Concordia. On Friday, students and Jewish organizations at Concordia University in Montreal filed a lawsuit against the school and its president, Graham Carr. Spurred by recent anti-Israel protests that shut down the school, the suit alleges the administration failed to address rising antisemitism. The plaintiffs, including four students, Hillel Concordia and Startup Nation, cite incidents such as harassment, violent protests, and antisemitic remarks post-10/7. They argue these violate students' rights under Quebec law and Concordia's policies. The plaintiffs seek to compel the university to enforce its rules, provide proper training and ensure a better environment for Jewish students.

Concordia anti-Israel protesters. (Source: thelinknewspaper.ca)

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Virginia. Police in Charlottesville have announced charges against a student at the University of Virginia, and are investigating hate crime and weapons violations after a series of incidents that escalated from antisemitic memes in a group chat to an armed threat by that student against his Jewish housemate. The numerous charges from the police department included “a threat to kill or do bodily injury,” and brandishing a firearm. When asked about the incidents, a university spokesman said that the accused is no longer a student at Virginia and “we take swift action to support students who experience threats or harassment and to hold offenders accountable.” This case is a reminder of the importance of having the courage to speak up, and the impact that reporting incidents can have.

DEEPER: Read Virginia’s entry in the ADL Campus Antisemitism Report Card, which highlights a number of concerns affecting the campus climate there.

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Choosing a College. For Jewish high school seniors, the college application process has gotten complex as antisemitism and anti-Israel protests weigh on their decisions. Safety, Jewish life and how schools respond to incidents are now considerations. For many, showcasing their Jewish identity in applications has become an act of resilience and pride. Some students removed schools from their lists due to perceived hostility, while others found strength in vibrant Jewish communities even at schools that faced protests. “I care about quality... It is important that there is a core group of Jews who are going through all this programming and taking part in Jewish life on campus,” said Hayden Cohen, emphasizing the need for a supportive community, regardless of size.

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Pittsburgh. Jewish med students at the University of Pittsburgh report facing antisemitic and anti-Israel harassment since Oct. 7, including inflammatory social media posts, a student tirade during a pinning ceremony, and hostile campus dynamics. Dr. Barton Branstetter detailed incidents to Pitt’s Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy Committee, emphasizing that Jewish students felt unsafe and isolated. “I wanted this group to know that this problem transcends schools,” he said Pitt has hosted antisemitism awareness sessions and condemned bias, but affected students say these steps haven’t fully addressed the environment. One student remarked, “This isn’t what I signed up for.”

Together We Will Win. The ADIR Challenge Foundation has partnered with the Holon Institute of Technology in a collaboration bringing together university students from Israel and the U.S. to develop innovative tech solutions to fight antisemitism. The foundation is dedicated in the memory of Addir Mesika who was murdered at the Nova Festival while saving his girlfriend and two others. Morielle Lotan, CEO of the foundation, discussed the digital battlefield facing those combatting antisemitism, saying “One of the startup nation’s advantages is technological prowess, innovative spirit, and its human capital, and cross-border collaboration is vital to our success.”

Happy Birthday to Israel’s Oldest Citizen! Tzila Cohen has turned 110, making her Israel’s oldest citizen. A very heartfelt birthday celebration was held for Cohen at Laniado Hospital in Netanya, which even included a special birthday message from President Isaac Herzog. As part of the “city’s founding generation,” Cohen is a well-known figure in Netanya: “in 1958, she participated in the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Kiryat Sanz neighborhood, where Laniado Hospital now stands,” as noted in the media coverage. If there is one thing Tzila has shown us, it’s that you are never too old for a fun birthday celebration.

(Source: Laniado Hospital/TikTok)

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Israel Has Ben Resilient. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev was devastated by the Hamas attacks on 10/7 last year. 115 people associated with the university community were killed, including faculty and students and their families, as well as fallen soldiers. Others were kidnapped or wounded, and thousands were called up to IDF duty. So this year’s Ben-Gurion Day, including “Ben-Gurion Day in the USA,” is a show of resilience. As one of the school’s experts vowed in reflecting on 10/7, “reconstructing those communities and this part of the Negev as a whole will have to be defined as a leading national objective — echoing Ben-Gurion’s view that ‘if the Negev fails to stand, so will Tel Aviv.’”

• Students — how to take action, deal with antisemitism, and organize your community.
• Alumni — how to organize a sign-on letter, answer a fundraising request, or write a letter to a university president.
• Parents — write a letter about commencement, organize a dial day, or get help selecting a college for your student.
• Faculty and Staff — support for impacted faculty and staff, and guidance on how to discuss what constitutes antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and how to provide help to students and colleagues.
• Glossary of Commonly Used Antisemitic Phrases Heard at Protests.
• Campus Antisemitism Report Card — see the grade a college earned in this first-ever report card.
• Report an Antisemitic Incident.
• Are you a student or know one who needs legal help? Contact our Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), run by ADL, Hillel, the Brandeis Center, and Gibson Dunn. Hundreds of incidents have been reported. You are not alone!

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