Campus Focus

Noa Fay is a Jewish student leader at Columbia University, the epicenter of the anti-Israel protest movement that has unfolded on American college campuses in recent weeks. Pro-Hamas, antisemitic, and anti-Israel demonstrators have occupied academic buildings, set up overnight tent encampments, and staged demonstrations, while Jewish students have faced increasing threats, antisemitism, and violence.

As many campuses deal with anti-Israel protests and encampments, Jewish students may feel uneasy and even unsafe. Your safety and ability to learn are critically important, as is your ability to be openly and proudly Jewish on campus. The following are some guidelines to help you manage this challenging moment.

On CNN with Wolf Blitzer, AJC CEO Ted Deutch sets the record straight about how terror-supporting students and outside agitators have created a hostile environment for Jewish college students.

Julie Fishman Rayman, AJC’s Managing Director, Policy and Political Affairs, joins NewsNation to discuss the fallout from the congressional testimony of the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn. Julie also shares the steps these schools and other institutions of higher education need to take to address antisemitism on campus.

Three university presidents testified on Capitol Hill about the current state of Jew-hatred on college campuses. However, their testimony drew widespread outrage over their refusal to condemn calls for genocide against Jewish students.

Independent schools are not just centers of education but also vital hubs for innovation and community building.

In light of the current social and political climate, it is essential to guide students on how to engage with social media when confronted with controversial issues. Encouraging responsible and thoughtful behavior in online interactions is crucial. Here are some recommendations to provide to students:

AJC has created this action plan for parents of university students to use in confronting and preventing antisemitism in their school communities.

Questions submitted by parents on our Advocacy Anywhere program “For Parents: Advocating for Effective Responses to the Israel-Hamas War” which took place on October 17, 2023.

When the Hamas attack on Israel unfolded last month, I watched, as many of us did, in sheer horror as the full scope of the terrorists’ depravity and barbarism was revealed.

Use the following templates and resources to reach out to your network.

AJC has created this action plan for heads of independent schools to use in confronting and preventing antisemitism in their school communities.

AJC has created this action plan for university students to use in confronting and preventing antisemitism in their school communities.

AJC has created this action plan for university administrators to use in confronting and preventing antisemitism in their school communities.

AJC and Hillel International invite you to join student leaders from AJC’s Campus Global Board and Hillel’s Israel Leadership Network to hear their firsthand perspectives of life on campus since the start of this war. This webinar will be moderated by Hillel president Adam Lehman and feature a panel of four inspirational students from around the globe.

As we grapple with our horror and grief about the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, we find ourselves looking close to home at the educational spaces where our children spend their days. Join AJC's Director of the William Petschek Contemporary Jewish Life Department, Dr. Laura Shaw Frank, and Aaron Bregman, Director of High School Affairs, for a conversation about tools for engaging in productive discussions and making impactful change in your children's schools at this unprecedented time.