College should be fun, exciting and one of the best experiences of someone’s life…focusing on classes, friendships, living on your own and building memories. However, the rise of antisemitism has forced Jewish students to focus on sit-ins, rally’s, etc which promote hatred.  

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Fear is rising among Jewish college students nationwide and students are forced to ask themselves the following questions constantly:

1. Is it safe to go to class?

2. Is it safe to walk on campus?

3. What if I am approached by someone at a protest?

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The Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced that it will visit 10 university campuses that have experienced antisemitism toward Jewish students since October 2023. The 10 universities identified are: Columbia University; George Washington University; Harvard University; Johns Hopkins University; New York University; Northwestern University; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; and the University of Southern California.

This leaves Jewish high school students and parents wondering which universities have the least amount of antisemitism. Jewish parents continue to research which colleges are the safest for their children to apply to and attend. Some attributes parents may look for is presence including Hillel and/or Chabad, the number Jewish students on campus and a supportive leadership team against antisemitism.  

While schools cannot ban hate speech, it just promotes fighting and ultimately separates us based on religion and culture. There will be no resolution if hatred continues to spread throughout our college campuses. Jewish students across the country have been working tirelessly to combat antisemitism on college campuses, demonstrating the resilience and strength of the Jewish community in the face of adversity.