An Arizona State University postdoctoral research scholar, Jonathan Yudelman, is being investigated for a confrontation with a woman in a hijab that was captured on video during a pro-Israel rally outside campus in Tempe. The video shows Yudelman and another man confronting the woman, with Yudelman advancing aggressively towards her as she repeatedly backs away. The woman accuses Yudelman of disrespecting her religious boundaries, while Yudelman claims the woman is disrespecting his sense of humanity. The incident prompted the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations to call for Yudelman’s arrest and for ASU to fire him.
In response to the video and criticism, ASU stated that they were investigating the allegations against Yudelman and that he is on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Yudelman, who did not respond to requests for comment, described pro-Palestinian protests at universities as being taken over by supporters of terrorism and emphasized the importance of making a statement for the community during the pro-Israel rally. However, a campus rabbi and student groups involved in organizing the rally did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Yudelman is a scholar at ASU’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, teaching classes in American politics and political theory. He is also listed as an assistant professor at University of Austin in Texas and has held postdoctoral positions at prestigious institutions such as Princeton, Harvard, and Baylor. His research focuses on early modern political theory, sources of political authority, and the intersection of politics and religion. Yudelman is affiliated with the Tikvah Fund, a nonprofit organization in New York City that promotes Jewish ideas and describes itself as politically Zionist, economically free-market oriented, culturally traditional, and theologically open-minded.
The pro-Israel rally, attended by around 100 people, was organized in contrast to global protests critical of Israel’s warfare in Gaza following a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel. The incident involving Yudelman and the woman in a hijab has sparked controversy and calls for accountability. The video capturing the confrontation has raised concerns about discrimination, academic integrity, and respect for diversity, prompting the ASU investigation and the condemnation from the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Yudelman’s actions during the confrontation have sparked debate and highlighted the complexities of tensions and conflicts surrounding issues of religion, politics, and identity.
