Holtz said he sees the issue as a clash between traditional Orthodox beliefs and the modern world.
"These are people who want to preserve their Jewish identity while interacting with the Western world," Holtz said.
Holtz said he wrote a letter to Jewish Week press in New York supporting the students soon after reading Hack's article.
While Harvard's housing system differs slightly from Yale's-with official single-sex bathroom rules-all first-year Orthodox students are required to live on campus, although they are placed in Hurlbut, Thayer and Matthews.
The three buildings are the only first-year dorms currently accessible by key during the sabbath, when Orthodox Jews are required not to use technology such as key cards.
Lewin said Harvard's policy might leave the University vulnerable to a similar suit.
"Where [concerns] have come up in the past is students asking for a closer proximity to Hillel," said Thomas A. Dingman, associate dean of Harvard College for Human Resources and the House System.
Dingman said the College has attempted to accommodate the needs of Orthodox students without separating them from the housing lottery.
"It's been difficult for students in the [Radcliffe] Quad to honor the sabbath rule not to use transportation [in order to get to services]," Dingman said. "But this year we've organized earlier shuttle service and in the past we have worked with Hillel to organize walking groups."
Hillel Chair Adam M. Kleinbaum '98, a Crimson editor, said that he believes the University has made a concerted effort to respect the beliefs of Orthodox students.
"The University has been very sympathetic to student concerns," he said.
Kleinbaum saw the recent problem and its resolution as characteristic of College policy.
"The College in general is very good about letting us do what we need to," Kleinbaum said.
Zachary L. Shrier '99, an Orthodox student at Harvard, said that the suit-which has given rise to innumerable questions concerning Orthodox daily practices-has caused many to question their beliefs.
"You can like the cause and hate what they're doing, or you can hate the cause and like what they've done," he said.
Students said that the possible lawsuit has led them to reexamine their faith.
"Every Jew has to decide for himself or herself how to interpret the law and to apply it to their own practice," Kleinbaum said. "I think [the potential suit] has raised issues of modesty that are constantly on the minds of many Orthodox Jews.