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]]>Nearly One-Third of American Jewish College Students Feel Faculty Members Have Promoted Antisemitism or Learning Environments Hostile to Jews: New Survey
Survey also found 43% of Jewish college students avoided expressing their views about Israel on campus or to classmates because of fears of antisemitism
Nearly one-third (32%) of American Jewish college students report feeling that faculty on their campuses have promoted antisemitism or fueled a learning environment that is hostile to Jews, according to new data from American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Hillel International. As part of AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report, AJC and Hillel International partnered to document Jewish students’ experiences during their time on campus. The report details how American Jewish college and university students are experiencing antisemitism, both in and outside of the classroom.
The data points to a troubling trend: many Jewish students feel they cannot trust all faculty to foster the educational environments they deserve – free from anti-Jewish and anti-Israel bias.
“How are Jewish students supposed to show up and engage in class or have trust in their educators if they feel that their professors are creating a hostile environment for Jews on campus?” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “If students feel that they need to just keep their head down and earn their grade, they are not fully participating in the educational experience that they have a right to and deserve. Educators and administrators need to take action to ensure that their classrooms and campuses are places free from hate, bigotry, and harassment so that all students – including Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist students – have the opportunity to grow and thrive.”
AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report comes on the heels of the encampment protests that erupted on campuses across the country during the 2023-24 school year. Of the Jewish students who witnessed anti-Israel campus protests or demonstrations and/or pro-Palestinian encampments after October 7, 2023, half (51%) said that these protests or encampments made them feel unsafe on campus.
Additionally, roughly one-third (35%) of current American Jewish college students and recent graduates report having personally experienced antisemitism at least once during their time on campus, with 20% reporting that it happened more than once. One-fifth (22%) of Jewish students report feeling or being excluded from a group or an event on campus because they are Jewish.
Further, nearly one-third (32%) of American Jewish students said that they have felt uncomfortable or unsafe at a campus event because of their Jewish identity. These results point to many Jewish students feeling that they cannot fully be themselves and they, like the majority of American Jewish adults, are changing their behavior out of fear of antisemitism: more than three in 10 (34%) students said they have avoided wearing, carrying, or displaying things that would identify them as Jewish, and 43% avoided expressing their views on Israel on campus or to classmates.
“As Jewish teens and their families make decisions about where they will spend their college years, it is crucial that they know they will be safe and able to fully express their Jewish identities,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. “Jewish students should feel safe to express their Jewish identities no matter where they are on campus – whether at Hillel or in the dorms, the library, or the classroom.”
The survey also asked U.S. adults about the encampments and 63% of U.S. adults expressed concern about the encampments on campus – with one-third (33%) saying that they should not be allowed and 30% saying that they need stricter regulation from universities – because some of them fostered antisemitism, blocked students from getting to class, or broke campus rules. Only 11% of U.S. adults said the tent encampments on campus were acceptable and should be allowed and the remaining 26% said “I don’t know enough to say.”
Importantly, reports of antisemitism on campus are playing a role in Jewish high school students’ college decisions. Roughly two-thirds (68%) of American Jews who are parents of a high school student said reports of antisemitism on campus are very (51%) or somewhat (17%) important in deciding where their student will attend college or university.
“Academic freedom is foundational to higher education. However, academic discourse and debate can and must take place in an environment that is free from bias and discrimination. Our data, and work with students across the country, unfortunately show that American Jewish college students are feeling a pervasive lack of trust in their institutions and professors to maintain an atmosphere that is not biased against them. And we know that students who feel threatened cannot learn,” said AJC Center for Education Advocacy Director Laura Shaw Frank, Ph.D. “We are working directly with campus administrators to help them foster educational environments that prioritize critical thinking and viewpoint diversity which, in turn, also foster greater inclusion for Jews, Zionist views, and all students on campus. Educators must recognize that a significant majority of American Jews, including young American Jews, say caring about Israel is an important part of their Jewish identity.”
The surveys of American Jews and U.S. adults were conducted for the nonpartisan American Jewish Committee by the independent research firm SSRS. The Jewish American survey collected data from a nationally representative sample of 1,732 Jews, ages 18 or older from October 8 – November 29, 2024. Most respondents participated via a self-administered web survey and the remainder were interviewed on the phone. The U.S. adult survey collected data from a nationally representative sample of 2,056 general population adults, 18 or older, from October 10 – November 25, 2024, via the SSRS Opinion Panel. The margin of error for Jewish respondents is +/-3.3 percentage points and for total U.S. adult respondents is +/-3.0 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
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]]>The post Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative Gathers for Regional Training on Improving Campus Life for Jewish Students appeared first on Hillel International.
]]>Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative Gathers for Regional Training on Improving Campus Life for Jewish Students
On a sunny, cold day in January, senior administrators from California colleges and universities gathered to participate in a regional summit hosted by Hillels of Silicon Valley and Santa Clara University in partnership with Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI). The event featured a full day of training on antisemitism, Jewish identities, and practical strategies for supporting Jewish students.
CCI partners with college and university administrators around the United States to improve the campus climate for Jewish students which has deteriorated rapidly since October 7, 2023 with 83% of Jewish college students reporting that they have experienced or witnessed antisemitism in the last 16 months. Its flagship Campus Cohort Program has engaged more than 100 campuses to participate in a curriculum that combines education, data collection and assessment, and action plan development and implementation.
This summit included administrators from five local colleges and universities: Santa Clara University (SCU), San Jose State University (SJSU), De Anza College, West Valley College, and Foothill College. Participants included the presidents of SCU, SJSU, and De Anza, as well as senior administrators and faculty members.
“We are grateful to our host, Santa Clara University, for partnering with CCI to share the knowledge, strategies, and resources they gained as a participant in CCI’s recently completed fifth cohort with their colleagues on neighboring campuses,” said Lisa Armony, CCI executive director. While each campus requires unique actions that are aligned with their particular environments, collaborative opportunities enhance this work by bringing administrators together to learn with and from one another.
The day opened with thoughts from Santa Clara University President Julie Sullivan, who emphasized the need to support Jewish students and improve campus life for all students. Hillels of Silicon Valley Executive Director Sarita Bronstein and Santa Clara University Senior Director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Raymond Plaza also offered opening remarks.
Dr. Mara Lee Grayson, director of content development for CCI, and Tina Malka, director of antisemitism, research and education for Hillel International and IAP West Coast director, shared recent data on antisemitism on campus, demonstrating the scope of the problem and its impact on Jewish students. Since October 7, 2023, more than 2,800 incidents of antisemitism, including more than 1,000 instances of hate speech, and close to 100 physical assaults, have been reported to Hillel International by college and university students. These numbers reflect the broader increases in antisemitism in the past 16 months.
Then, administrators reflected on their own identities as a starting point for understanding Jewish students’ lived experiences and shared their reactions to the first two videos in Hillel International’s Understanding Antisemitism series.
Later, Dr. Grayson, a former professor of rhetoric and composition, explored the tropes and codes of contemporary antisemitism, as well as the relationship between how Jews may be perceived or depicted as members of a racial group based on physical or biological characteristics and campus antisemitism. For example, while some students have been targeted because of perceived physical markers of Jewishness, others have been excluded from support initiatives due to the perception that Jews are white. These sessions were designed to provide administrators with the skills to recognize coded antisemitism and communicate productively about it with their colleagues and students.
Together with facilitators, participants then viewed the newest video in Hillel International’s Understanding Antisemitism series. Malka, the co-creator of the three-part series, introduced “Antisemitism Today,” which examines how antisemitism manifests today on college campuses and in broader society following the horrific attacks in Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
This summit was the third in a series of recent collaborative intensive training sessions for administrators at U.S. universities. These additional workshops and trainings are an important part of CCI’s efforts to provide administrators at colleges and universities across the country with the knowledge and tools needed to improve life on campus for Jewish students and all students
As Bronstein reminded participants in her opening remarks: “Addressing antisemitism is not only about protecting one community; it’s about safeguarding the values of democracy, inclusion, and mutual respect that underpin the health of our society.”
Learn more about Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative and its newest cohort.
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]]>The post Inside Philanthropy: Record Fundraising for Hillel Amid Rising Antisemitism on Campus appeared first on Hillel International.
]]>Inside Philanthropy: Record Fundraising for Hillel Amid Rising Antisemitism on Campus
Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman recently spoke to Inside Philanthropy in a wide-ranging conversation about Hillel’s centennial campaign and how Hillel supports Jewish college students in these challenging times.
“We have raised more than $200 million, and we extended the campaign by virtue of continuing interest on many campuses to participate and leverage the reality — both positive and challenging — that Jewish students face in terms of pursuing Jewish life on campus,” Lehman told the publication, sharing that the campaign ultimately exceeded its original $150 million goal by more than $50 million. He added, “We raised more than $70 million since 10/7, [and] during the last year, we have seen an 89% increase in grassroots giving at the Hillel International level — donors giving under $10,000 in a given gift — and a 23% increase in our overall unrestricted giving.”
In this difficult time for Jewish students, these fundraising successes are particularly significant. Following Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, , Hillel International has responded to rising campus antisemitism and discrimination through new programs and campaigns, including partnering with the ADL and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law to put up the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) which provides students with legal support to address antisemitic bias incidents on campus.
Hillel International also expanded the Campus Climate Initiative to train college and university presidents and administrators to strengthen policies that can prevent and address campus antisemitism, and launched Campus For All, an online resource that provides Jewish students with education and resources to counter antisemitism. “[The last 15 months have] led many students to want to better understand what it means to be Jewish and to seek out the comfort and support of our Hillel communities,” Lehman said.
The success of Hillel’s milestone fundraising campaigns also supports programs that help new Jewish students, making sure they know that Hillel is there to be their home away from home. Hillel invested several million dollars to ensure that Jewish students would find robust, visible Jewish programs and communities when they arrived on campus this fall. Campuses that hosted “Welcome Week” programs and events saw a nearly 30% increase in the number of Jewish students who participated in Hillel programming.
“We have turned our programmatic framework from one that focuses solely on traditional Jewish life programs to a human-centered-design approach that works with students to design experiences that they have identified as meaningful to them,” Lehman said. “But the foundation of work continues to be the power and beauty of Jewish wisdom, tradition, ritual and community.”
“Record Fundraising for Hillel Amid Rising Antisemitism on Campus” was originally published in Inside Philanthropy on January 30, 2025. To read the complete article, please visit insidephilanthropy.com.
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]]>The post Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative Announces its Sixth Cohort appeared first on Hillel International.
]]>Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative Announces its Sixth Cohort
With this latest cohort, more than 100 colleges and universities have received training to address antisemitism from CCI
Hillel International is kicking off its sixth cohort for the Campus Climate Initiative (CCI). This flagship program provides a comprehensive strategy to help campus administrators counter antisemitism and build a campus climate in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity.
This year’s cohort includes more than 100 administrators from the following colleges and universities: Clark University, Drexel University, George Mason University, Rhodes College, Simmons University, Stony Brook University, SUNY College at New Paltz, SUNY Purchase College, SUNY Rockland Community College, State University of New York System, University at Buffalo, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, University of Oregon, University of South Florida, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and Vanderbilt University.
Including this cohort, Hillel International’s CCI has now partnered with college and university presidents and administrators from 102 institutions nationwide. As part of this program, each of these schools creates action plans, rooted in a customized and comprehensive climate assessment, to address antisemitism on campus alongside a community of peers. This collaborative, educational, and practical experience allows administrators to build a network to do this work to foster a positive, inclusive, and welcoming campus climate for Jewish and all students.
“Hillel International is thrilled to welcome these 18 schools and statewide university system into the sixth cohort of our Campus Climate Initiative. We appreciate their dedication to building an inclusive campus environment, including for Jewish students, and are proud to partner with them towards this goal,” said Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International. “We are thrilled by the growth and success of CCI and proud to have now reached over 100 campuses nationwide.”
“We are thrilled that the University of Minnesota has joined the Campus Climate Initiative to create a more inclusive community for all students,” said Emily Boskoff, Executive Director at Minnesota Hillel. “This is a powerful opportunity to not only fight antisemitism, but to also deepen our collective understanding of the bias and hate that affect our students on a daily basis. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the University of Minnesota and Hillel International to foster an environment where every student feels valued, respected, and safe, and to ensure that the fight against antisemitism and all forms of hate on our campus remains at the forefront of our efforts.”
CCI has continued to expand its offerings to universities including hosting the largest summit on antisemitism on campus featuring over 75 presidents in Fall 2024, expanding its staff to help schools implement their campus action plans, and working across networks of colleges and universities to reach larger audiences at the state and regional levels.
The sixth cohort kicked off on February 3 at a two-day, in-person seminar. The program will conclude in December 2025.
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]]>The post 83% of Jewish College Students Have Experienced or Witnessed Antisemitism Firsthand Since Oct. 7 Attack, Survey Finds appeared first on Hillel International.
]]>83% of Jewish College Students Have Experienced or Witnessed Antisemitism Firsthand Since Oct. 7 Attack, Survey Finds
- 41 percent of Jewish students felt the need to hide their Jewish identity;
- One-in-four Jewish students felt compelled to take security precautions;
- Two-thirds of Jewish students lack confidence in their university’s ability to prevent antisemitic incidents
Eighty-three percent of Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, according to a new survey by ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), Hillel International, and College Pulse.
Moreover, more than a quarter (27 percent) of Jewish students surveyed said they had observed antisemitic activity by faculty, compared to only 6 percent of non-Jewish students. The survey also found that two-thirds (66 percent) of Jewish students (and 60 percent of non-Jewish students) were not confident in their university’s ability to prevent antisemitic incidents.
“Since the October 7 attack in Israel, Jewish students have felt increasingly threatened, unwelcome and unsupported on campus, both by students and faculty,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “It is unacceptable that Jewish students cannot be confident in their university’s ability to address and prevent antisemitic incidents, and that they now live in a world in which they feel compelled to conceal their identity and beliefs. These findings underscore the urgent need for university leaders to step up and protect Jewish students.”
“These findings paint a deeply concerning picture of what Jewish students are facing on campuses today,” said Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International. “As we work to ensure that campuses are free from antisemitism, we are committed to creating spaces where Jewish students can build vibrant communities and express their identities with pride. No student should ever feel the need to hide who they are or take extra precautions to protect themselves while they’re living and learning at school.”
Other key findings include:
- 22.9 percent of Jewish students have felt compelled to take additional security precautions.
- Only about half (49.6 percent) of Jewish students reported feeling “very” or “extremely” comfortable with others on campus knowing their Jewish identity; 41 percent actively felt the need to hide their Jewish identity, and only 27 percent felt comfortable with others on campus knowing their views of Israel.
- More than one-in-ten Jewish students (13 percent) have withdrawn fromcampus or social activities, compared to only 2 percent of non-Jewish students.
- An overwhelming majority of students (92.5 percent) who had reported witnessing or experiencing an incident of antisemitism on campus did not report the incident to campus authorities.
- Low awareness about what to do and a lack of confidence that they would get the help they needed drove many students to not report incidents of campus antisemitism.
- A clear reporting policy was among the most frequently cited policies of importance to Jewish students (51 percent).
- Extreme anti-Israel attitudes were strongly related to minimization of the issue of anti-Jewish prejudice on campus among non-Jewish students.
Along with other leading Jewish communal and anti-hate organizations, ADL and Hillel International have been at the forefront in countering antisemitism on campus through ADL’s Ronald Birnbaum Center to Combat Antisemitism in Education (CCAE) and Not On My Campus campaign, and Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI), Campus4All.org website, and on-the-ground presence on hundreds of college and university campuses nationwide.
In November 2023, ADL and Hillel International also launched the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), a free legal protection helpline for students who have experienced antisemitism, along with the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
By heeding ADL’s Six Asks and joint ADL-Hillel guidance – developed in collaboration with leading Jewish communal partners – and adopting tailored data-driven solutions, educational institutions can work to ensure that all students, including Jewish students, can thrive in a safe and welcoming campus environment.
Methodology
In partnership with Hillel International and College Pulse, ADL fielded a survey of college students at 135 universities across the United States in the fall semester of 2024. This survey was conducted by College Pulse, an online survey and analytics platform focused on American college students. College Pulse’s proprietary panel includes more than 950,000 college students from more than 1,500 institutions of higher education across all 50 states. This survey employed an oversample of Jewish students, with 1,030 Jewish students and 1,140 non-Jewish students responding. Responses from non-Jewish students were gathered from 135 colleges and universities, while responses from Jewish students were gathered from 128 of these colleges and universities.
About ADL
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.
About Hillel International
Founded in 1923, Hillel has been impacting the lives of Jewish college students and countering antisemitism on campus for more than 100 years. Hillel International is a global organization that welcomes students of all backgrounds and fosters an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. As the largest Jewish student organization in the world, Hillel builds connections with emerging adults at more than 850 colleges and universities. During their formative college years, students are inspired to explore, experience, and create vibrant Jewish lives.
About College Pulse
College Pulse is a survey research and analytics company dedicated to understanding the attitudes, preferences, and behaviors of today’s college students. College Pulse offers custom data-driven marketing and research solutions, utilizing its unique American College Student Panel™ that includes over 950,000 college students and recent graduates from more than 1,500 two- and four-year colleges and universities across all 50 states.
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]]>The post We Are Still Here: Traveling to Poland with Hillel appeared first on Hillel International.
]]>We Are Still Here: Traveling to Poland with Hillel
University of Miami student Jordan Kekst recently traveled to Poland with other Jewish students as part of a trip organized by the Hillels of Florida, including University of Miami Hillel, Hillel at Florida International University, University of Florida Hillel, Hillels of the Florida Suncoast, Hillel at Florida State University, Central Florida Hillel, and Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach. This powerful reflection from his trip was originally published on the University of Miami Hillel Instagram page, and we are honored to share it ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
I am an architecture student at the University of Miami, originally from Los Angeles. While I do not have a personal family connection to the Holocaust, I have always felt a deep responsibility to remember and honor those who were lost. This trip was an opportunity to witness history firsthand and better understand the impact of the Shoah, the Holocaust, beyond textbooks and museums.
Standing in Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II: Birkenau, Majdanek, and Treblinka, we walked the same paths where millions were forced to endure unspeakable cruelty. We saw the barracks designed as stables where Jews lived in inhumane conditions for years, the gas chambers where they were murdered, and the crematoriums where their remains were discarded without dignity.
The scale of the Holocaust was incomprehensible, but it was the details, the bales of hair, the piles of glasses worn by Jews just like me, the faint echoes of lives once lived, that was truly shattering.
One moment that has stayed with me is walking into the Yad Vashem exhibit at Auschwitz I, where videos and photos of Holocaust victims were played, showing them laughing, spending time with loved ones, and simply living their lives. Seeing their faces and joy in a place where they were murdered made the loss feel deeply personal. It was there that I truly grasped the sheer scale of the Holocaust, not just as statistics or numbers, but as unfathomable human tragedies. The weight of that realization has stayed with me every day, serving as a reminder that behind every number were stories, families, and entire worlds violently cut short, never to be fully known.
Bearing witness to their pain felt like both a responsibility and an obligation. I imagined myself in their positions. How would I have felt? What would I have done?
Yet along with this intense mourning, there was also light. As we traveled through Krakow, Lublin, Warsaw, and Kazimierz, our kehilah (community) found moments of connection, joy, and even laughter. We sang together, shared stories, and leaned on each other for support on long bus rides and in group discussions.
This balance of grief and levity felt profoundly Jewish; tapping into a tradition that intertwines joy and sorrow, honoring the past while finding reasons to celebrate life and our combined strength.
This trip reminded me of the resilience of the Jewish people. For every life taken, there are communities that refuse to let their memory fade. For every moment of despair, there is a spark of hope. Our group left Poland bonded, not only by the weight of history, but by the shared strength of our identity.
We are still here. We remember. We carry their stories forward. Never again.
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]]>The post Through Their Stories, We Remember Them: Holocaust Education Week at Hillel Guelph appeared first on Hillel International.
]]>Through Their Stories, We Remember Them: Holocaust Education Week at Hillel Guelph
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which takes place annually on January 27, serves as a global commemoration of the six million Jews and five million others who were killed during the Holocaust. The date January 27 has particular significance, as it marks when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated in 1945.
At Hillel Guelph this year, International Holocaust Remembrance Day won’t just be a day-long observance, but part of a weeklong Holocaust education effort featuring a slate of eight different programs.
The week will begin with “Stories from Our Families,” a screening of the USC Shoah Foundation testimonies telling the stories of two students’ families, followed by an open discussion for students to reflect on Holocaust remembrance in their lives, helping to establish “family stories” as the theme for this year’s Holocaust Education Week. Students will then have the opportunity to visit the Royal Ontario Museum’s new exhibit on the Holocaust, “Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away” – a trip open to both Jewish and non-Jewish students – allowing them to engage with Holocaust education more intimately. The week will conclude with testimony from Canadian survivor Sol Nayman, giving current students, who are the last generation that will be able to learn directly from survivors, the opportunity to hear and bear witness to their stories.
On the memorial day itself, Hillel Guelph will hold a public candle-lighting and ceremony, including poems, songs, and impactful speeches from Hillel student leaders. The Hillel will also host an exhibit in the style of Yad VaShem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial museum, educating the wider student body on how the Holocaust happened and its effects on modern Canadian Jews.
“Holocaust Education Week has always been a cornerstone of our programming,” said Chaya Mamer, Ezra Jewish Education Fellow at Hillel Guelph. “Something unique about the Canadian Jewish community is there are a lot of third-generation survivors. Storytelling helps get the history of the Holocaust across to an unrelated student by making it personal. It makes it feel real.”
Hillel Guelph’s Holocaust Education Week was organized by a committee of 13 student leaders who developed the comprehensive slate of programs based on their family experiences and what they hope their classmates will take from participating. Six of the 13 students will share their families’ stories throughout the week.
“I was drawn to lead Holocaust Education Week because the Holocaust is something that has been important to me since I found out that all my great-grandparents were victims,” said Leora Strigberger, student co-lead on the committee. “I have spent the past 10 years learning about it, both through historical sources and personal stories, and so I jumped at the opportunity to share my knowledge with others.”
Amy Feigelsohn, student co-president of Hillel Guelph’s student leadership board, said this programming feels particularly relevant today.
“Holocaust education at Guelph is especially important [to me] given the rise of antisemitism around the world. It’s crucial that we educate our campus community about the atrocities of the Holocaust to ensure that such horrors are never repeated.” she said. .
Most of Hillel Guelph’s Holocaust remembrance events this year will be open to the wider campus community, including the trip to the Royal Ontario Museum and the survivor testimonials. These events are intended to give all students the ability to connect and engage firsthand with the history of the Holocaust, using storytelling to keep this history alive and help students connect with it in a way that feels real.
“What we hope for anyone who comes across any of our events is that they walk away learning something new about the Holocaust,” said Mamer. “At the end of the day, knowledge is power, and is critical to creating a safer, more inclusive environment for Jewish students.”
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]]>Hillel’s Virtual College Prep Series Returns: Considering Antisemitism on Campus
Hillel International’s Virtual College Prep Series is back, and this time speakers tackled the state of antisemitism on college campuses, what Jewish life is really like at colleges and universities, and how Hillels are showing up to help every Jewish student feel safe, supported, and included.
Here are a few top takeaways from “Careful Considerations: Antisemitism on Campus,” featuring on-the-ground perspectives from Hillel staff and current Jewish college students.
On a hopeful note, schools are improving their responses to antisemitism, in part thanks to Hillel’s initiatives, and that’s making a big difference.
“Hillel recorded [over] 2,600 incidents of antisemitism on college campuses since October 7,” said Lisa Armony, executive director of Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative. “[And] those incidents took place on 385 campuses.” Since the beginning of this academic year, Hillels have seen a decrease in the number of antisemitic incidents on campuses, but an increase in the extreme nature of the incidents.
Part of that change has come from Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative, a program for college and university administrators to counter antisemitism and build a campus community in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity. Nearly 100 schools have participated in the initiative to date.
“We’ve seen universities improve in how they communicate with their students, and with the broader community in terms of what their policies are,” said Armony, who is a parent to two college students. “We’re seeing some campuses really step up and do a terrific job… creating short and long term change, where inclusion of Jewish students is just part of what they do.”
If you want to learn more about what Jewish life is like at a school you’re considering, reach out to the campus Hillel.
“Hillel professionals and Jewish students are the ones that really understand what’s going on,” Armony said. “So ask them: What is it like to be a Jewish student on your campus? What are you excited about? What do you love about your campus, and what are some of the challenges? You can have a really frank conversation about that.”
Armony also recommends asking broader university questions about antisemitism, anti-Israel discrimination, and the campus climate as a whole — such as how administrators respond to antisemitic incidents, how the university administration proactively supports Jewish students, and how polarizing issues are dealt with in and out of the classroom.
“One of my biggest points of advice to parents when looking at this picture is to think about fit, just like you would for any aspect of choosing the right school,” said Adam Lehman, Hillel International president and CEO. “You know how your student is going to be successful.”
At the end of the day, Jewish students are still thriving and living joyously on college campuses, and Hillel plays a role in making that happen.
[Hillel is] very much living out the critical role of creating incredible spaces for Jewish students to express their Jewish identities,” said Lehman.
Vivian Cohen ‘26, a student at Virginia Tech, agreed with Lehman. “The Jewish community has only grown stronger, and Jewish students want to engage more. Jewish students want to be with other Jewish students. They want to have that connection,” she said.
Adena Kirstein, executive director of George Washington University Hillel, said that making those joyous spaces for students to grow and connect with their Jewish identities remains the best part of her job.
“That’s the dream of the work that we’re doing,” she said. “And I feel grateful and privileged to do it time and time again.”
Catch the full recording to hear all the tips and resources we couldn’t fit into just one blog post, including scholarships and opportunities to get involved.
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]]>Learnings from the 2024 College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism
After a year of historically high levels of antisemitism on college and university campuses, presidents and chancellors from across the United States gathered at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. for a historic Summit to confront the rise of antisemitism that Jewish college students are facing.
Hosted by Hillel International, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and the American Council on Education (ACE), the College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism brought together more than 75 leaders from large public universities, small private colleges, Ivy League schools, community colleges, and liberal arts colleges of all sizes. Subject-matter experts led discussions that explored the deep roots of contemporary antisemitism, the relationship between free speech imperatives and creating a safe campus for all students, and applications of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
“We are confronting a wave of anti-Jewish hatred like none of us have experienced in our lifetimes,” said Matthew Bronfman, chair of the Hillel International Board of Governors. “I am immensely proud of Hillel professionals who are building strong, resilient communities on campus in response. And now it is time for university administrators to take determined action to secure our campuses for all students.”
Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman underscored the magnitude of the Summit, saying to the assembled university presidents and chancellors, “Your presence here sends an important message about your commitment to tackling the significant and systemic current challenge of campus antisemitism.”
Keep reading for a snapshot of the top five topics discussed at the Summit:
- Many students are feeling unsafe
When we say that antisemitism is damaging to Jewish students and all students, we mean it. In an opening panel on the current spike in campus antisemitism, experts in political violence shared findings from a large study of colleges and universities that was conducted after October 7.
The Chicago Project on Security and Threats study found that 56% of Jewish college students felt that they were in “personal danger” over the last year. And in addition to Jewish students, 16% of all college students reported the same. That means between two and three million college students have experienced moments of personal danger over the last year with the rise of unrest, disruptive protests, and antisemitism.
Students are anxious and disturbed by the environment on their campuses, and it’s disrupting their education.
- Universities are learning and adapting to protect Jewish students
Many universities were caught off guard following October 7 by the sudden, extreme spike in antisemitic rhetoric and activities. Without the preparedness and capacity needed to manage disruptions to campus life, colleges and universities were often slow to react and uncertain of the best course of action.
One goal of the Summit was to equip university leaders with the tools to develop and execute a clear plan to protect Jewish students, and ensure that every student’s education could flourish. Ted Deutch, CEO of AJC, stressed the vital role university presidents play in supporting Jewish students on campus. “Ultimately, university leaders must be the ones to take the helm of confronting antisemitism,” he said. ”We know you can do that in ways that respect your institution’s core principles and ideals.”
While there is much more work to be done, it is reassuring to see so many university leaders taking action to combat antisemitism.
- Clarifying and enforcing codes of conduct is essential for keeping all students safe on campus
The Summit also focused on the tools colleges and universities may already have in place to foster safe and inclusive learning spaces for Jewish students, including their existing student codes of conduct and regulations governing the time, place, and manner of protests and demonstrations. These rules typically provide guidelines on appropriate protest procedures, rules for when and how public spaces can be used on campus, and consequences for violations that block other students’ ability to learn, study, and access their campus spaces.
When students or faculty cross the boundaries of those codes, university leaders are committing to acting quickly and decisively to uphold campus expectations of civil dialogue and behavior. “Each campus will have to forge its own strategy rooted in its unique culture, dynamics, and resources,” said Lisa Armony, executive director of Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative. “But there are steps that you can all take right now that will have an immediate impact for your students and in the long run, will help to avoid an existential crisis for higher education.”
- Difficult and respectful conversations are central to a college and university education
The Summit was an avenue for university leaders to discuss how to recommit their institutions to the values of pluralism, where students with a wide diversity of identities and viewpoints are welcome to share their ideas and beliefs in a respectful educational environment.
“Open discourse around ideas, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the sustenance of a pluralistic society that protects individuals’ rights undergird our democracy, and as universities, we have an indispensable role to play by reflecting and embodying these values to shape our nation for the better,” said Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels.
Goucher College President Kent Devereaux agreed. “By modeling for our students how to engage in difficult, sometimes contentious conversations about critical issues, as we discussed at this conference, we hope to prepare them to play an important role in fostering understanding in our society,” he said.
- Title VI enforcement is evolving to become a critical tool for protecting Jewish students
What is Title VI and why is it in the news so often? Title VI is a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination in educational institutions on the basis of “race, color, and national origin.” One of the key sessions at the Summit took a deep dive into the ways that Title VI investigations and decisions can help protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination in the short and long term. University leaders also had the opportunity to ask detailed questions to a legal expert in Title VI cases.
As university presidents return to campus, they are recommitting to the work of protecting and uplifting Jewish students. In reflecting on the Summit, New York University President Linda G. Mills said, “I was glad to be part of this Summit, which provided university leaders with important opportunities to exchange ideas; to stand united in pushing back against antisemitism; to commit to fostering safe and inclusive campuses where students may flourish free from harassment, discrimination, and threats; and to uphold our traditions of reasoned discourse.”
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]]>Hillel, AJC, and ACE Convene 75+ College and University Presidents for Historic Summit on Campus Antisemitism
The Summit held September 22-23 in Washington, D.C. was the largest-ever gathering of university presidents to address rising antisemitism on campus
Washington D.C.- Today, Hillel International, American Jewish Committee (AJC), and the American Council on Education (ACE) concluded a landmark two-day College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism, held at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center. With more than 75 university presidents and chancellors attending, the Summit marked the largest-ever gathering of college and university presidents to discuss the topic of confronting antisemitism on campus.
The presidents and chancellors in attendance at the Summit reflected the full diversity of American higher education, including the leaders of prominent research universities, public and private, as well as regional public universities, private liberal arts colleges, community colleges, Ivy League schools, and faith-based institutions.
After nearly 12 months of dramatically rising antisemitism on college campuses, university presidents benefited from panel discussions with leading subject-matter experts that explored the deep roots of contemporary antisemitism, discussed the relationship between free speech imperatives and creating a safe campus for all students, and delved into applications of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Presidents also participated in solutions-based working sessions where they learned from one another about the strategies that are already proving successful during the new academic year, and how to translate those approaches to their own campuses to foster inclusion and combat hate.
“As we seek to restore a safe and inclusive campus environment for all students, we’re proud to see how committed university leaders are to addressing rising antisemitism by participating in this critical Summit,” said Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman. “Just as we have for more than a century, Hillel will continue to work beside university presidents each and every day to ensure that Jewish students are protected and welcome on every college campus.”
“Universities play an outsized role in our broader society, encouraging values-driven leadership, the open exchange of ideas, and the principles that form the foundation of our democracy,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “Addressing the hate we’re witnessing on campus is not just essential for the safety and security of Jewish students in the quad, but also for the health of higher education in America. Only by ensuring that the voices of the Jewish community are not silenced can we ensure the free exchange of ideas, the importance of which extends beyond campus and forms the bedrock of our liberal democracy.”
“College and university presidents are committed to ensuring that Jewish students, along with all of our students, are on campuses that are safe places in which to learn and thrive academically and socially, and where at the same time robust and sometimes difficult conversations flourish,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “I’m proud that ACE was able to partner with AJC and Hillel International on this second College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism, and I am confident the more than 75 presidents who attended left better equipped to take on these tough issues and the challenges to come, to the benefit of all of our students and communities.”
In April of 2022, Hillel International, AJC, and ACE convened the first University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism in New York City, hosted by NYU. In the two years since, rates of antisemitism in the U.S. and on college and university campuses have risen to historically high levels, with antisemitic incidents on college campuses increasing from fewer than 300 in the 2022-2023 school year, to more than 1,800 in 2023-2024 following the October 7 attack on Israel. The current environment on campuses throughout the U.S. and Canada has required new approaches such as the ones discussed at this year’s conference.
Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels said, “Hopkins was honored to welcome leaders of universities and colleges across the nation that are grappling with the challenge of rising antisemitism. Holding this conversation in the heart of the nation’s capital reminds us of our founding ideals and what those ideals have meant to Jewish people here and around the world. Open discourse around ideas, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the sustenance of a pluralistic society that protects individuals’ rights undergird our democracy, and as universities, we have an indispensable role to play by reflecting and embodying these values to shape our nation for the better.”
NYU President Linda G. Mills said, “Antisemitism, which should have no foothold on our campuses, has had an appalling and heartbreaking surge. I was glad to be part of this Summit, which provided university leaders with important opportunities to exchange ideas; to stand united in pushing back against antisemitism; to commit to fostering safe and inclusive campuses where students may flourish free from harassment, discrimination, and threats; and to uphold our traditions of reasoned discourse.”
In addition to the Summit, earlier this year Hillel International and AJC launched an expanded partnership to work with college and university presidents to counter antisemitism on campus, through AJC’s new Center for Education Advocacy and Hillel International’s flagship Campus Climate Initiative. In 2025, AJC’s groundbreaking Project Interchange and Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative will host a joint delegation of college and university administrators from across the country to travel to Israel for an immersive learning program.
Additional Comments From Presidents Who Attended the Summit:
“I am profoundly grateful to Hillel International, AJC, and ACE for this opportunity to come together with so many distinguished university leaders at this historic Summit. Together, we are combating antisemitism, confronting hate, and building stronger, safer, and more inclusive communities, ones in which we are committed to rooting out the poisonous fruit of deeply held bigotries, and ones in which we will learn together and grow together in respect, understanding, and harmony.” – University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono
“Convening education leaders from across the nation for this important Summit is a necessary step in our collective responsibility toward fostering safe academic environments for the students we serve. Through dialogue and collaboration, we can share insights, strategies, and experiences that build upon our commitment to ensure every student feels valued and protected within our educational institutions.” – Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega
“At Goucher College, we have long valued the breadth of lived experience and perspectives that religious pluralism brings to our campus. By modeling for our students how to engage in difficult, sometimes contentious conversations about critical issues, as we discussed at this conference, we hope to prepare them to play an important role in fostering understanding in our society. Spirited debate and respectful listening are hallmarks of not only our democracy but foundational elements of a liberal arts education.” – Goucher College President Kent Devereaux
About Hillel International
Hillel International is the world’s largest Jewish campus organization, serving more than 180,000 students and young adults each year on more than 850 college and university campuses. With 1,200 Hillel professionals supporting Jewish students in the U.S. and 15 other countries across the globe, Hillel is uniquely positioned to pursue its mission of enriching the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish future, and the world.
About American Jewish Committee (AJC)
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
About the American Council on Education (ACE)
ACE is a membership organization that leads higher education with a united vision for the future, galvanizing our members to make change and collaborating across the sector to design solutions for today’s challenges, serve the needs of a diverse student population, and shape effective public policy. As the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities, our strength lies in our diverse membership of more than 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in America and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities. For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on X (formerly known as Twitter) @ACEducation.
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