Watch: Stefanik Calls for ‘National Reckoning’ on Campus Antisemitism in Yeshiva University Speech

At Yeshiva University’s 94th Annual Commencement this week, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) delivered a powerful address, receiving the Presidential Medallion for Global Leadership for her unwavering fight against antisemitism and steadfast support for Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, as reported by The Jewish Press. Speaking at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, Stefanik called for a “national reckoning” to address the surge in campus antisemitism, urging graduates to restore “moral clarity” to America.

YU President Rabbi Ari Berman introduced Stefanik as “a voice of conviction in a time of confusion,” praising her historic December 5, 2023, congressional hearing questioning the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn. When asked if calling for Jewish genocide violated their codes of conduct, their response “it depends on the context” sparked outrage. “Your questioning didn’t just go viral; it sparked resignations, changed policies, and held a moral mirror to elite institutions,” Berman said. The testimony, viewed billions of times, is the most-watched in U.S. congressional history, exposing what Stefanik called “moral rot” in academia.

Stefanik recounted scribbling the pivotal question in real-time during the hearing, emphasizing, “It does not depend on the context,” to resounding applause. She invoked George Washington’s 1790 letter to Newport’s Jewish community, promising safety, and declared, “In 2025, we still have to fight for this ideal, and fight we will.” Addressing the graduates, she urged them to emulate the Maccabees’ tenacity as future leaders in the American Jewish community, industry, and politics.

The ceremony highlighted Stefanik’s role in prompting resignations, including Harvard’s president, and policy shifts at universities facing antisemitism allegations. Since October 7, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 400% spike in anti-Semitic incidents on U.S. campuses. Stefanik’s speech, aligning with YU’s mission to combat hate, resonated amid ongoing protests and legal actions against universities, reinforcing her call for fearless action against bigotry.