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Yeshiva University President, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman Welcomes Former MIT Professor Dr. Mauricio Karchmer to YU Faculty
Karchmer Sought Safe Haven at YU Following Departure from MIT Amid Rising Antisemitism on Campus
Edited by: TJVNews.com
Yeshiva University, the flagship Jewish university, and its President, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, will host a fireside chat On February 20th with former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Dr. Mauricio Karchmer to address the issue of escalating anti-Semitism on college campuses. Dr. Karchmer resigned from MIT in December 2023 in response to its handling of virulent anti-Semitism on campus exacerbated by the Israel-Hamas war. The dean of YU’s business school, Dr. Noam Wasserman, immediately reached out to him and offered Prof. Karchmer a visiting professorship, which he accepted.
Back in December, the New York Post reported that Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found itself embroiled in a contentious debate as allegations of anti-Semitism and pro-Hamas activism collide, sparking outrage among alumni and students alike. A scathing letter, signed by hundreds of MIT alumni, accused the prestigious institution of fostering a climate of intolerance towards Jewish students, further exacerbated by recent events and administrative responses.
The letter, endorsed by over 700 MIT Jewish alumni and allies, condemned MIT for purportedly turning a blind eye to acts of anti-Semitism on campus. Central to the outcry is President Kornbluth’s perceived failure to address incidents of hostility towards Jewish students adequately. Criticism mounted following Kornbluth’s congressional testimony, where her remarks regarding the classification of calls for genocide against the Jews raised eyebrows and intensified concerns among the MIT community.
YU serves as a counter-weight to the toxic anti-Semitic environment on some U.S. campuses and is a safe haven for Jewish students, and professors like Prof. Karchmer, to feel secure and supported. YU celebrates Jewish heritage and identity, is avowedly pro-Israel and flies the Israeli flag on campus 365 days of the year.
Prof. Karchmer has joined YU as a visiting professor and will already teach two classes on Feb. 20, including “Portfolio Management” in the business school and “Math for Computer Science.”
Dr. Mauricio Karchmer, an expert in Theoretical Computer Science and Quantitative Finance, previously taught electrical engineering, computer science, and algorithms to more than 700 MIT students annually.
Date: Tuesday, February 20
Time: 6:45 – 7:45 PM
Location: Yeshiva University Wilf Campus, Belfer Hall Sky Café
