News

eJP: Are We Talking About 1948, 1967 or Oct. 7, 2023: Understanding Campus Conversations About Israel

Author

Jonathan Falk

Date

July 29, 2025

Originally published on July 25, 2025 in eJewish Philanthropy, “Are We Talking About 1948, 1967 or Oct. 7, 2023: Understanding Campus Conversations About Israel,” sorts Israel-related conversation on campus into three distinct types. Written by Vice President of Hillel International’s Israel Action and Addressing Antisemitism Program Jon Falk, this piece offers a new framework for understanding dialogues about Israel. Read on for selected excerpts:

“On college campuses across the country, conversations about Israel are louder and more emotionally charged than ever. And amid the protests, student government resolutions and classroom disputes, it may be easy to miss a fundamental disconnect: Not everyone is having the same conversation.

In fact, I believe there are three different conversations about Israel playing out in parallel and unless we name them clearly, we risk misunderstanding each other entirely.

The first is what I call ‘the 1948 conversation.’ This is not a debate about borders or policies; it’s a debate about Israel’s existence. It centers on the very legitimacy of a Jewish state, and whether Israel should have been created in the first place. This discussion is rooted in the events surrounding Israel’s founding and it’s where many of the most hostile anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric manifests. Here, false and offensive terms like ‘settler-colonialism,’ ‘globalize the intifada,’ and ‘genocide’ replace facts and nuance. The conversation is not about how to achieve peace; it’s about denying the right of the Jewish people to self-determination 

The second is ‘the 1967 conversation.’ This is where most American Jews and most people committed to peace tend to focus. It’s a conversation about what a lasting resolution to today’s conflict could look like, acknowledging the Jewish people’s right to a homeland and affirming the Palestinian people’s right to one too. Students and faculty engaged in this topic ask hard questions about borders, security, and coexistence. This conversation is informed by decades of peace negotiations, from the Oslo Accords to Annapolis. It’s a conversation about how to move forward, not whether Israel should exist…

For much of the last two decades, the debate on campus oscillated between 1967 and 1948, between questions of policy and questions of legitimacy. But since Oct. 7, 2023, a third conversation has emerged. I call this one ‘the 10/7 conversation.’

This is not a conversation about Israel’s borders or even its existence. It is about American Jews being targeted because of their real or perceived connection to Israel. It’s a conversation rooted in blame, in guilt by association, in the dangerous idea that Jews anywhere are responsible for the actions of Israel’s government or military. And it has led to an alarming rise in hate: Jewish students blocked from going to class, faculty using classroom power to shame Jewish identity and synagogues and Jewish institutions under threat…

Naming the 1948, 1967 and now 10/7 conversations for what they are can help all of us better support college students and ensure we’re equipping them with the insight and resilience they need.

Not every discussion about Israel is the same. Some are about how to build a better future. Others are about the existence of the Jewish state. And some are about whether Jews anywhere are safe at all. As we prepare to support students navigating these questions in the new school year, let’s be clear about which conversation we’re having, and why it matters.”

Jon Falk is the vice president of Hillel International’s Israel Action and Addressing Antisemitism Program. He leads teams that support campus Hillels in navigating and responding to antisemitic incidents and anti-Israel activity as well as celebrating, advocating for, and educating about Israel.

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News

JTA: Antisemitic Assaults and Vandalism Are Down on Campuses But Online Bullying Is Up, Hillel Finds

Author

Grace Gilson (JTA)

Date

July 17, 2025

Originally published on July 17, 2025 in the Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA), “Antisemitic Assaults and Vandalism Are Down on Campuses But Online Bullying Is Up, Hillel Finds,” covers the overall increase of antisemitic incidents on campus during the 2024-2025 academic year, and a shift from vandalism and violent incidents to online harassment. Read on for selected excerpts:

“The number of antisemitic assaults and acts of vandalism on college campuses fell sharply in the last school year, according to Hillel International.

But Hillel International said antisemitic incidents were still on the rise on college campuses overall, citing an increase in online harassment and bullying reported by Jewish students.

The organization said the trend might reflect more aggressive action on the part of universities to intervene on behalf of Jewish students and their advocates.

Adam Lehman, the president and CEO of Hillel International, said he believed that changes to improve the climate for Jewish students on college campuses were paying off.

‘Over the past year, many universities have made significant changes to better clarify and enforce their policies and codes of conduct, supported by our work with them to achieve these improvements,’ said Lehman in a statement. ‘When universities step up and enforce their rules, Jewish students and all students benefit from a safer, more inclusive campus environment.’

To collect the data, Hillel cross-references college and university bias reporting portals; reports from students; the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line; and ReportCampusHate.org, a joint project of Hillel, the Anti-Defamation League and the Secure Community Network, which coordinates security for Jewish institutions nationwide.”

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News

Antisemitic Incidents on Campus at Record High in Past School Year 

Author

Hillel International

Date

July 17, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Antisemitic incidents on college campuses reached their highest levels ever in the 2024-2025 school year, Hillel International, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization, announced today. A total of 2,334 incidents were reported, which is an increase of more than 500 incidents over the 2023-2024 academic year (1,853 incidents) and a ten-fold rise compared to the 2022-2023 year (289) – the last year before the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. 

Despite the overall increase in antisemitic activity on campus, the data reveals significant progress in several key areas. Incidents of assault decreased from a high of 50 in 2023-2024 to 32 in 2024-2025, and incidents of vandalism and graffiti declined by nearly 55 percent. The number of anti-Israel campus encampments dropped by 92 percent. 

The research also highlights a dramatic shift in the nature of antisemitic activity, with reported incidents of online harassment surging nearly 185 percent. Graduation disruptions also increased slightly this school year, with 37 disruptions or incidents, compared to 31 the year prior.

“All Jewish students should feel they belong on campus, but unfortunately, too often we’re seeing environments that make Jewish students feel excluded and threatened,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. “Over the past year, many universities have made significant changes to better clarify and enforce their policies and codes of conduct, supported by our work with them to achieve these improvements. When universities step up and enforce their rules, Jewish students and all students benefit from a safer, more inclusive campus environment.”

In response to the ongoing issues, Hillel International expanded its comprehensive strategies to protect and support Jewish students, and increased the number of opportunities for Jewish students to convene in safe and joyful community experiences. These efforts include enhanced security initiatives and grants, growing partnerships with universities to improve their policies and practices, and expanded programs to educate students, faculty, and staff about the nature of contemporary antisemitism and how to prevent it. 

“While we’re encouraged by progress in some areas, any counting of incidents likely underrepresents the true scope of antisemitism, because many incidents go unreported – especially as they become normalized,” said Jon Falk, Vice President, Israel Engagement and Confronting Antisemitism at Hillel International. “We cannot allow this level of antisemitism to feel normal. That’s why we’re working on campuses every day, creating safe, inclusive, and vibrant communities for Jewish students everywhere.”

Methodology

Hillel International collects data about antisemitic incidents on campus through a number of sources, including college and university bias reporting portals, directly from students, through the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), and ReportCampusHate.org, a joint project of Hillel International, the Anti Defamation League, and the Secure Community Network. The data is cross-referenced to ensure accuracy and thoroughness.

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News

Secure Community Network, Hillel International, and FCAS Team Up To Launch SafeU: Campus Safety Initiative With 3-Time Super Bowl Champ Julian Edelman

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 28, 2025

The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, in partnership with Hillel International and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), is announcing the launch of “SafeU: Campus Safety Initiative,” a first-of-its-kind training program designed to equip university students with critical situational awareness and first-aid skills.

SafeU was developed in response to the ongoing hate and violence Jewish students face on university campuses, which dramatically escalated following the 07 October Hamas terrorist attacks. In 2024, SCN tracked over 500 reports of threat incidents and suspicious activity on our campuses and identified over 120 encampments on campuses. During this period of unrest, Jewish students and faculty encountered hostile protests, unlawful encampments, violent incidents, and targeted harassment on many campuses.

Developed with students, SafeU adapts SCN’s proven training curricula to specifically address the increasingly volatile security issues facing Jewish students. Expert instructors guide students through real-life simulations, enhancing their knowledge, confidence, and situational preparedness.

Three-time Super Bowl Champion and tolerance advocate Julian Edelman previewed the training and endorsed the program in a special video message for students. “As a Jewish athlete, I know how important it is to feel proud of who you are and what you stand for—and college should be no different. Safety and community are at the heart of who we are,” Edelman said. “This training isn’t just about being prepared—it’s about empowerment. It’s about showing up, standing strong, and knowing you have the skills to support yourself and others while making a difference.”

Students who participate in the training will learn awareness techniques to remain vigilant in everyday settings, planning strategies for preparing safe commuting routes and emergency contingencies, hands-on practice with lifesaving first-aid procedures, de-escalation techniques and communication methods, and action steps for safely responding to imminent threats, including methods of escape.

These skills are applied to scenarios such as recognizing and responding to hostile or potentially dangerous situations and ensuring that campus Hillels and other centers of Jewish life remain open and active joyful spaces free from fear. Students or campus organizations interested in participating can contact SCN’s Director of Campus Safety & Security, Kerri Reifel, or email training@securecommunitynetwork.org for more information.

“As the official safety and security partner of Hillel International, SCN is dedicated to ensuring that students feel safe and proud of their identity, especially in these challenging times,” said Michael Masters, SCN National Director and CEO. “SafeU equips students with practical tools and confidence, reinforcing our mission to protect and strengthen Jewish life through engaging and practical programming, especially that which embeds a safety mindset amongst the next generation.”

The program builds on SCN’s broader campus safety initiatives, including its longstanding partnership with Hillel International. In August 2024, SCN and Hillel International announced the launch of Operation SecureOurCampuses, an effort to expand resources to over 50 college and university campuses to include full-time intelligence analysts dedicated to monitoring campus developments and enhanced coordination with law enforcement, public safety officials, and centers of Jewish life.

“Hillel International is proud to work with SCN on SafeU to expand the tools and resources we provide students that can enhance their safety on campus,” said Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International. “This training is a unique and impactful way to address targeting of Jewish students and Jewish student organizations, such as Hillels, and ensure our university communities can be secure, welcoming spaces for all Jewish students.”

“FCAS is proud to partner with SCN and Hillel on this SafeU training to support our mission of uniting Jews and non-Jews alike in the ever-important fight against hate and violence on college campuses. Collaborating to surge resources, alongside our own data tracking, outreach, and mass media campaigns —that can help equip students with tools to stand up to Jewish hate and combat threats,” Tara Levine, President of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, added.

To report a campus security incident to SCN’s dedicated campus monitoring database, please visit reportcampushate.org. Students or Jewish Life centers interested in participating in SafeU: Campus Safety Initiative can contact SCN’s Director of Campus Safety & Security Kerri Reifel, or email training@securecommunitynetwork.org for more information.

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News

Nearly One-Third of American Jewish College Students Feel Faculty Members Have Promoted Antisemitism or Learning Environments Hostile to Jews: New Survey

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 18, 2025

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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News

Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative Gathers for Regional Training on Improving Campus Life for Jewish Students

Author

Dr. Mara Lee Grayson

Date

February 14, 2025

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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News

Inside Philanthropy: Record Fundraising for Hillel Amid Rising Antisemitism on Campus

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 7, 2025

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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News

Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative Announces its Sixth Cohort

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 5, 2025

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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News

83% of Jewish College Students Have Experienced or Witnessed Antisemitism Firsthand Since Oct. 7 Attack, Survey Finds

Author

Hillel International

Date

January 30, 2025

• 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

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News

We Are Still Here: Traveling to Poland with Hillel

Author

Jordan Kekst

Date

January 24, 2025

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. 

The post We Are Still Here: Traveling to Poland with Hillel appeared first on Hillel International.