'Deeply Harmful and Dangerous': Trump's Attempt to Undermine Jewish Studies at U.S. Colleges
Haaretz, September 19, 2025
New York University professor Lila Corwin Berman has a warning for her colleagues. Corwin Berman, along with two fellow academics, recently penned a provocative piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education headlined "Jewish Studies Scholars, Beware: Trump's Deal Will Corrupt You."
On the Haaretz Podcast, Corwin Berman explains how, in her view, the agreements that the Trump White House has hammered out with Ivy League universities, making their federal grant money dependent on investing in Judaic Studies and developing cooperation with Israeli universities, will result in turning them into "court Jews."
What the White House is doing, she said "is not about free academic scholarship or inquiry, but is really about serving a particular kind of master. And I think that that is deeply, deeply dangerous for universities for Jewish Studies and for American Jews."
Corwin Berman and host Allison Kaplan Sommer also discussed the atmosphere on campuses under the shadow of the Gaza War, and what Hannah Einbinder's remarks at the Emmy Awards says about the young generation of American Jews.
Haaretz
A Court Jew, or court factor, was a wealthy and well-connected Jewish banker, merchant, or financier who served European rulers and nobility from the late 16th century to the early 19th century, particularly in Central Europe. They provided vital financial services like lending and minting silver, supplied goods such as food and munitions, and facilitated international trade networks in exchange for special privileges and protection from the ruler. These individuals often faced public hatred and jealousy from rivals but were crucial to the growth of the absolutist state and the development of proto-modern banking.
Key Aspects of a Court Jew
- Financial Services:
They were instrumental in managing state finances, providing loans to rulers, and arranging credit transfers.
- Suppliers and Contractors:
Court Jews supplied various goods, including food, fodder, horses, and munitions, to the courts and armies.
- International Networks:
Their connections to other Jewish communities across Europe and the Ottoman Empire allowed them to function as vital links in international finance and trade.
- Special Privileges:
In exchange for their services, they received special privileges, such as legal protection, the right to reside in certain cities, and certain freedoms from the harsh restrictions placed on other Jews.
- Role in the State:
Court Jews were essential to the functioning of absolutist states, helping to centralize administration and facilitate the economic policies of mercantilism.
- Risks and Consequences:
Despite their privileged positions, they were vulnerable to the ruler's personal whims, political shifts, and the envy of rivals, often leading to tragic ends or the increased persecution of their communities after their downfall.
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