How Harvard Divinity School and Law School Celebrate Assailants of Jewish Students
In a grotesque display of moral bankruptcy, Harvard University has once again proven itself a haven for antisemitism, elevating two students who assaulted a Jewish classmate to positions of prestige. Harvard Divinity School named Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, one of the assailants, a class marshal for its 2024 graduation, while Harvard Law School awarded Ibrahim Bharmal, the other perpetrator, a $65,000 fellowship to work at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). These decisions are not mere oversights—they are a slap in the face to Jewish students and a chilling endorsement of violence against them.
The incident in question occurred in October 2023 during an anti-Israel protest on Harvard’s campus. Yoav Segev, a Jewish student, was surrounded by Bharmal and Tettey-Tamaklo, draped in keffiyehs, and subjected to chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” in a clear act of intimidation. The two were charged with misdemeanor assault and battery in May 2024, but a Boston Municipal Court judge let them off with a slap on the wrist: 80 hours of community service and anger management classes. No real consequences, no accountability—just a green light to continue their behavior.
Yet, instead of distancing itself from these students, Harvard doubled down. Tettey-Tamaklo, a divinity student no less, was chosen to lead the 2024 Harvard Divinity School procession as a class marshal, rubbing shoulders with faculty and scholars as if his actions were irrelevant. Meanwhile, Bharmal, a law student, was handed a $65,000 fellowship by the Harvard Law Review to work at CAIR, an organization whose leaders have a well-documented history of defending Hamas and spewing anti-Israel rhetoric. This isn’t just tone-deaf; it’s a deliberate signal that Harvard prioritizes appeasing anti-Israel activists over protecting its Jewish community.
The timing couldn’t be more damning. A 2025 internal Harvard report revealed that nearly 60% of Jewish students on campus experienced discrimination or prejudice tied to their views—a statistic that lays bare the university’s failure to foster a safe environment. The Trump administration, citing this incident among others, took the unprecedented step of briefly revoking Harvard’s ability to enroll international students in May 2025, accusing the university of enabling antisemitism. Though a federal judge paused the order, the message was clear: Harvard’s inaction has consequences.
Harvard’s response? Empty platitudes about “combating antisemitism” and vague promises of governance changes. These are nothing but PR stunts from an institution that has consistently failed to hold its own accountable. Rewarding assailants with prestigious honors isn’t just negligence—it’s complicity. Jewish students, alumni, and observers are rightly outraged, with many calling for boycotts and divestment from an institution that seems to revel in its moral decay.
The elevation of Bharmal and Tettey-Tamaklo isn’t an isolated misstep; it’s a symptom of a deeper rot. Harvard’s leadership has shown it would rather coddle those who intimidate and assault Jewish students than take a stand against hate. By honoring these individuals, Harvard sends a clear message: antisemitic behavior will not only be tolerated but celebrated. This is not the legacy of a world-class institution—it’s the hallmark of a university that has lost its way.
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