Combating Antisemitism

Supporting Jewish Students at BU: Two School Years After 10/7

As the 2024–25 academic year comes to a close, we reflect on an extraordinary and deeply emotional time for Jewish life on campus. From the devastating attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, to the rise in anti-Jewish hostility across many college campuses, this has been a time of profound challenge—and also of remarkable Jewish strength and resilience.

At BU Hillel, we’ve responded with even deeper commitment. For many of BU’s 6,000 Jewish students, Hillel has become the central place on campus where they feel safe, supported, and proud to express their Jewish identity. We are a community grounded in care, meaning, learning, and joy—and one that is here for every Jewish student, every day.

To report an incident of discrimination, bias, or antisemitism to BU’s Equal Opportunity Office, please click here.

Our Priorities in Creating Proud Jewish Spaces and Combatting Antisemitism

We are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring a safe, strong Jewish community at BU. Our five guiding priorities:

  1. Protecting Physical Safety: We work closely with BU’s Police Department and administration to monitor security and safety protocols at BU Hillel and across campus.
  2. Caring for Student Well-Being: We prioritize the emotional and psychological health of Jewish students—especially those who have faced antisemitism, isolation, or trauma. We work closely with BU Behavioral Medicine.
  3. Supporting Israel and Its Right to Exist in Peace: We provide education and advocacy training to help students understand and articulate Israel’s story and defend its right to exist.
  4. Encouraging Institutional Accountability: We continue advising BU’s administration to publicly and meaningfully support Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
  5. Documenting and Responding to Hate: We track and report incidents of antisemitism to BU and local authorities, and ensure our students feel seen, heard, and protected.

Our Key Initiatives

Trips to Israel

As part of our proactive strategy, we send students to Israel each year on three dedicated BU buses through Birthright and Israel Uncovered—giving them the chance to experience Israel firsthand. On BU Birthright, Jewish students can deepen their Jewish identity, and return as more confident, connected leaders on campus. On Israel Uncovered Jewish and non-Jewish students campus leaders go to Israel together to learn about each other’s identity, understand real coexistence in Israel, and bring learnings back to BU’s campus.

Expanding Jewish and Israel Education

We continue to grow our Jewish and Israel education offerings. Our signature course, Fighting Hate and Antisemtisim: What is it and why does it matter to us all?, is taught to 3–5 cohorts of students, graduate students, and faculty/staff each year. We empower students to advocate with confidence and clarity.

Israel Education and Advocacy
We host dynamic speakers and offer students critical learning opportunities to explore Zionism, Israeli history, and Jewish peoplehood. Recent speakers include:

  • Israel Consul General to New England
  • IDF veterans and Nova Festival survivors
  • Former US Ambassador Alan Leventhal
  • Rabbi David Wolpe and author Dara Horn
  • Policy expert Eric Mandel
  • StandWithUs Senior Educator Charlotte Korchak
  • Human rights expert Bassem Eid
  • Magen David Adom fundraisers
  • Sharaka co-existence dialogues

Pastoral Care and Jewish Connection
We are meeting with more students than ever, one-on-one and in small groups, to process, grieve, and reflect. Our Rabbis and educators offer space for support, Jewish learning, and community healing.

Student Leadership Training
We’re doubling down on advocacy and identity formation through immersive retreats, Israel trips (Birthright and Israel Uncovered), and weekend Shabbatons. These are curated to build knowledge, community, and leadership skills.

Engaging Faculty and Administration
We host multiple learning cohorts for BU Deans and administrative leaders, led by CEO Rabbi Jevin Eagle. These address antisemitism, Jewish identity, and campus life, and complement our ongoing relationships with the BU President, Provost, Dean of Students, and campus safety teams.

Tracking Hate on Campus
We encourage students to report any incident of antisemitism or bias through BU’s Equal Opportunity Office. Our staff provides direct support to students who experience or witness hate.

Moving Forward

We are ending this year with more strength and determination than ever. BU Hillel’s staff has grown to its largest size yet—filled with Rabbis, Jewish educators, IDF veterans, wellness professionals, and proud Jews—working daily to support our students and defend Jewish life on campus.

As we look ahead, our commitment is clear: to meet every Jewish student where they are, offer them the tools to lead rich Jewish lives, and ensure they are never alone.

Click here to see photos, videos, and speeches from our events over the past 2 years since 10/7/23.

Photos from on Campus Vigils, Rallies, Fundraisers, Hostage Awareness, and Advocacy Events from 2024-25

 

Photos from BU students at Israel rally in DC on 11/14/23