The anti-Israel rhetoric at the University of Missouri is not happening in a vacuum. It reflects a larger national pattern, one that becomes clearer when examined alongside the rise of politicians like Zohran Mamdani, the recently inaugurated mayor of New York City. Mamdani’s platform represents the mesh point between Democratic...
A Strong Jewish Community Shapes Resilient Leaders
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? As early as the Babylonian period, Hillel the Elder emphasized the importance of self-support, taking responsibility for one’s own needs as a foundation for recognizing and attending to the needs of others, without slipping into selfishness, and acting with...
How Fear Shapes Advocacy on Campus
On my campus at the University of Birmingham, like many others across the UK, Jewish students are caught in an impossible position. Speaking up about Israel can invite hostility, while staying silent brings its own pain. The fear does not always come from lecture-hall debates or protests; it is the...
Tension, Tragedy, and Campus Climate
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was brutally shot and killed by an extremist during his event at Utah Valley University. He was targeted because he went to campuses and spoke openly, often sharing opinions that challenged others and sparked difficult conversations. His killing is a personal tragedy, but it...
Why Won’t Yale’s Program for the Study of Antisemitism Discuss Anti-Zionism?
When Yale launched the Program for the Study of Antisemitism (YPSA) in 2011, it was hailed as an academic effort to examine the longest hatred with rigor and depth. Fourteen years later, the program again promised scholarly rigor and attention to both ancient and contemporary antisemitism, including contested topics such as Zionism. Now almost...
Antisemitism Hides Behind Activism at UC Santa Barbara
There’s no doubt that the past two years have been filled with moments of tragedy, mourning, and looking inward to the community for the Jewish people. Despite the trials and tribulations that the Jewish people have faced since October 7 2023, the deadliest day for the Jewish community since the...
Canadian Universities Risk Silencing Debate Over Israel
When I sat before the governance committee of my student union last month, I came with one clear recommendation: do not adopt the proposed Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR) definition. My objection was not to the idea that every Palestinian student deserves protection from harassment or discrimination. Everybody does. The problem was...
Why Zionism Matters
Back in April of 2025 The University of Birmingham elected student Antonia Listrat to be the next head of the Guild of Students. She was democratically elected by the students to represent them to the University. Students who attend the university are already guaranteed to be a member of the student...
