UF Hillel kicked off 'Spread Cream Cheese, Not Hate' ®

GAINESVILLE, Florida — Amid the record levels of antisemitism on college campuses, student leaders at the University of Florida held the fifth-annual Spread Cream Cheese, Not Hate® Bagel Day program on Jan. 31. 

Started in 2020 by University of Florida Hillel, Spread Cream Cheese, Not Hate® is a program that seeks to proactively combat antisemitism through education, outreach, awareness, and partnership. In connection with National Bagel Day, UF students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and community members are invited to sign the pledge to “combat antisemitism and all forms of hate” and commit to keep campus and the broader community “welcoming and safe places for all.” Signers of the pledge receive a free bagel and cream cheese.

“The bagel is an invitation into conversation,” said Rabbi Jonah Zinn, executive director of UF Hillel. “Our initiative gives students a platform and shared language to have difficult conversations about antisemitism. Everyone who signs the pledge does so after a conversation with our trained student volunteers about antisemitism and how to play a direct role in combating antisemitism at UF and in their own communities.”

More than 7,000 people have signed the pledge since its inception in 2020, with 40 percent of the signers identifying as non-Jewish allies. Pledge signers receive additional resources and opportunities to enhance their learning throughout the year.

To support the event, UF Hillel trained more than 325 Jewish and non-Jewish student volunteers. The students participated in a facilitated workshop during which time they learned about Judaism, the history of antisemitism, and practice their conversation and outreach skills.

“This year’s Bagel Day outreach program feels more important than any other year,” said​ Acadia Schwartz, a UF student who serves as the 2024 Overall Student Director for Bagel Day and has volunteered in past years for Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate.® 

In addition to student volunteers, UF student organizations were also invited to participate in the Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate® Campus Partner Program to extend the reach of the program. There are more than 60 partners this year, more than twice the number in 2023, including the UF Student Government Cabinet. 

“As a non-Jewish student, now more than ever, actively addressing antisemitism - on Bagel Day and beyond - is vital for our university community,” said Clara Calavia, UF Student Body vice president. “Showing up and supporting our fellow Jewish Gators is extremely important to me as it cultivates a campus atmosphere built on empathy, respect, and unity. Combating antisemitism should not be a Jewish-only issue, allies should stand up and spread cream cheese and not hate as well!”  

Sponsors for the initiative include Greenberg Traurig, Greenspoon Marder, and Simon Foundation (FL).