April 17, 2025

Dear President Cunningham,

We are writing as rabbis across the state of Minnesota to express our gratitude for the recent letter you wrote to the community entitled, “Combating Harassment.” We are grateful for your commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment at the University of Minnesota.

The University’s participation in Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) goes a long way in expressing your support to Jewish students, staff, and faculty on campus. Some Jewish groups (Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), UMN Tzedek etc.) are demanding that University leadership withdraw support of CCI, suggesting that it is a “Trojan Horse to criminalize Palestine liberation activism on campus.” We believe this is a false accusation that misrepresents the initiative and conflates it with the real, but separate concern regarding the current threat to constitutional rights on college campuses, something the Minnesota Rabbinical Association recently wrote about in this statement.

CCI is not a Trojan Horse. Instead, it is a broad-reaching initiative to create a campus climate that ensures Jewish students - like all students - feel safe and fully included in campus life. The impact has already been felt and we are so grateful to see expansive language in the University’s Code of Conduct that supports both Jewish and Muslim students.

We urge you to continue standing firm against the pressure campaign from JVP, and others, who are urging the University to drop support for Hillel and CCI. Though Hillel, like any other Jewish institution, cannot possibly speak for every Jew, Hillel is widely embraced on college campuses around the country, including at the University of Minnesota, representing a broad and diverse swath of Jewish voices. Hillel supports Jewish students, as well as Jewish staff and faculty, who have been the recipients of targeted harassment and intimidation. It is critical that the University continues to follow Hillel’s lead as you work to combat harassment and bias on campus in all its forms.

Accordingly, we oppose any effort to undermine Minnesota Hillel, Hillel International, or the University’s participation in CCI.

Please know that you have allies in the Minnesota rabbinic community who deeply appreciate the work you do and the difficult balance you are striving to maintain. We welcome any opportunity to further discuss how we can work together to ensure a campus climate that is safe for all students, staff, and faculty. We look forward to learning more about what you are seeing and experiencing on campus.

Warmest Regards,

Rabbi Esther Adler

Rabbi Morris Allen

Rabbi Jill Avrin

Rabbi Norman M. Cohen

Rabbi Barry D. Cytron

Rabbi Alexander Davis

Rabbi Max Davis

Rabbi Dr. Ryan Dulkin

Rabbi Avram Ettedgui

Rabbi Matt Goldberg

Rabbi Yosi Gordon

Rabbi Jennifer Hartman

Rabbi Justin Held

Rabbi Rebecca Kamil

Rabbi Ricky Kamil

Rabbi Harold J. Kravitz

Rabbi Lynn Liberman

Rabbi David Locketz

Rabbi Tamar Magill-Grimm

Rabbi Cathy Nemiroff

Rabbi Avi Olitzky

Rabbi Debra Rappaport

Rabbi Jason Rodich

Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein

Rabbi Rachel Rubenstein

Rabbi Sammy Seid

Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker

Rabbi David Steinberg

Rabbi Samantha Thal

Rabbi David B. Thomas

Rabbi Aaron Weininger

Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman