Last spring, Hillel and the Foundation becameembroiled in controversy amidst allegations thatcomments Foundation Director S. Allen Counter hadmade about an article in The Crimson wereanti-Semitic.
"A great deal of damage was done by thatletter," says Held, who served as amember-at-large on the Foundation's board lastyear. "Counter and the Harvard Foundation have alot to do in regaining the trust of Jewishstudents at Harvard."
Over recent decades, however, the Universityoverall has made tremendous strides in welcomingJewish students, Finestone says.
"It's safer now to visibly and proudly be partof a minority," says Finestone. "And you know youcan still be accepted among your peers at Harvard.There were times in American academic life whereit could hurt you to be too Jewish."
Jewish students' increasing feeling ofbelonging at Harvard has been a gradual process,the rabbi says.
"It's been building for a while," she says."Each year adds to the security of the next." D. Richard de Silva contributed to thereporting of this story.