From left: Howard J. Siegel, Alexis L. Siegel, Judge Roy K. Altman, Marjorie B. Moss, Sam Tenenbaum, and Dean Zachary D. Clopton at the launch of the Siegel Fund to Combat Antisemitism and the Antisemitism Legal Advocacy Project at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. The symposium included a book talk with Altman, author of Israel on Trial, which filled Lincoln Hall to capacity. (Photo courtesy of Northwestern Pritzker Law)
The creation of the Antisemitism Legal Advocacy Project at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, funded by the Siegel Fund to Combat Antisemitism, began with two colleagues who said, “I want to do more.”
Before October 7, Marjorie B. Moss, Director of Northwestern’s Social Work Advocacy Program at the Bluhm Legal Clinic, was proud of her Jewishness and had a mezuzah affixed to her office door. After October 7, her feelings of Jewish identity and responsibility only increased. Her office door was transformed into what she described as almost a “live Facebook feed:” initially with photos of every single hostage taken, then with ever-changing images and materials engaging the topic of antisemitism.
Meanwhile, Sam Tenenbaum, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of Northwestern’s Complex Civil Litigation Center and Investor Protection Center (CCL) also at the Bluhm Legal Clinic, likewise became very concerned, and vocal within the university, about how Jews and Israel were being treated in the aftermath of October 7.
The CCL is a litigation clinic, providing hands-on legal experience to law students while providing pro bono legal services to clients. In early 2025, Tenenbaum reached out to a prominent Jewish organization, and received research projects for his students related to antisemitism litigation.
“Then, I pulled Marjorie in,” Tenenbaum said. “I said, ‘If we’re going to do litigation, you should get involved to ensure our clients get the support they need.’”
Moss has a dual degree in law and social work, and oversees “holistic advocacy” for the clients of the Bluhm Legal Clinic, focusing on case management, re-entry, and mitigation advocacy. “The legal issue is going to get resolved in some way. But the rest of our client’s life also has to be considered,” Moss explained.
Thanks to a generous contribution from husband and wife Howard J. Siegel—a Northwestern alum—and Alexis L. Siegel to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, the Siegel Fund to Combat Antisemitism has now been established to support this work, focusing on antisemitism in K-12 schools. The fund will support a staff attorney, and in addition to legal research, assistance, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by antisemitism, will provide educational programming and community partnerships.
“Education is where a lot of this starts,” Alexis shared in Northwestern’s announcement of the Siegel Fund. “If we can teach tolerance and understanding at the K-12 level, we can make a difference.”
She added: “We believe it’s important to combat hatred in all of its forms. Antisemitism is just one form of hate, but addressing it can help foster a more inclusive environment for all students.”
The Siegel Fund will operate through the Bluhm Legal Clinic, bringing together the work of the Clinic’s CCL with the Social Work Advocacy Program (SWAP)—and Moss and Tenenbaum have been named Co-Directors of The Siegel Fund’s Antisemitism Legal Advocacy Project. The Siegel Fund and the Antisemitism Legal Advocacy Project were officially launched in early October, at a full-day symposium of events at the law school in partnership with the Center of Jewish Legal Studies.
“Northwestern Pritzker Law is committed to combating antisemitism through a range of important initiatives,” said Zachary D. Clopton, Dean of Northwestern Pritzker Law. “The Siegel Fund supports our Bluhm Legal Clinic’s education, advocacy, and community-based efforts to combat antisemitism both in Chicago and around the country.”
Emily Briskman, Vice President of JUF Campus Affairs & Executive Director of the Hillels of Illinois, emphasized the vital importance of setting legal precedent within K-12 schools.
“We need enough examples of Jewish discrimination being against the law, that we can point to, so that schools start taking it even more seriously than they already are,” she said. Regarding instances of anti-Zionism in schools, Briskman explained, “Israel and Zionism are a part of Jewish identity, and should be treated as such. We need the precedent; we need the legal standards to deal with this.”
“People like this, who are doing this kind of work,” added Briskman, “These are the real protections that will serve us long-term.”
To learn more about the Siegel Fund to Combat Antisemitism and the Antisemitism Legal Advocacy Project, email [email protected].
