As a Jewish high school student in America, I’ve seen what antisemitism looks like up close. I’ve watched it grow from subtle social-media bias to open hate speech online, on campus and even in the streets of cities. Jewish students have felt ignored, told to keep quiet and not make a scene, and to deal with antisemitism themselves.
Now, however, U.S. President Donald Trump is changing that by issuing executive orders to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. But executive orders don’t last forever. That’s why Congress needs to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act.
It does something simple and long overdue: It gives a clear explanation of what constitutes antisemitism. The bill’s definition is based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which more than 40 countries and dozens of major organizations use. It includes traditional examples of Jew-hatred and newer, disguised forms—like denying Israel’s right to exist, using double standards against the Jewish state, and accusing Jews of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
Some on the left, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), argue that legally defining antisemitism could stifle speech. But free speech doesn’t mean free hate. It doesn’t mean that Jewish students should sit in classrooms where professors compare Zionists to Nazis. Nor does it mean Jewish teens like me should be called “colonizers” or “baby killers” on college tours for supporting Israel’s right to defend itself. University students should not be able to chant “gas the Jews” at protests and face zero consequences. That’s not free speech; that’s harassment. And the law already protects students from racial or ethnic harassment.
The Antisemitism Awareness Act ensures that Jewish students get the same protection.
The Anti-Defamation League reported 8,873 antisemitic incidents in the United States in 2023—the highest number since they began tracking. That includes physical assaults, vandalism and verbal harassment. There was a 140% increase in campus antisemitic incidents from 2022 to 2023. Nearly half of Jewish college students say they feel unsafe or uncomfortable expressing their Jewish identity on campus, according to a 2024 Hillel survey.
Schools are a huge part of the problem. According to the AMCHA Initiative, anti-Israel activity on campuses jumped 700% after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Jewish students are being excluded from clubs, publicly shamed for wearing Stars of David and even told by their teachers to “reconsider” their identities. In some cases, Jewish students have even had to transfer schools just to escape the constant hostility.
In what world is that OK?
Passing the Antisemitism Awareness Act would protect Jewish students under the law. The bill would provide the U.S. Department of Education with a consistent definition for investigating discrimination claims.
Jewish students deserve permanent protection. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue; it’s a civil-rights issue.