Vermont synagogue co-hosts fundraiser for Mohsen Mahdawi amid mounting scrutiny over extremist ties

Beth Jacob, a Montpelier, Vermont synagogue, co-hosted a fundraiser with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Montpelier for Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student facing deportation proceedings. Mahdawi was detained by ICE in April 2025 and ordered deported to Jordan in June 2026 under a rarely used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, citing his pro-Palestinian activism. The event, held on Sunday, featured Mahdawi and several guest speakers, with proceeds going to his legal defense fund. However, the fundraiser drew criticism due to investigative reports by Rachel Feldman and David Collier, which alleged inconsistencies in Mahdawi's autobiographical narrative and documented his promotion of a Facebook group glorifying individuals linked to Palestinian terrorist organizations. Some Beth Jacob members expressed significant concerns, leading to internal pushback, though synagogue leadership proceeded with the event, stating, "The Beth Jacob Synagogue Board supported our Social Action Committee's request to help organize a fundraiser for a Vermont resident, Mohsen Mahdawi, because we believe the US government has violated his rights of free speech and due process."