In May 2024, I was proudly sitting in Boston’s Fenway Park watching my niece graduate from Northeastern University. Like universities across the country, graduation exercises included protests against the Israeli-Hamas war. The giant live-streamed screens displayed students wearing keffiyehs, others holding up phones that said “Divest Now” or “Stop Genocide.”
One student even stripped off his gown to reveal a pro-Palestinian message written on his body. While he received some applause from the student body, the reaction was drowned out by the stands when one of the deans scolded him, saying such outbursts would interrupt the ceremonies.
While my niece took this in stride, I wondered: what if I were a student today? Could I handle the level of antisemitism occurring on campuses across the nation? More importantly, how could I—a childless senior citizen—help Jewish college students?
This desire to support students led me to join Mothers Against College Antisemitism (MACA). Living in New Jersey but serving as president of my congregation in Pennsylvania, I’ve attended events on both sides of the Delaware River sponsored by Chabad or Hillel.
I’ve listened to troubling accounts of antisemitism endured by both students and faculty since October 7, reported on a Palestinian film full of disinformation, and joined a march at Rutgers supporting the freedom of the hostages.
At Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus in March, I witnessed a protest outside Chabad opposing the presence of Israeli Defense Forces soldiers speaking inside. There I met Lillian Russ, a student leader in the Jewish community.
With the support of Laur Plawker, Director of Community Relations at Rutgers Hillel, I discussed with Lillian how external organizations like MACA sometimes unintentionally hinder rather than help.
As Lillian told me: “I think that MACA and external organizations need to partner with Hillel, Chabad and other institutions, to plan effective strategies to combat campus antisemitism that allow students to both lead the way on their own campuses and to share the change they really want to see.”
These experiences led me to the following conclusions about how external stakeholders can best support students facing antisemitism.
1. Letter writing. I often receive online form letters addressed to a university’s president or Board of Trustees. Frankly, if it is a private university and you are not an alum, your voice may not matter. If you are an alum, let your voice be heard. At public universities, I recommend writing to your political representative as well as to university leadership.
2. Attending campus events. If the event is just for students, faculty, and administration, it is not for you. Step aside. If there is an event run by Hillel, Chabad or another Jewish campus group, contact them first to see if your presence will be appreciated. Please do not go it alone. If the event is open to the public, then by all means go. But let the students ask questions during the event. It is their campus, first and foremost.
3. Off-campus events. Sometimes the only avenue of protest is off campus. While protesting at a school gate may be legal, will it help the students? Contact Hillel and Chabad first. We want to be on the same page as those we aim to assist.
4. Financial support. Target your funds to Hillel, Chabad or other Jewish campus organizations. I used to give to my graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. No more. It goes straight to Hillel.
Some may think that my way of supporting students isn’t strong enough or loud enough. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But given that this is what students themselves are asking for, we should be guided by the principle of letting the students decide how they want to respond—and legally back them up?
Am Yisrael Chai!
