BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – VOICES – STORIES
Even with the imminent threat of a severe Iranian attack against Israel and possibly America looming on the near horizon, students and parents are preparing for the return to class at universities and K-12 schools. The spring semester ended with violent anti-Israel protests and the intentional targeting of Jewish students on more than 100 campuses across the U.S. Activists involved in the protests led similar events during the summer. Some participants burned American flags and celebrated terrorist murderers, painting a frightening picture for what awaits Jewish and Israel-supporting students returning to campus or classrooms.
Potential Preview: Burning American Flags, Proudly Supporting Terrorists
The outrageous student protests from the spring semester cooled off during the summer – by malicious design. Columbia Univ. student Mahmoud Khalil: “We’ve been working all summer on our plans, on what’s next. We will see students continue their activism in conventional and unconventional ways. So not only protests, not only encampments, kind of any – any available means necessary.” “Any means necessary” is often code for violence. Five Jewish and non-Jewish Columbia students recently filed a lawsuit against U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Jamaal Bowman for inciting violence after they visited the university’s campus.
The protests spread beyond campuses this summer. Anti-Israel demonstrators recently rallied in Washington, DC, burning American flags, desecrating a Liberty Bell replica and chanting for the ruthless terrorists who killed Americans and Israelis. They left a trail of mayhem in their wake that could signal that the spring campus protests are likely to be more malicious this fall.
The base of the statue behind the desecrated replica of the Liberty Bell at Union Square was spray painted on July 24: “Hamas is comin.” (Video screenshot, X)
American flag restored at Union Station after it was replaced by anti-Israel protestors with a Palestinian flag on July 24. (Video screenshot, X)
Boisterous anti-Israel activists recently showed open support for terrorists across America and around the world following Israel’s reported killing of Iran-backed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran’s capital and an Israeli strike against a senior Iran-backed Hezbollah leader. This terrorist kingpin was responsible for killing hundreds of Americans and the recent murder of 12 Druze children. In NYC’s iconic Times Square, the American flag was burned while terror-supporters waved Hamas flags. They chanted: “From NYC to Gaza, globalize the Intifada!”, “Israel is the enemy of Allah!” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine is Arab.”
The event was led by Within Our Lifetime – one of the leading organizers of the campus protests and a strong advocate for the destruction of Israel. The group recently posted on social media: “The supporters of Israel will never have a moment of peace.” A campus group, NYU People’s Solidarity Coalition of students, faculty and alumni, published a statement justifying violence as a means of resistance and adding that “we will not condemn the brave actions of our allies.”
A Hamas supporter holds a picture of Iran-backed Hamas terror leader Ismail Haniyeh at another anti-Israel protest held on Shabbat in NYC on Aug. 3. Protestors are seen calling for violence against Jews from America to Israel. (Middle East Media Research Institute)
Spring Review: Shocking Anti-American and Anti-Jewish Behavior on Campus
At the Univ. of Michigan, pro-Palestinian pamphlets declared: “Freedom for Palestine means Death to America.” Chants of “Death to America” were reported across the country. Anti-Israel students at a few universities removed the American flag, replacing it with the Palestinian flag. After police restored the U.S. flag at the Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, members of a Jewish and a Christian fraternity stood guard around the flagpole singing the national anthem. The NYPD also restored the American flag at Columbia Univ.
Anti-Israel organizations claim they are merely anti-Israel, but there have been many cases of groups and individuals voicing vile hatred of Jews. Boston’s Northeastern Univ. reported that “Kill the Jews” was heard at a campus protest. Jewish students and Hillel staff members at Miami University in Ohio received antisemitic emails: “The best Jew is a dead Jew.” Hillel International is the world’s largest Jewish campus organization and is one example of a group that also has been targeted for exclusion on campus. Jewish students also were restricted from public areas at multiple universities.
Columbia Univ. student Jonathan Lederer was hit in the face and chest by objects thrown at him and his friends: “We ended up being chased out of campus and told to ‘go back to Poland,’ a poignant reminder that even in America, antisemites wish to condemn Jews like me to our ancestors’ tragic fate.” Columbia protest organizer Khymani James made several statements revealing his hateful contempt for Jews: “Zionists don’t deserve to live.”
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, praised American university students during the spring semester campus protests. The radical Islamist is leading Iran towards the production of nuclear weapons that could fulfill his goal of “wiping Israel off the map.” Iran-backed Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine are all U.S.-designated terrorist organizations that signed a letter supporting the anti-Israel encampments. A senior Hamas leader stated that “today’s students are the leaders of tomorrow.”
Jewish and non-Jewish students at UNC protect the American flag. A full water bottle thrown by a pro-Hamas protester at the students can be seen passing in front of the flag. (Screenshot, Bryan Anderson on X)
K-12 Students Face a Tumultuous Year
Younger American students also are increasingly under threat, especially as teachers unions voice their support for anti-Israel policies that go far beyond their areas of expertise. A new report from the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values documents these growing concerns: How Teachers Unions and Associations are Being Radicalized. The anti-Israel groups politicizing education often rely on false anti-Israel buzzwords, including ‘colonial,’ ‘apartheid’ and ‘genocide.’
A Connecticut father described the anti-Jewish taunts that targeted his 11-year-old son: “Hey, I have a fun camp for you. It has great showers. Camp Auschwitz. Another Jewish classmate has already joined.” The student laughed and yelled: “We must exterminate the Jews!” In Berkeley, CA, teachers stood in silence while students chanted: “Kill the Jews” and “Kill Israel.” NYC high school world history teacher Danielle Kaminsky “lives in fear of going to work every day. I’ve had students call me a ‘dirty Jew,’ draw swastikas on my desk, tell me they wanted to kill my family.” Students also saluted Hitler.
Jewish Organizations Responding
American Jewish groups are countering the alarming hostility and violence faced by Jewish students and their allies on campus. In advance of the new semester, they are providing resources for students, staff and administrators to address the severe challenges facing Jewish students and their allies:
1. Jewish groups must build coalitions on campus
Jewish groups must prioritize building coalitions on university campuses to effectively combat anti-Jewish and anti-Israel hatred and to create a safe environment. By collaborating with diverse student organizations, including cultural, religious and social justice groups, Jewish students can create a united front against discrimination. Coalition-building encourages dialogue, dispels stereotypes and promotes mutual understanding. This empowers students to advocate for inclusive policies and programming that benefit the entire campus community. Strong coalitions enhance resilience and amplify the impact of efforts to counter antisemitism, creating a more tolerant campus environment for everyone.
2. The protests are just as anti-America as they are anti-Israel and anti-Jews
The protest movements raging across the country target American symbols and Americans as much as they target Israelis and Jews. Supporters of Israel wave Israeli and American flags, while anti-Israel protestors burn Israeli and American flags. Profanity is spewed against Americans and monuments are desecrated. The American flag is pulled down from flagpoles and replaced by the Palestinian flag. Other demonstrators wave flags supporting Iran-backed terrorist organizations while calling for the destruction of Israel – and even America. This narrative echoes the sentiment of the Iranian leaders who label Israel “Little Satan” and America “Big Satan.” All Americans must unite against this growing hatred.
3. Jewish professors, students and staff – like their peers – must feel safe within their schools
Ensuring that all Jews on campus are protected not only upholds the principles of equality and non-discrimination but also fosters an inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive. Equality should not require the enforcement of the Civil Rights Act – but this is increasingly required for Jews. University administrators, deans, professors and students are responsible to address all forms of anti-Jewish discrimination, promote tolerance and cultivate an atmosphere that respects the rights and dignity of all students – including Jews. The protests also impact the lives of non-Jewish students who want to complete their studies peacefully.
4. Opponents of Israel regularly use lies and tropes to promote their narrative
Anti-Israel activists distort facts to sway opinions and create a biased perception of Jewish students and Israel. These falsehoods include historical inaccuracies (Israel is a ‘colonial’ state rather than the ancestral homeland of Jews), misrepresentations of Israel’s policies and actions (Israel is intentionally targeting civilians vs. actually eliminating Hamas terrorists) and the use of anti-Jewish blood libels (Israel harvesting organs of dead Palestinians). This misinformation fuels antisemitism, incites hostility towards Jewish students and disrupts the educational environment for everyone. Activists and student groups spread their propaganda to delegitimize Israel and isolate its supporters – overwhelmingly Jews. University administrators, professors and students must stand up to counter this vile, anti-Jewish hatred.
A. Actions for parents
Whether you have children in K-12 schools or on university campuses, there are key actions you can take to become more involved in your child’s school experiences. You can use your voice to become influential in your local community and ensure all classrooms are safe places to learn.
B. Actions for Students
Whether you witness or personally experience anti-Jewish threats or actions, there are resources you can access to report dangerous behavior – protecting yourself and other students around you.
C. Connect with organizations that support Jewish students
Many Jewish organizations provide support, education, resources and reporting tools to help Jewish students feel safe and empowered on their campuses.
I’m Jewish – I’m Nervous About Going Back to College
Ilana Drake, a student at Vanderbilt majoring in Public Policy Studies and English, has written for numerous publications including Insider, Ms. Magazine, and The Tennessean. Excerpts from Newsweek.
October 7 and the campus chaos that followed felt like an additional class. By this, I mean that I was hypervigilant of my peers’ interactions with me, both in-person and on social media. I felt like my identity was expected to be hidden.
While my campus has fared better than other campuses, such as Columbia and Harvard, it has not all been smooth sailing. The Students Supporting Israel chapter was excluded from our Multicultural Leadership Council, and I noticed that antisemitism arose in some of the events I attended and classes in which I participated. Recently, our student government shared a statement that I and many Jewish and non-Jewish students found to be hurtful.
As I approach senior year, I must prepare for a more realistic senior year where antisemitism pervades the college experience. My NYC high school was closed and switched to remote learning in early May following the violence on the college campus. I am afraid that round two of the rhetoric around the Israel-Hamas war will be more tense and harm Jewish students on campus.
I worry about entering a high-energy semester when I still feel burnout. In Nashville, white supremacists gathered on two subsequent weekends in downtown Nashville.
As move-in day approaches and I get ready to pick up my key to my suite, I recognize how this year might be different from other years. I am entering the final chapters of a four-year journey, but I am entering with the wind knocked out of my sails. I worry for the incoming freshmen who might be unprepared for the polarization that enters college classrooms and common spaces.
Click here to read Ilana’s full story.
Jewish Athletes Excel at Olympics
Jews have proudly represented their countries from the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 through today. German cousins Alfred Flatow and Gustav Felix Flatow won 6 medals, including 5 golds, in gymnastics at the 1896 Athen Games. Tragically, they were both murdered in the Holocaust. The first American gold medalist was Meyer Prinstein in the long jump at the 1900 Paris Olympics.
Alfred and Gustav Felix Flatow commemorated on a German stamp.
American medalists at these Olympics:
Previous magnificent moments:
American swimmer Katie Ledecky’s (14 medals, 9 gold) paternal grandparents are Jews and she lost family in the Holocaust.
Australian flag-bearer Jessica Fox (6 medals, 3 gold) won 2 golds to become the most decorated canoe slalom athlete in Olympic history. Her sister, Noemie, won gold in the kayak cross, a new Olympic event. Jemima Montag – whose parents met at the 1989 Maccabiah Games in Israel – won bronze in the 20K race walk; her grandmother survived the Auschwitz death march.
Israeli Olympians have brought joy and pride to many Israelis. Raz Hershko: “This country went through really difficult times since Oct. 7, and this is my way to come and show everyone what kind of nation we are, show everyone that am Yisrael chai (the nation of Israel lives) — this is our strength and we will not fall.” After winning a record 4 medals at the last Games in Tokyo, Israelis already have won 6:
Photos from The Sports Rabbi, Josh Halickman. (X)
Iranian Octopus: Attacks, Threats Against Israel and America
Israel is bracing for imminent attacks from Iran and its proxies from all directions, forcing Israelis to stock up on food and essential supplies in preparation for spending days in bomb shelters. The United States and other allies are sending ships, aircraft and munitions to help Israel defend itself. The U.S. and other allies have been feverishly trying to defuse regional tensions.
Iran
Hezbollah
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi (center left) meets with United States CENTCOM chief Gen. Michael Kurilla (center right) in Tel Aviv on Aug. 5, 2024 (IDF)
Palestinians
Media Bias
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This content is developed by The Focus Project in partnership with Mercaz USA. The Focus Project distributes weekly news and talking points on timely issues concerning Israel and the Jewish people, including antisemitism, anti-Zionism and the delegitimization of Israel. It represents a consensus view across a spectrum of major American Jewish organizations. Mercaz USA recognizes and respects the diversity of views on these issues among its readers and the community at large.