The George Washington University Hillel received a $4 million donation from an anonymous graduate of the school in late October, the Hatchet, a student paper, reported.
The gift is reportedly intended to expand Jewish education programming, marking one of the largest gifts in the Foggy Bottom campus Hillel’s history, as Rabbi Daniel Novick steps into the role of executive director.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to provide the long-term vision we need to make Jewish education and engagement the foundation of our organization,” Novick stated.
Hillel has received gifts to help combat Jew-hatred on campus, including a $25,000 donation from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington in July 2024.
In May, current and former students filed a federal lawsuit stating that GW allowed “pervasive and severe antisemitic harassment” on campus and urged administrations to take responsibility for the escalation after Oct. 7.
The U.S. Justice Department concluded in August that GW “acted deliberately indifferent” to Jew-hatred in violation of federal civil rights law, particularly during a 2024 anti-Israel encampment. The department criticized the university for failing to address complaints that Jewish and Israeli students and professors were subject to harassment and intimidation.
Robert Snyder, chair of the GW Hillel board, said he and fellow board members are “deeply grateful” for the $4 million gift, per the Hatchet.
