Harvard and lawyers representing Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum in his Title VI lawsuit against the University reached a settlement on Thursday, ending Kestenbaum’s 16-month legal fight against Harvard.
The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning Kestenbaum cannot reopen his claims. A person familiar with the case confirmed the dismissal was a settlement and said the terms of the agreement will be kept confidential.
Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton wrote in a statement that “Harvard University and Shabbos Kestenbaum have reached an agreement to resolve their ongoing litigation.”
“Harvard and Mr. Kestenbaum acknowledge each other’s steadfast and important efforts to combat antisemitism at Harvard and elsewhere,” Newton added.
Attorneys for Kestenbaum did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kestenbaum first sued Harvard in January 2024 with a group calling itself Students Against Antisemitism, alleging the University had failed to protect students from antisemitism. Harvard settled in January 2025 with Students Against Antisemitism and a separate group suing the University over similar claims, agreeing to adopt new nondiscrimination policies to protect Jewish and Israeli students.
The settlement included Harvard’s adoption of the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, which deems some criticisms of Israel antisemitic.
Harvard : a threatening and hostile learning environment for some Jews.
BREAKING: Kestenbaum and Harvard settle. Objective of making Harvard feel pain and exposing its inner workings now being achieved bigly via executive branch. pic.twitter.com/DTjaadEEjN
— Ira Stoll (@IraStoll) May 15, 2025
