Yale. Yale University’s student government held a campus vote on a referendum centered in part on a call for divestment from Israel. The measure passed by a wide margin in an election in which just under half of the student body took part. It does not require the university to change any policies. In fact, if past referendums are an indicator, this one will be unlikely to spark tangible action by the school. As Yale Friends of Israel, which opposed the referendum, said, they are confident that Yale will “continue to invest in companies that assist in the protection of the United States and its allies, including Israel.” ADL’s Connecticut office also criticized the vote, noting that “The BDS movement does not seek to create a Palestinian state but rather aims to dismantle the Jewish state and Jewish self-determination.”

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Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin-Madison chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Young Democratic Socialists face a disciplinary investigation after a divestment-focused protest last week during a university Board of Regents meeting. University spokesman John Lucas explained that the arrests during the anti-Israel demonstration were due to “disruptive behaviors” and violation of the school’s Expressive Activity Policy. SJP is already on disciplinary probation for its involvement with encampment protests in the Spring of 2024. The groups could lose their status as official student organizations.

Anti-Israel protesters at the University of Wisconsin. (Source: Mary Bosch | The Daily Cardinal)

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Harvard. In a survey of incoming freshmen at Harvard University, results are mixed in terms of whether a year of loud campus protests is making new students more likely to lean into the anti-Israel messages that those activists have been spreading since 10/7 last year. The survey showed that 38 percent of freshmen support pro-Palestinian activism, while the rest are either opposed to that movement or do not have an opinion on the issue.

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UK Campuses. The Community Security Trust (CST) has recorded a 117% increase in antisemitic incidents at UK universities in their newest report. As noted in the findings, “In the 2023/24 campus year, the 272 university-related antisemitic incidents recorded by CST marked the highest total ever recorded for a single academic year.” Additional information from the research also shows that many Jewish students, academics and staff feel extremely threatened by the rhetoric and actions of anti-Israel movements on campus.

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VCU. Anti-Israel demonstrations across Virginia’s public universities have led to tightened campus protest policies. Following April protests and an encampment at Virginia Commonwealth University where students clashed with law enforcement, the university updated its policies to restrict large gatherings, encampments and amplified sound. More than 100 people were arrested statewide at the VCU demonstrations and others across the state, so similar policy changes were widespread. As Aaron J. Hart, VCU’s vice president of student affairs explained, "[W]e don't take sides. We're just here to provide a safe space for our students.” Pushback over the new policies underscore growing tensions between campus activism and administrative controls.

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Boston. Antisemitic stickers depicting swastikas over an Israeli flag with the message “Stop funding Israeli terrorism” appeared on Boston University’s campus this week, sparking alarm among Jewish students. The stickers, which first appeared at Harvard in October, were quickly removed by BU Facilities, and campus police are working with the Boston Police Department to investigate. Sophomore Ivy Besikof called the incident “very scary,” adding that it raised questions about Jewish students being accepted on campus. Jewish leaders and organizations at BU have urged students to report incidents and to remain proud of their identity despite the hate symbols.

Antisemitic sticker on a post near BU. (Source: Sarah Cruz/Daily Free Press)

The Whole Elephant. Nicholas Lemann, dean emeritus of the journalism school at Columbia University, has looked deeply into the tensions on that campus and around the country. He co-chairs that university’s Task Force on Antisemitism, which has been releasing a series of reports, the most recent of which said pervasive antisemitism on campus “affected the entire university community.” Lemann shares his journalistic insights on the many players in this conflict and points out that many of the people at Columbia who claim to be mystified by why Jewish students feel alarmed or angry “don’t know much about Jewish life or Jewish history, or what it means to be Jewish.”

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‘Spread Cream Cheese, Not Hate.’ At Ohio State University, a group of students are coming together to combat antisemitism and hate, one bagel and schmear at a time! Members of the Hillel-affiliated club called Jews on Campus, gave out bagels and cream cheese to students; in return they had to sign a pledge against antisemitism and all forms of hate. One of the group’s leaders explained the simple goal of spreading Jewish positivity: “I think the world definitely needs that right now and college campuses need that right now.” This activism is filling people’s hearts (and bellies) with Jewish knowledge and pride.

A Shield of Innovation. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Israeli defense technology company behind Iron Dome and even more advanced systems now emerging, has seen record-breaking performance and growth this year amid the hostile environment for Israel. CEO Yoav Turgeman announced that these systems “have intercepted more targets than all other air defense systems worldwide combined over the past 50 years,” reinforcing their vital role in protecting Israel and setting new global standards in air defense technology.

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All Fun and Games. Listen up Star Wars fans! Israeli inventor Yair Shilo has been voted the Toy Innovator of the Year 2024 for his incredible Power Saber — the first automatic retractable and extendable light saber. At the annual Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards, this “Groundbreaking Must-Have Toy of the Year” sparked rave reviews. With a background in mechanical engineering and business management, Shilo said that “since I was a little kid, I always wanted to have a saber. I mean, who doesn’t?” So, he wanted to invent a toy for the masses. He spent years building prototypes with everyday items like coffeemakers and toothbrushes before perfecting this awesome invention.

• 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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