I am often asked by students and parents alike, “What is antisemitism really like on American campuses?” As the leader of a grassroots organization of Jewish college students—and a recent graduate myself—this question is at the heart of my work.
In my second year of college, I founded Jewish on Campus—the leading voice for Gen Z Jews in the United States. As a movement powered by Jewish students, we seek to end antisemitism on campus and beyond. For five years, Jewish on Campus has watched antisemitism continue to rise to unthinkable levels on American college campuses.
When I was a first-year at the University of Chicago, I joined the French club. I may not speak French—but the club promised baguettes and cheese, so I did as any college student would and joined the French club.
In a student hall basement, I half-listened to a conversation buzzing back and forth in French. I heard a word I did understand: “Nazi.” Taken aback, I interjected. I informed the group that my great-grandparents’ families were killed during the Holocaust. A German student answered, “Back in Germany, we don’t say that your great-grandparents died in the Holocaust. We say that they took an extended vacation to Germany and never came back.” The antisemitism struck me to my core—but what hurt the most was the silence of my peers. I vowed to never be silent in the face of antisemitism again.
In the aftermath of October 7th, 2023, it takes little convincing for the Jewish community to recognize the grasp antisemitism has taken over American campuses. Just this month, demonstrators interrupted a “History of Modern Israel” class, handing out flyers calling to “Burn Zionism to the Ground,” “Crush Zionism,” and proclaiming that “The Enemy Will Not See Tomorrow.” After more than 480 days, the Jewish community had come to accept this as normal.
But just like my encounter with the UChicago French club, antisemitism began to foment on campuses long before October 7th, 2023. When I founded Jewish on Campus in 2020, the crisis was already growing. Students across the United States had already been taunted with antisemitic slurs, harassed in campus organizations, and ostracized for merely believing in self-determination for the Jewish people. We took action, building a network of young Jewish leaders across America, united in the fight against antisemitism on college campuses. Our organization is the first of its kind: the only Gen Z–led organization fighting antisemitism, built by and for Jewish students in the United States. For nearly five years, we have given a voice to students fighting against campus antisemitism. We educate online and on campuses; we train and empower student leaders; and we advocate on all levels, from local universities all the way to Capitol Hill. This work has always been important. Since October 2023, it has only become more urgent.
And as troubling as each headline may be, for students, it’s everyday exclusion that is most harmful—the demonstrations held outside of Hillel buildings, the rocks thorwn at Jewish students during protests, and the calls for academic boycotts of Israeli educators and institutions. Students face barriers to embracing their whole identities—to celebrating their gender identity, their ethnicity, their sexuality, their political advocacy, and even their hobbies alongside their Jewish identity. They face unfair barriers to entry, unable to join campus groups without first renouncing their connection to Israel. This litmus test prevents full inclusion in the campus community, forcing students to choose between two essential parts of their identities. Jewish students shouldn’t be excluded from women’s groups because they have a connection to Israel. Jewish students shouldn’t be barred from engaging in important social justice efforts because they are Israeli. Their stories of surviving sexual violence should not be exploited, a horrific trend we see continuing to impact Israeli women today.
Much of this sentiment stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of Zionism. Like any complex identity, each Jew’s connection to Israel is unique, a singular experience in a communal identity. But the mere belief that Israel should exist, that Jews deserve self-determination in our ancestral homeland, is shared by the overwhelming majority of Jews in America. Yet, it’s enough to warrant isolation. Students find themselves without any room for dialogue, nor willingness to engage, learn, teach, and come together with those who may think differently than they do. Instead, a dichotomy is created, a “pro-” and “anti-” binary that only exacerbates tensions.
There is an inclination to back away from the fight against campus antisemitism. It feels unwinnable. Some have begun to self-isolate to more “friendly” campuses or solely attend Jewish universities. The desire to retreat from a toxic environment is understandable. But, as I urge students each day, we must hold our ground. If we self-isolate, we lose our seats at the table, unable to effect any change on campus. The Jewish community has always stood boldly against antisemitism. Now, it is our turn. No student should be deprived of an opportunity to learn because of their identity. We must demand better.
Here’s the silver lining: Young leaders are standing up throughout the Diaspora. We are joining our Israeli siblings to build a strong future for the Jewish people. We have strong voices, and we are using them.
Yes, it is a challenging moment. But, together, we are rising to the challenge.
Publish date: February 10th
By: Julia Jassey – CEO & founder of JewishOnCampus
