# 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 in Teaneck, New Jersey, to a family of seven siblings. 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.

## Academic career

Kestenbaum attended Queens College, where he served as president of Hillel and Student Senator and graduated summa cum laude. He then attended Harvard Divinity School, graduating in May 2024.
While at Harvard, he became increasingly vocal about perceived 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 became the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Harvard University. The lawsuit, which includes six anonymous Jewish students under the name Students Against Antisemitism, alleges that the university failed to address antisemitic harassment and discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students, particularly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
The plaintiffs claim 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 their 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 its other plaintiffs, agreeing to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, host an annual symposium on antisemitism, and partner with an Israeli university. However Kestenbaum declined to join the settlement and continued pursuing his claims separately.

## 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 is also running 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.

## Community work in Poland

Kestenbaum works extensively 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.

## Public image

Kestenbaum's actions have generated various responses within both the Jewish community and the broader public. While some have praised his advocacy for Jewish rights, others have criticized his alignment with conservative platforms. Kestenbaum’s lawsuit has drawn attention to antisemitism at Harvard, but some critics argue it exaggerates the experiences of Jewish students and serves political rather than educational aims. Observers have noted that his prominent advocacy, including the lawsuit, might inadvertently discourage admissions officers from accepting outspoken religious minorities, such as Orthodox Jewish applicants, due to perceived risks in the selective admissions process.

## Personal life

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.