Jewish Teens Combat Hate with Community Backing Despite College Challenges

The surge in antisemitic hatred witnessed nationwide in the 14 months after Hamas’ attack on Israel has not only impacted college students but is also affecting children from kindergarten through high school.

The Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Education has the responsibility of addressing discrimination complaints related to shared ancestry, which encompasses allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in educational institutions that receive federal funding. A spokesperson from the Department of Education informed Fox News Digital that since October 7, 2023, they have initiated investigations into 159 shared ancestry cases involving K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. This number is significantly higher than the 28 cases opened in the preceding four years.

In response to the increasing antisemitism affecting K-12 students, Devora Simon, the National Director of Jewish Student Union, revealed to Fox News Digital that an additional 4,000 teenage students seeking genuine connections and a meaningful community have turned to JSU clubs within their schools. This surge in interest has led to the establishment of 125 new JSU clubs across the country during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Simon said this “unprecedented demand for Jewish engagement reflects [students’] deep desire to belong, find strength in each other, and explore their identity.” She said the JSU has provided “a safe space and unwavering support as [students] navigate these challenges and build a vibrant, supportive community.” 

Anti-Israel protesters stand outside Susan E. Wagner High School in Staten Island. (Ary Weiss/Staten Island Shomrim)

Teachers attempted to respond to tensions in the school by promoting a two-week study on the history of the conflict. Rachel reported that the course “didn’t give any good context.” 

Both Erica and Rachel told Fox News Digital about experiencing intolerance from students. Rachel says she has lost friends over her connection to Israel, and even had to report an activist teacher who was pushing anti-Israel sentiments in class. She said it is especially painful to recognize that while other students are allowed to take pride in their heritage, “I don’t feel comfortable talking about Israel or saying I’m from Israel.” 

It was not until Erica gathered with other Jewish students to speak with a guidance counselor about their experiences that she understood how deeply antisemitic hate was impacting her fellow Jewish students. To respond to the hatred, Erica reached out to the JSU and helped to found a club in her school. Now, she says that weekly events attended by both Jewish and non-Jewish students have fostered “a sense of community and a sense of acceptance.” 

Both Erica and Rachel are looking with trepidation toward their collegiate futures. Rachel said she worries about how colleges will respond to the activism for Israel that she plans to feature in her application. “I’m definitely aiming for an Ivy League,” she said, but worries she “would not feel safe going” to the schools she once hoped to attend. 

Erica had dreams of going to college in Boston. “When I speak to my mom about it, it’s always, ‘We’ll see,’” she said. “It’s crazy to think about that when you are applying to college, you can’t only look at how the campus is, how the classes are, what majors you like. You also have to think” about antisemitism, Erica said.