Shabbos Kestenbaum, Formerly a Bernie Sanders Supporter, to Speak at GOP Convention

WISCONSIN (VINnews) — Jewish activist Shabbos Kestenbaum, a Harvard graduate who has filed a lawsuit against the university over its antisemitism, will be speaking at the Republican National Convention.

In a tweet, Kestenbaum announced that he voted for Bernie Sanders last election, however his views have changed because of what his classmates were doing while Jews were being slaughtered.

The Convention’s website says that Shabbos is a “lifelong Democrat” who will be voting for president Trump for the first time.

I will be speaking at the Republican National Convention. Last election I voted for Bernie Sanders. If you’d like to understand what changed, please see what my Harvard classmates were saying as Jews were being slaughtered. pic.twitter.com/3JqBsGfPjV

— Shabbos Kestenbaum (@ShabbosK) July 15, 2024

The Convention website published the following bio about Kestenbaum:

Shabbos is a proud American Jew and recent graduate of Harvard University. Shabbos has watched Joe Biden’s America threaten the lives of everyday Jewish Americans. Shabbos and his classmates are currently engaged in a lawsuit with their alma mater, Harvard, to fight for Jewish students at the university. Shortly after October 7, Shabbos shared that he, along with a few classmates, made a deliberate decision to reach out to Harvard and try to work with the administration to combat antisemitism on campus and create safe spaces for Jewish students. The response they received was that Harvard was unable or unwilling to show Jewish students that they belong at the school. Shabbos is a lifelong Democrat who will be voting for President Trump for the first time this year.

Among the “everyday Americans who will be speakers during next week’s Convention” in Milwaukee, according to a Trump campaign announcement, is Shabbos Kestenbaum, a Jewish alumnus of Harvard and “lifelong Democrat who will be voting for” Trump “for the first time this year.” pic.twitter.com/eJ0I2gKlQI

— Matthew Kassel (@matthewkassel) July 12, 2024

According to JNS, the convention is set to feature a number of Jewish speakers and events.

While groups like AIPAC and the Anti-Defamation League are staying away—at least officially—from this year’s convention, the American Jewish Committee and Republican Jewish Coalition will both be present.

On Tuesday morning, the AJC will host an event called “Israel and the Path to Peace” on the sidelines of the convention. The AJC will also host a diplomatic reception on Wednesday afternoon. The AJC is led by former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch.

The Republican Jewish Coalition is sponsoring a “Salute to Pro-Israel Elected Officials” on Thursday afternoon hours, before Trump formerly accepts the party’s nomination.