documenting the protests and the founder of Students Supporting Israel was reportedly punched in the head and verbally assaulted while waving an Israeli flag.

In October 2024, a van parked on the edge of campus displayed antisemitic and anti-Israel messages and symbols including: "Ashkenazis Europeans," a Star of David inside a swastika and an inverted red triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas. That same month, anti-Israel protesters celebrated the anniversary of Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel by dropping a banner from Sather Tower that read “Glory to the Resistance” with inverted red triangle imagery.

In September 2025, fake "Wanted" posters that depicted two Jewish regents and disparaged them as Zionists were distributed on campus.

In September 2025, a man not affiliated with the University was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for firebombing a UC Berkeley police car in a protest against Israel in June 2024.

University Policies and Responsive Action

In 2015, UC Berkeley established the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Jewish Student Life and Campus Climate. Berkeley launched the Antisemitism Education Initiative (AEI) in 2019, which is headed by a Program Director. AEI’s work has led to multiple training sessions for Equity & Inclusion, Student Affairs, and the Student Senate, UCPD and the Multicultural Community Center (MCC). Berkeley has also participated in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative; in Academic Engagement Network’s ‘Signature Seminar Series’; and Brandeis University’s Frieze Family Foundation Summer Institute on Antisemitism in Higher Education.

In Fall 2023, UC Berkeley increased security, using uniformed and plainclothes officers, as well as hiring private security at rallies and protests. Berkeley also reiterated its policy limiting faculty and instructors from using the classroom for political advocacy.

All students who file complaints with the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination receive a response with information about supportive services.

In March 2024, Chancellor Carol Christ agreed to a list of requests from Jewish professor Ron Hassner following a two-week-long sit-in protest in his office. These requests include ensuring that all students can freely pass through Sather Gate unobstructed, inviting back any speaker whose event had been disrupted or cancelled and funding mandatory antisemitism and Islamophobia training on campus for staff and incoming students.

In August 2024, University of California President Drake launched a UC-wide Campus Climate Initiative to help all UC locations develop campus climate action plans for fall 2024 and beyond. President Drake also issued a directive to all UC campuses to make clear to their campus communities that certain activities – including encampments, masking to conceal identities, and restricting free movement – are prohibited. UC Berkeley’s Chancellor, Richard Lyons followed up on the directive stating that harassment and discrimination would not be tolerated.

Beginning in the 2024-25 academic year, UC Berkeley began providing education about antisemitism to all new students, leaders of student organizations, and Resident Advisors. Additionally, efforts to promote civil discourse include a series of Bridge Builders workshops, a series on Effective Communication Across Differences, and a new Berkeley Bridging Fellowship Program organized by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Center for Jewish Studies.

Other programs on campus include a year-long Democracy and Dialogue series focusing on media literacy and misinformation, a Healing Justice series, and a faculty-specific Teaching and Working in Troubled Times skills course. Berkeley Hillel has also provided multiple resources and workshops for students to learn how to identify and address antisemitism on campus.

Ahead of the 2025-26 academic year, UC Berkeley released a new Expressive Activity Policy that governs protests and demonstrations. The University also created a new position within the campus police department’s Security Patrol Officer Program, dedicated solely to monitoring awareness and enforcement of Time, Place, and Manner rules. At the same time, the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, which oversees Title VI and Title VII compliance, has now established a process to track antisemitic incidents separately from other reported hate incidents, creating greater transparency and accountability.

In Summer 2025, Berkeley administrators participated in the Brandeis Summer Institute on Antisemitism in Higher Education. The Program Director of the Antisemitism Education Initiative has since provided trainings for student senators in student government, for officers in the UC Police Department, and - in October 2025 - for all campus staff in partnership with Human Resources.

The University has also appointed a Campus Director of Mediation and Conflict Transformation to help students and faculty engage across differences and has expanded its Bridging Fellowship Program with increased funding for at least three years, launched a new course titled Openness to Opposing Views, and developed a new community standards website.

In addition, the University committed $500,000 in new funding for the Israel Studies Program, and the Helen Diller Institute welcomed six visiting faculty from Israel in 2025–26 to teach more than fifteen courses across literature, history, law, film, architecture, and sociology.