The founders of a startup want to hire an intern. The student’s answer is shocking. Now the elite university is checking.
An application that ends in a scandal: A student at the elite US university Cornell apparently rejected an internship at a startup for one reason only: the founders are Jews. The New York Post first reported this.
The startup VryfID run by brothers Gabe and Aiden Einhorn is affected. The company uses its platform to bring together apartment seekers and landlords. The founders had considered student Austin F. for a possible summer internship and wanted to schedule an interview.
Hatred of Jews as a reason
The answer was brief. “Not interested in working for a Jew. Thanks.” (“Not interested in working for a Jew. Thank you.”) the applicant wrote, according to a screenshot later published.
Gabe Einhorn then published the message on X. He later explained to US media that he wanted to show how openly anti-Semitic attitudes are now being expressed. “He probably knows nothing about Jews, other than what they tell him at university and on social media. A sad world,” he wrote on X. He had blacked out the student’s name.
The elite university is investigating
Cornell University has since confirmed that it is investigating the incident. A spokeswoman told the New York Post that the university condemns anti-Semitism as well as any other form of hatred and discrimination.
The case hits a nerve. Since the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023 and the Gaza war, there has been discussion about an increase in anti-Semitic incidents at numerous universities, both in the USA and Germany. Now an internship cancellation causes the next debate.
