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Wexner Foundation: Philanthropic org latest to cut ties with Harvard as anti-Israel stance begins to bite

The Wexner Foundation is a philanthropic organization founded by former Victoria’s Secret billionaire Leslie Wexner his wife Abigail Wexner in 1983

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS: The Wexner Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by former Victoria’s Secret billionaire Leslie Wexner, has served ties with Harvard University, condemning its response to Hamas' attack on Israel as a “dismal failure.”

In a letter to the Harvard board of overseers, the leaders of the foundation lambasted University President Claudine Gay's "tiptoeing, equivocating" response to a joint statement by more than 30 Harvard student groups holding Israel responsible for the Hamas attack that killed more than 1400 Israelis and left many more gravely injured.

“We are stunned and sickened by the dismal failure of Harvard’s leadership to take a clear and unequivocal stand against the barbaric murders of innocent Israeli civilians,” the leaders wrote in the letter released on Monday, October 17.

The Wexner Foundation was founded by Wexner, CEO of Limited Brands, and his wife, Abigail Wexner, in 1983. The organization majorly focuses on developing Jewish professional and volunteer leaders in North America and public leaders in Israel.

Over the years, the Wexner made large donations to the Harvard Kennedy School and supported 10 fellows annually to complete the school’s one-year Master in Public Administration program through its Wexner Israel Fellowship.

Wexner, who also founded Bath and Body Works in 1990, reportedly donated more than $42 million to the Kennedy School before 2012, according to the Crimson.

Wexner stepped down from the Limited Brands and sold his majority stake in 2020 after facing scrutiny for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died by suicide.

What did the Wexner Foundation say about Harvard University?

In the letter, Wexner Foundation President Elka Abrahamson, Director General Ra’anan Avital, and chairmen specifically cited the statement released by a coalition of student groups.

“Harvard’s leaders were indeed tiptoeing, equivocating, and we, like former Harvard President Larry Summers cannot ‘fathom the administration’s failure to disassociate the university and condemn the statement’ swiftly issued by 34 student groups holding Israel entirely responsible for the violent terror attack on its own citizens,” the letter read, according to CNN.

Summers, a former economic adviser to the Obama and Clinton administrations, called the student declaration "morally unconscionable" last week and criticized Harvard administrators for their response.

Citing the “absence of this clear moral standard,” the foundation said it has determined the Harvard Kennedy School is no longer a “compatible” partner for its organization.

Beyond the anti-Israel statement, the philanthropic organization identified a larger issue where "tolerance for diverse perspectives has slowly but perceptibly narrowed over the years."

“Disappointingly, HKS has been slow to craft a strategy to enable Israeli students to engage in productive - even if difficult - dialogue within the school,” the letter read.

Business moguls refuse to hire Harvard graduates

Wexner is not the only Israeli supporter to cut ties with the Kennedy School over the institution's response to Hamas' attacks.

Last week, Israeli billionaires Idan and Batia Ofer quit the Kennedy School’s executive board in protest of the University's leadership's response to Hamas’ attack on Israel.

“Unfortunately, our faith in the University’s leadership has been broken and we cannot in good faith continue to support Harvard and its committees,” the couple said in a statement to CNN.

Previously, a coalition of business executives joined Bill Ackman’s call to refuse to hire Harvard students, who signed on to a letter blaming Israel for Hamas’ deadliest attack.

The 57-year-old billionaire hedge fund manager emphasized that individuals should not be allowed to hide behind corporate affiliations when endorsing statements that appear to support the "actions of terrorists."