Rabbi: Columbia University proves we need 'real enforcement' by White House against 'anarchy'

Anti-Israel agitators construct an encampment on Columbia University’s campus in New York City on Monday. The university announced that all classes would be held virtually today in response to the ongoing demonstrations on campus. (Peter Gerber)

Rabbi Moshe Hauer is calling on the White House and federal government to take a harder stance on combating campus antisemitism after the "anarchy" at Columbia University.

"What was very clear last week was basically a cry from the university leadership of Columbia and from the law school, the former law school dean, who's the head of the antisemitism Task Force, that they don't know how to draw the line between what is permitted and what is forbidden. And that task should not be on a task force of the community. That task, that definition, should be provided by the government of the country that tells them what's permitted, what's forbidden," Hauer told Fox News Digital.

He continued, "The Justice Department, the Department of Education, should be telling the schools where the line is, should be telling the schools what appropriate enforcement looks like. Meanwhile, they're left to figure it out for themselves. And that's helping to grow this problem, the absence of crystal-clear guidance from our government and moral support in that enforcement."

On Sunday, Orthodox Union-Jewish Learning Initiative (OU-JLIC) Director Rabbi Elie Buechler put out a recommendation for Jewish students to return home ahead of Passover.

"The events of the last few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia University’s Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students’ safety in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy," Buechler wrote. "It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved."