Shai Davidai, the former Columbia University professor who has sounded the alarm about rampant antisemitism at the university, particularly about pro-Palestinian activism since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, has left the university.
Davidai was temporarily barred from campus for allegedly “repeatedly harassing and intimidating” school employees; however, he posted on X Wednesday that the university had cleared him after an investigation.
“Assistant Professor of Business Shai Davidai has decided to depart Columbia, effective July 8, 2025. The University thanks him for his service and wishes him the best in his future endeavors,” a Columbia University spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. A Columbia official added that Davidai mutually agreed with the university not to return to teaching there.
The former professor said the school “tried to smear my name” but “finally admitted that I hadn’t done anything wrong” after he received a notice from Columbia that said the investigation into him was closed with no findings of wrongdoing.
Davidai has remained relevant in the Columbia community as reports of antisemitic harassment skyrocketed as pro-Palestinian protests and encampments rocked the university following the Oct. 7 massacre, eventually leading to the resignation of their former president, Minouche Shafik.
He regularly highlights anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, and anti-American comments made by academics and activists at Columbia and across the country on social media.
According to emails to Columbia from anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil, who has faced scrutiny from the Trump administration after leading protests where pamphlets written by Hamas state media were distributed, Davidai had called for him to be deported and labeled him a threat to national security.
Davidai also reposted a video of Khalil at a sit-in on campus, calling him a “terrorist supporter,” and also tagged Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying Khalil’s role in the protest should be a “deportable offense.”
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Khalil was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement two days later, but has since been released.
Since then, Davidai has called for acting Columbia President Claire Shipman to step down. He is also a vocal detractor of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who has faced criticism for his anti-Israel stances and associations.
