Harvard University has issued subpoenas for communications between Jewish activist Shabbos Kestenbaum and Aish, a global Jewish educational institute, as part of ongoing litigation over antisemitism on campus.
The subpoenas focus on the documentary Frontline Warriors, produced by Aish, which chronicles Kestenbaum’s advocacy efforts at Harvard, alongside Eden Yadegar at Columbia University and Eli Tsives at UCLA. Kestenbaum is suing Harvard for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students and for not fully implementing promised reforms, including the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. Several co-plaintiffs settled their claims earlier this year, but Kestenbaum’s case remains active.
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Rabbi Steven Burg, CEO of Aish, criticized the subpoena, calling it an attempt to undermine free speech and advocacy work. “Rather than addressing the substantive issues of antisemitism on campus, Harvard seems intent on using stall tactics,” he said.
Kestenbaum, an alumnus of both Aish and Harvard, called the university’s move an effort to intimidate those documenting civil rights struggles. “Harvard’s subpoena of Aish only reinforces how important it is to support Jewish education and to tell this story,” he said.
Jamie Geller, a producer of Frontline Warriors and Aish’s chief communications officer, said the film would proceed with its scheduled screenings despite legal pressure. Aish maintains that the documentary is protected speech and plays an important educational role.
The subpoenas were issued shortly before Harvard initiated separate litigation against the US government, a move that has drawn further scrutiny to the university’s legal strategy.