Hamilton College. Hamilton College, a prestigious liberal arts institution in Clinton, N.Y., has introduced a Jewish studies minor in response to rising antisemitism and a lack of understanding about Jews and Israel on college campuses. Professor Heidi Ravven, who spearheaded the program, noted the urgent need for education given global tensions and recent events in the Middle East. "Student enthusiasm has been high… and course enrollments off the charts," Ravven shared. The minor includes five courses, covering topics from ancient Jewish wisdom to modern Middle Eastern history, providing students with critical insights during a challenging time.

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Georgia Universities. Anti-Israel groups are planning to hold a silent protest at a University System of Georgia Board of Regents meeting next Tuesday. According to media reports, a goal of the protest is to “get the university system to fully divest from Israel.” The state of Georgia has seen a number of BDS-focused protests since 10/7, including protests that led to arrests at Emory University and the University of Georgia. According to organizers of the new protest, it will include students from those schools and several others across the state.

DEEPER: See full statement from ADL Southeast region on the Georgia university system.

(Source: SJP Georgia State | Instagram)

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Berkeley. Casey Goonan, a former University of California, Berkeley student known for his anti-Israel views, pled guilty in federal court for a series of firebombings and arson, and is facing up to 20 years in prison. One of these acts included firebombing a police car near campus in the middle of the night. Goonan admitted to one count of arson and was ordered to pay over $94,000 in damages. His sentencing is set for April 8th. U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey emphasized, “In America, we are all free to express our political views and petition the government. But we are not free to do so using violence.”

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From Nonprofit to No Profit. WESPAC, a New York-based nonprofit that facilitates funding for anti-Israel groups, including National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Within Our Lifetime, claims its survival is threatened by mounting legal challenges. The organization, which acts as a fiscal sponsor for groups without nonprofit status, faces four lawsuits, including one related to protests at Columbia University. Critics, including members of Congress, have called for investigations into WESPAC’s nonprofit status, citing alleged ties to groups supporting Hamas. WESPAC has launched an urgent appeal for donations to cover legal expenses, claiming it is under “legal warfare” since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. With $2.4 million in recent revenue, the group has had no problem funding more than a dozen anti-Israel groups in recent years.

DEEPER: Learn more about WESPAC’s troubling history, including its role in amplifying antisemitic rhetoric and funding anti-Israel activities here.

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Royal Air Force (UK). Campus recruitment efforts in the UK by the Royal Air Force have been disrupted by anti-Israel protesters to such a degree that Lord Walney, an advisor to the UK government, warned that if the trend continued it could “seriously undermine our nation’s security and technical edge.” The protesters have targeted the RAF as well as defense contractors at a number of university events in recent months. Employees of some of the defense companies say they have been harassed and intimidated by the protesters. In regards to the RAF, a spokesman from the Ministry of Defense noted that the only missions they are flying in Gaza are surveillance flights to try to locate hostages.

(Anti-Israel protesters disrupt a Newcastle transit station. Source: Newcastle Apartheid Off Campus | Instagram)

Stop Badgering. Last year, the anti-Israel encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison called for the university to divest from Israel. The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) stood firm, declining to let political pressures dictate donor investments. Outgoing WFAA CEO Mike Knetter met with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) to hear their concerns, but emphasized they were “not going to let third parties dictate to us what we can or can't do with donor money. ... We don't think that's the right way to treat our donors.” New WFAA president Alisa Robertson now oversees the $4.3 billion endowment.

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We Beg to Differ. After a resolution by the academics at the American Historical Association (AHA) condemning Israel's alleged "scholasticide,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt penned a powerful letter to the editor of the New York Times. Praising the paper’s coverage, Greenblatt criticized the AHA for its "perverse, all-or-nothing game of blaming Israel for everything while ignoring inconvenient and incontrovertible truths." He reminded the association that while historical revisionism and denialism have long been tactics of Palestinian leaders, “they shouldn’t be the province of historians and scholarly academics, who must teach an unvarnished version of history.”

Lending a Hand, No Strings Attached In a remarkable show of solidarity, Israel has offered to assist California with its devastating wildfires, pledging to send expert firefighters and cover all associated costs. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), whose district includes affected areas, called the offer "a step beyond" traditional aid agreements, highlighting Israel's commitment to saving lives and minimizing damage. This generous gesture, which includes support from Israeli NGOs like SmartAid and IsraAid, underscores the enduring partnership between Israel and the U.S., even as some attempt to link the fires to political controversies. Israel’s firefighters are set to bring vital expertise to the front lines, bolstering California’s efforts during this crisis.

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Matryoshka to Meaningful Connections. Even with renewed rocket fire from Gaza, over 500 Soviet- rooted Israelis joined the Limmud FSU festival in Tel Aviv for Jewish learning this week. During the event, participants heard from speakers like Alexander Ben Zvi and MK Avigdor Liberman, who addressed Israel's political future, rising antisemitism and global Jewish solidarity post-October 7. Participants also engaged in cultural activities that fostered community and connection among this key Israeli demographic. Since its founding, Limmud FSU has hosted 90 global events, continuing its mission to strengthen Jewish identity and resilience through volunteer-driven programs.

• 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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