Jewish Life on Campus During the Israel-Hamas War
Following the brutality of the terrorist attacks on October 7th, Jewish students on campus are under attack by their peers and professors, who are openly celebrating and praising the terrorists' attacks, minimizing Jewish pain, and rejecting Israel’s right to defend itself and exist. Through awareness, education, and advocacy, we can work to ensure that every Jewish student has the right to have a college experience free from hate, fear, and alienation.
Together We Stand in Solidarity with Jewish Students Amidst the Violent anti-Israel Demonstrations
1,600 Undergraduate Jewish Students (20.9% of Campus)
1,000 Graduate Jewish Students (16.8% of Campus)
1,600 Undergraduate Jewish Students (20.9% of Campus)
1,000 Graduate Jewish Students (16.8% of Campus)
Antisemitism has long been an issue at American University, where Jewish students have experienced verbal harassment from classmates and professors. The situation has escalated to the point where the Department of Education has launched formal investigations into possible violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
1,700 Undergraduate Jewish Students (23.9% of Campus)
139 Graduate Jewish Students (4.2% of Campus)
1,700 Undergraduate Jewish Students (23.9% of Campus)
139 Graduate Jewish Students (4.2% of Campus)
In the wake of the October 7 attacks against Israel, Brown University’s Jewish community has been subjected to numerous anti-Jewish social media posts and protests that have glorified Hamas, called for the destruction of Israel, and blamed the Israeli government for the loss of life during the Israel-Hamas war. Within the Zionist community at Brown, there are mixed feelings about the administration's decision to negotiate with the encampment organizers. Some are happy that it diffused the situation, and others feel that the students were rewarded for breaking the rules and supporting the Intifada.
Antisemitic acts targeting Jewish students at Charles University have increased significantly since the October 7 terror attacks; many of these incidents remain unreported. While administrative assistance has been almost nonexistent, the Czech Union of Jewish Youth (ČUŽM) has taken the initiative to engage with political authorities to secure support and ensure the safety of Jewish students.
1,500 Undergraduate Jewish Students (9.7% of Campus)
400 Graduate Jewish Students (9.7% of Campus)
1,500 Undergraduate Jewish Students (9.7% of Campus)
400 Graduate Jewish Students (9.7% of Campus)
Despite facing challenges from anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist coalitions, Jewish students at Baruch College have shown remarkable resilience, steadfastly maintaining their sense of community and pride amidst an unprecedented rise in antisemitism. National organizations have provided legal and emotional support through social activism and promoting dialogue between different campus groups to mitigate further conflicts and foster inclusivity.
810 Undergraduate Jewish Students (12.3% of Campus)
700 Graduate Jewish Students (6.2% of Campus)
810 Undergraduate Jewish Students (12.3% of Campus)
700 Graduate Jewish Students (6.2% of Campus)
Duke University has been relatively quiet amid rising tensions in the wake of the October 7 attacks. The university has, for the most part, maintained a neutral stance on the raging conflict between students that is spreading across campuses across the country.
3,500 Undergraduate Jewish Students (12.9% of Campus)
500 Graduate Jewish Students (4.8% of Campus)
3,500 Undergraduate Jewish Students (12.9% of Campus)
500 Graduate Jewish Students (4.8% of Campus)
Since October 7, McGill University has been marked by escalating tensions between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel student groups, reflecting the broader global conflict. The student group Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill, which promotes pro-Palestine resistance and anti-Israel rhetoric, has been sanctioned by the university, which has been proactive in supporting the Jewish community.
2,500 Undergraduate Jewish Students (7.7% of Campus)
500 Graduate Jewish Students (3.9% of Campus)
2,500 Undergraduate Jewish Students (7.7% of Campus)
500 Graduate Jewish Students (3.9% of Campus)
The University of California, Berkeley, community has not been supportive of its Jewish members in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Many Jewish students have experienced isolation and exclusion, with some being ostracized or even removed from consulting clubs, extracurricular groups, and Greek life due to the hostile and targeted antisemitic rhetoric they face. This environment has necessitated a strong and self-reliant Jewish student network to ensure our safety and well-being on campus.
At the University of Cape Town, students who identified as Jewish were ordered to "go back to Europe," harassed, shoved, verbally insulted, and have been constantly referred to as 'racist colonists' and "genocide and apartheid supporters" by oppressors extreme enough to openly claim to be a part of the Hamas terror organization. This came after the most traumatic few months for South African Jewish students, who, for no other reason than their Jewish identity, have been marginalized, isolated, and demonized.
1,600 Undergraduate Jewish Students (16% of Campus)
1,600 Undergraduate Jewish Students (16% of Campus)
Since the October 7 attacks, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has become a ‘breeding ground’ for antisemitism and anti-Zionism. The university's failure to effectively address and condemn these incidents has allowed such sentiments to flourish, posing serious concerns about the safety and well-being of Jewish students at UPenn.
700 Jewish students total (undergraduate and graduate).
700 Jewish students total (undergraduate and graduate).
Jewish life at the University of Oxford has faced significant challenges since October 7, but the sense of bonding and solidarity among Jewish students has been bolstered by the emotional support given by the Oxford University Jewish Society (JSOC), which enables Jewish life to continue through the organization of events, networking opportunities, and community.
WJC NextGen supports and empowers Jewish students leaders in high school, university, and post-graduation who are making a difference in their communities today and to train them to be the changemakers of tomorrow.
The World Jewish Congress and Jewish on Campus have formed a key partnership to support students around the world and amplify Jewish voices.