President Isaac Herzog canceled his planned attendance at the graduation ceremony of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) affiliated with Columbia University in New York, and he will address the event virtually. This was announced by the institution's president, Prof. Shuly Rubin Schwartz. Herzog was expected to receive an honorary degree at the ceremony, and it will now be awarded to him at a later date. The cancellation comes after internal criticism and protests by pro-Palestinian activists, but Herzog clarified that the decision is not related to possible demonstrations against him: 'Circumstances prevent my travel to New York at this time.'