Effective steps for confronting campus antisemitism

(JNS) — On Oct. 7, Hamas carried out the most heinous attacks on Jews since the Holocaust. While Diaspora Jews watched in horror and disbelief at events taking place in Israel, few could have imagined the impact on their own lives, especially the outburst of antisemitism to ensue in their communities. Nowhere has this been more acute than at America’s finest universities. Over the past year, Jewish organizations have fought tirelessly to counter this torrent of antisemitism, battling a brand of hatred we thought died generations ago. 

As the founder of Chabad at Penn, I have had a front-row seat to Jewish life on one such campus. Our universities are responsible for the development of tomorrow’s leaders in every aspect of public life, and an environment rooted in animosity undermines this important objective.

Over the last year, I’ve had numerous conversations with students who are overwhelmed by both specific acts of antisemitism and a personal sense of rising tension pervasive in campus life. These discussions serve as a powerful reminder that antisemitism is not just a global issue but a daily reality for Jewish students.

Unfortunately, too often students feel disempowered. As we approach the one-year anniversary of Oct. 7, I would like to suggest several actions that can tangibly change the culture on campus long term.

There are meaningful steps that will ripple outward and influence the broader situation. We’ve already seen how our work of Chabad at Penn has resulted in a surge of enthusiastic student involvement this fall semester. It’s not just Chabad at Penn, but Chabad Houses all over. In addition, much has been done (and must continue) to influence college administrations through donors and board relationships, and legal and legislative means. It is not enough to fight antisemitism. Our individual and collective efforts must actually change the culture on campus and these are measures that will lead us in this transformation.

I want to share three actions that each one of us can do to shift the global narrative around Israel, promote Jewish unity and resilience on our campuses.

First and foremost, one of the most effective ways to counteract antisemitism is to create supportive communities for Jewish students. When we come together, we awaken a shared Jewish spirit that helps us face adversity. I have witnessed the transformative effect of a strong community many times.

One example: One of our students, Jessica, feeling empowered by the support she received from our community, bravely confronted her dean when she encountered anti-Israel sentiments in her classroom. Thanks to her courage and efforts, a public apology was issued. We have seen some students testify in Congress and speak at rallies, but all students need to be empowered by being part of a unified campus community. This will go a long way in changing campus culture.

Secondly, in addition to fostering Jewish unity and community, we must recognize the spiritual strength that comes from mitzvot—the commandments that connect us to God, to our people and to our heritage. These acts may seem small in the face of global challenges, but their significance is profound. Whether it’s helping a fellow student, giving charity, lighting Shabbat candles or putting on tefillin, each mitzvah strengthens our connection to something larger than ourselves. Every act of kindness and every moment of connection fortifies not just the individual but the entire community, helping us build the resilience we need to stand strong in the face of hatred.

Finally, we must also empower our faculty, who play a critical role in shaping the campus environment. Faculty are a tremendously underused resource. It’s important to remember that those in positions of academic leadership have significant influence. Faculty trips to Israel in the wake of Oct. 7 have shown that there are already significant groups of faculty who can bring an enormous amount to this effort. Generally, they are not connected to each other or mobilized. We need to facilitate, inspire and aid these members of academia to reach out to other faculty and the administration of their universities.

In addition to these initiatives, it is crucial that we integrate Jewish spiritual knowledge into the academy. Knowledge is a powerful tool and offers a lifeline to a world and a society in turmoil. We must engage Jewish students, activists and academics through exciting and innovative Jewish conferences and programming to share this knowledge. Through this, we can accomplish the following:

• Touch those who feel distant from the Jewish community.

• Connect them with the Jewish textual tradition to counteract academic antisemitism.

• Inspire engagement through the complex and dazzling corpus of Jewish spiritual thought.

I have been involved in these efforts through the Institute for Spirituality and Society and have seen astounding results.

None of these efforts can succeed without the necessary resources. Creating programs, educational tools and supportive communities on campus requires substantial investment. By supporting these efforts, we can ensure that our campuses remain places where Jewish students and faculty feel safe, respected and connected.

Our battle against antisemitism requires a multifaceted approach grounded in unity, resilience and proactive measures. Each of us has the power to make a difference. We can influence the narrative, promote Jewish practice and create a positive impact even beyond the campus. As we face these challenges together, let’s remember that our collective actions have the power not only to overcome obstacles but to transform our environment. The Jewish people need us now more than ever.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy sweet new year! May we be inscribed in the Book of Life.