Antisemitism on campus is a real problem − but headlines and government-proposed solutions don’t match the experience of most Jewish students

About two years have passed since Hamas October 7, 2023The attack on Israel and the beginning of the Israeli-Hamas War-and anti-Semitism does not show signs of reducing as one of the most prickly problems in American colleges and universities.

University managers Jewish students responded to their reports in various ways abuse And discrimination During and after the pro -Palestinian protests in 2024 and 2025.

Some schools like Columbia and University of Pennsylvania Prohibited student organizations associated with protests, Win Student Protesters And Established Prejudice Training Programs on anti -Semitism.

. Trump AdministrationMeanwhile, he launched a duty force to combat anti -Semitism in 10 universities, Including Harvard And Columbia. Also hidden federal financing From a series of universities on the grounds of allegations of inaver on anti -Semitism.

These efforts are often controversial as much as they are trying to solve.

Critics accused university managers of violating academic freedom and punishment Legitimate political protests.

And Federal judges pushed Go back – and in Some cases are blocked – Federal financing from withholding to schools, recurring calls from commentators Trump management and Many American Jews Concerns about antisemitism only one Excuse to punish political competitors.

Since the October 7 attack took place, My team from Cohen Modern Jewish Studies Center He is trying to understand how antisemitism looks at the University of Brandeis and how it changes on campuses.

Our findings show that anti -Semitic ideas are not common between university students or faculties in the United States, but this does not mean that anti -Semitism is not a serious problem, because several students or faculty members with extreme views can shape the climate of the entire campus.

Reading anti -Semitism on campus

We attended the first survey In December 2023, approximately 50 schools with a large Jewish population are approximately 2,000 Jewish college students.

We examined the same Jewish students again in the spring of 2024, Also while having in -depth interviews About his experiences about anti -Semitism on campus with students and Jewish campus professionals.

We did a survey in the same period More than 4,000 non -Jewish students In the same schools.

In the spring of 2025, 2,000 faculty members 146 studies, usually called R1, are in busy university.

Here are some of our most important findings.

1. Antisemitism is not just about harassment

Ours December 2023 Survey He said that the majority of Jewish students were an hostile environment against the Jews on the campus. This hostility was much more common in some schools than others.

The students reported their experiences of anti -Semitic harassment, especially on social media. But they also said they had escaped or excluded from the campus life. It is less likely that Jewish students in schools with a higher level of hostility are less likely to say that they are fully “belonging to their campuses.

In our 2024 interviews, Jewish students said that they would no longer be friends with their peers because of real or perceived support to Israel. They also said that non -Jewish peers were actively avoided.

As a Jewish student says, “Nobody wants to chat with the Jews right now.”

The majority of Jewish students who define them politically liberally are likely to feel alienated and isolated. They also The probability of feeling alienated from other liberals on campus.

The Jewish students we interviewed reported that the Israeli government had escaped by friends criticizing Israel, regardless of their views on their actions.

Multiple other work They found that non -Jewish students reported that they would not want to be friends with anyone who supported Israel as a Jewish state.

2. Some Israeli comments pass the line

Our study also shows that when there is discussions about what is anti -Semitic or not, Jewish students have a clear distinction between criticizing the actions of the Israeli government and rejecting the right to existence of Israel.

When we talked to Jewish students in 2023 and 2024We felt anti -Semitic to refuse the vast majority of Israel’s right to exist. However, there was no similar consensus on other statements, such as accusing Israel of genocide.

3. Small groups on campus direct anti -Semitism

Our research is also about 34% Non -Jewish undergraduate studentsand about 10% Non -Jewish faculty Most Jewish students had their views on Jews or Israel, whom they found anti -Semitic.

Approximately half of the people in these groups expressed their enemy views about Israel, for example, refused to deny that they have the right to exist and to be friends with everyone who thinks differently.

The other half was less likely to express these excessive views on Israel, but he had clearly tended to agree with anti -Jewish statements such as “Jews in America have a lot of power”.

On the other hand, two -thirds of non -Jewish students and about 90% of non -Jewish faculties did not have the opinion that Jewish students tend to see anti -Semitic even if they expressed deep criticism to the Israeli government.

4. Israel discussions are relatively rare in the classroom

On the contrary chic news titles About class discussions or protests about the Israeli-Hamas War, 76% of the faculty in 2024-25 academic year The problem never came in their classes.

It is more likely to teach or discuss other controversial issues such as climate change or racism in the United States.

Responding to anti -Semitism

Inside Our interviewsMany Jewish undergraduate students said campus managers want to do more to address anti -Semitism. However, some of them worse, such as the prohibition of pro -Palestinian groups, sometimes by inflammation of the campus tensions and directing the criticism of Jewish students’ criticism.

Similar concerns about the approach of the federal government, which focuses on punishment in the name of the fight against anti -Semitism, arose. all schools And Researchers in a wide variety of disciplines Withdrawal with Jews or Israel, withholding Billions of federals financing.

The government is also Civil Rights Investigations And CANCELED VISA FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS In some schools.

This approach has the potential to alienate potential allies on campus and campus, including students who oppose anti -Semitism but are in the same way as federal actions. Punishing people to help Jewish students can also strengthen anti -Semitic stereotypes about repressive Jewish power.

I think that improving the feelings of isolation and exclusion of Jewish students requires the construction or reconstruction of social connections in ideological and religious lines. If university rulers or federal government really want to help Jewish students, they should focus on bringing together students instead of separating them.

This article has been re -published here. SpeechAn independent news organization that brings you real and reliable analysis to help you understand our complex world. Written by: Graham Wright– Brandeis University

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Graham Wright is working at Cohen Modern Jewish Studies Center at the University of Brandeis.