On April 23rd 2025, Holocaust Memorial Day, Shabtai, The Jewish Society at Yale, hosted Israeli Cabinet Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the Anderson Mansion for dinner and conversation with the Yale community.
Outside the Mansion, a few hundred local demonstrators surrounded the building whilst chanting antisemitic slurs and rallying for the terrorist group Hamas. Many threw bottles at the Parliamentarian and attendees, and shamelessly threatened the lives of the Yale students. Protesters were arrested and an investigation is ongoing.
The protest drew unprecedented media coverage from the Yale Daily News, New Haven local Press, CNN, The NYT, The Guardian, The Atlantic Monthly, Israeli Press outlets, and countless others. Millions of views were generated on social media.
The banquet was attended by 100 Yale Students and 30 members of the Yale faculty who engaged in uninterrupted peaceful discourse for two hours. Hence, the Yale community was afforded the opportunity to engage civilly with a leading member of The Israeli Government.
Shabtai remains one of the few spaces at Yale, and the Country at large where free speech is celebrated regularly and respectfully.
We thank Dr. Lawrence Gelman for making the event possible.
This film is sponsored by David Schechtman.
Who Is Itamar Ben-Gvir? Rabbi Shmully Hecht
Mitchell Dubin, Yale '25, Introduces Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
Israel Post Oct. 7th | Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
Reflection
Dear Shmully and Toby,
At the conclusion of this school year, I want to take the time to personally thank both of you and Shabtai for the incredible work that you do and for being the highlight of my junior year.
When I attended my first Shabtai event in New York back in the fall, I didn't know much about the organization. I knew there were weekly speaker events and that it was run by a very passionate, cool, and sometimes controversial Rabbi. I thought it was perhaps similar to some of Yale's other societies.
But at the end of the NYC event, I left impressed and captivated. While the event was focused on Judaism and retaining a strong Jewish identity across generations, your advice and insight resonated with me, a non-Jew. It's important to know who you are and where you come from. This is something that my parents, as immigrants to the United States, have told me. Even within my own culture, I have seen how my generation cannot speak their mother tongue and doesn't know anything about their history and traditions. And part of that is because parents haven't done their part in raising their children in the culture. As you know, I am a conservative and on the political right. I certainly believe that America has its own unique identity that must be preserved, and that those who immigrate to this country must respect that identity and work to preserve and promote it. But that doesn't mean you should forget your ancestral identity, which I believe is a mistake that many first or second generation immigrants make.
As I started attending more Shabtai events here in New Haven, it grew on me that this was more than just an intellectual society where people hang out, eat dinner, and listen to a speaker. It is truly a place like none other that accomplishes what no other organization has been able to do. I believe Michael Knowles said it best when he mentioned how he, a devout Catholic, was able to befriend Vivek Ramaswamy, a Hindu, at an organization founded by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi. The people that the organization has managed to bring together in a natural way, across every school, major, and age group, is magnificent. This is the type of diversity that America needs, one that is natural and isn't forced. One where people are united by a common goal and a sense of a shared purpose.
But most importantly, what draws me to Shabtai is the commitment to true free speech and open dialogue. I often hear you say that there isn't any other organization in the Ivy League that does what Shabtai has been able to do. I think that description is too narrow - I personally believe there isn't any other organization in the whole country that does what Shabtai does. There are two points I want to make on the topic of free speech, which I think are important.
First, I believe there are people who believe in free speech as a concept and do good work in support of it, but who aren't willing to go far as Shabtai does to support it. I can't think of any other organization at Yale with a free speech focus that would have been willing to host National Security Minister Ben-Gvir. Not Buckley, not the YPU, not even pro-Israel organizations. And, of course, I have certain disagreements with Ben-Gvir as I voiced at the dinner last week. But as Mitchell said in his welcome and introduction speech, we must be willing to hear from all perspectives, regardless of how controversial, provocative, or non-mainstream they are. And for those who disagree with those viewpoints, an opportunity must be provided to directly ask questions and confront the disagreement. Shabtai provided that opportunity to everyone last week, and has repeatedly provided that opportunity over decades.
The second point is regarding the hypocrisy that exists among free speech proponents, particularly on the right. I believe that free speech shouldn't be a talking point used to elevate one's own perceived moral standing. It should be something that is unequivocally protected, even when you disagree with what is being said, even when it is not convenient for you. I see that many who claim to promote free speech only want it when it supports their agenda and otherwise disparage or attack it. Shabtai doesn't do this - and this is single handedly the biggest reason why I respect you and this organization so much. You have invited those from the left and the right to speak freely and ask questions, and have provided everyone, both speakers and attendees, an equal platform. It is vital to stay true to the mission and not engage in hypocrisy or double standards, and I applaud Shabtai for doing the right thing.
On a personal note, I am incredibly grateful to both of you for giving me the opportunity to join you and this special, warm community nearly every week to partake in these fascinating discussions. The weekly dinners always keep me looking forward even when the days are busy and taxing, and have had a meaningful positive impact on me socially and emotionally, in addition to intellectually. I eagerly look forward to the next school year and all that Shabtai will bring to our community, and hope to do my part in whatever way possible to further the mission.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Manu Anpalagan