Antisemitism on Campus: A Persistent and Complex Problem

The Israel-Hamas war sparked a rise in antisemitism on college campuses in the US, with a hostile environment towards Jews becoming more prevalent. A survey of 2,000 Jewish college students found that 71% believed there was a hostile environment on their campus, with many reporting personal experiences of antisemitic harassment, especially on social media. Students felt shunned or excluded from campus life, and were often alienated by friends who were critical of Israel. Debates about Israel's existence were a key factor in the campus climate, with 56% of Jewish students saying that denying Israel's right to exist was antisemitic.

Key Takeaways:

• A survey of 2,000 Jewish college students in December 2023 found that 71% believed there was a hostile environment on their campus, with many reporting personal experiences of antisemitic harassment.
• Students felt shunned or excluded from campus life, and were often alienated by friends who were critical of Israel.
• Debates about Israel's existence were a key factor in the campus climate, with 56% of Jewish students saying that denying Israel's right to exist was antisemitic.
• A small group (about 34% of students and 10% of faculty) held views about Jews or Israel that most Jewish students find antisemitic.
• Israel debates are relatively rare in class, with 76% of faculty saying that in the 2024-25 academic year they did not teach about the Israeli-Hamas war.
• Many Jewish undergraduates said they wanted their campus administrators to do more to address antisemitism, but some said that heavy-handed actions made things worse.
• The federal government's approach to addressing antisemitism has been criticized for punishing schools that have done nothing wrong.
• Healing Jewish students' feelings of isolation requires building social connections across ideological and religious lines.

Statistics:

• 71% of Jewish college students believed there was a hostile environment on their campus.
• 56% of Jewish students said that denying Israel's right to exist was antisemitic.
• 34% of students and 10% of faculty held views about Jews or Israel that most Jewish students find antisemitic.
• 76% of faculty said that in the 2024-25 academic year they did not teach about the Israeli-Hamas war.
• 2,000 Jewish college students participated in the survey.
• The survey was conducted at about 50 schools with large Jewish populations.

Sources:

• Brandeis University's Institute for the Study of Modern Israel.
• A survey of 2,000 Jewish college students in December 2023.
• The Conversation: "Antisemitism on campus: How some colleges are trying to address the problem"