Posted on 07/30/24
New York, NY - July 30, 2024 - Agudath Israel of America, along with The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, submitted an amicus “friend of the court” brief in a case seeking to hold UCLA accountable for failing to address antisemitic activity on campus. The lawsuit, Frankel, et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al., was brought by three Jewish students attending UCLA, Yitzchok Frenkel, Joshua Ghayoum, and Eden Shemulian, and describes how UCLA administration initially permitted a pro-Hamas encampment to exist on campus and allowed the establishment of a “Jew Exclusion Zone” at the University earlier this year.
The brief urged the court to grant a preliminary injunction requiring UCLA to take measures ensuring that such discriminatory actions, which prevented Jewish students from having full and equal access to the campus, facilities, and programs, do not occur again.
Agudath Israel’s submission highlighted UCLA's utter failure to protect its Jewish students and emphasized the increased risks faced by Orthodox Jewish students due to their religious attire. A significant portion of the brief catalogued antisemitic incidents at major universities across America.
Following a hearing on the motion, on July 29, United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, ordered UCLA to “meet and confer” with the students’ attorneys to agree on the parameters of a plan that ensures the free exercise rights of Jewish students on campus is not abrogated. That plan must be submitted to the Court by August 5.
“The incidents at UCLA are deeply troubling and unacceptable,” said Daniel Kaminetsky, General Counsel of Agudath Israel. “No student should ever feel unsafe or unwelcome on their campus. Orthodox Jews, especially, are more easily identifiable because of their religious dress and are therefore most vulnerable to antisemitic harassment. What occurred at UCLA and many other college campuses is simply intolerable. We are pleased the United States District Court recognized the injustice that occurred at UCLA and is taking measures to ensure it do not recur.”
Agudath Israel thanks attorneys Zack Tripp and Jacob Altik of Weil, Gotshal & Manges for authoring the brief, as well as Agudath Israel’s General Counsel Daniel Kaminetsky and summer intern Jacob Nayowitz who assisted them