Nearly 400 college students from around the country united in Dallas for Jewish National Fund-USA’s sold-out College Summit at its Global Conference for Israel. The summit equipped students with essential tools to be effective advocates for Israel on college campuses and beyond.
Representing the Jewish community’s next generation of leaders, the teens heard from guest speakers, including Retired British Army Officer Col. Richard Kemp, Columbia professor and activist Shai Davidai, and Jewish National Fund-USA CEO Russell F. Robinson.
As the university environment has deteriorated for Jews across America, students discussed the various strategies they have employed to combat Jew-hatred. They also took joy in their community of advocates, recognizing that none of them are alone in the fight.
“It’s nice knowing there are like-minded individuals,” said College Summit advisory board member Zachary Gold, a senior at Brandeis University. “There is a real sense of community here. Brandeis has its share of antisemitism, so I love having the opportunity to meet new people, experience the sessions, and expand my mind.”
Upperclassmen also engaged with Jewish National Fund-USA’s young professionals community, gaining valuable career and community engagement advice while expanding their networks as they transition to the next stage of their lives. Several students also paid it forward by discussing college life with high school students attending the conference, breaking down the opportunities and challenges that come with being a Jewish student on a modern college campus.
Additionally, an emphasis was also placed on wellness and mental health for students dealing with discrimination no one should be forced to face. For College Summit advisory board member Imani Chung, a senior at Stony Brook University in New York who ran a mental-health session for her peers, having a place to talk about the effects of hatred on everyone’s psyche while supporting each other was a healing experience.
“It’s so empowering just to see visually the support and strength in our community,” said Chung. “The honor of being Jewish has turned into a heavy weight to bear, and I’m glad my peers have the strength to speak out and stand up for Israel, the Jewish people and Zionism. Unfortunately, the space to feel anything other than resilient has been robbed from us, so I wanted to create the space where people could talk about their experiences without judgement.”
In support of Jewish students across the country, Jewish National Fund-USA has created an online hub and resource guide for fighting Jewish hate on college campuses. If you or someone you know is facing antisemitism at a university and seeking assistance, from community resilience efforts to legal action, visit www.jnf.org/campusresources to learn more about your options.