This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go on a trip to Boston with my synagogue to go on a college tour. 

Even though not many of my friends were going, I decided to register. Since joining BBYO, I’ve realized how important it is for me to have a strong Jewish community, and it’s becoming a big consideration for me when looking at options for after high school graduation. 

Earlier this spring, before deciding to go on the Boston trip, I went to a social justice seminar called L’taken with a similar group from my synagogue. There, I worked with other teens to write a speech about the importance of combating antisemitism, which we were able to present to representatives on Capitol Hill in D.C.. Throughout the writing process that weekend, I learned so much about the increasing antisemitism seen on college campuses, especially since October 7th. 

I remember reading an article from Hillel International about this increase in antisemitic violence, which said that “41 percent of Jewish students felt the need to hide their Jewish identity.” 41 percent. Almost half of Jewish kids in college feel unable to display their true selves. That’s exactly why I went on the college tour this weekend.

While I may not know for sure what my plan is for after high school, one thing I know for sure is that wherever I go, I want to feel safe walking around campus with my Star of David around my neck, attending Shabbat services, and always being Jewish proudly and out loud. 

On our trip to Boston, my friends and I saw Tufts University, Boston University, Brandeis University, and Northeastern University. We had the opportunity to go on tours of the campuses and Hillel houses at ¾ of these schools, and it was amazing to see how strong the Jewish communities are! Especially at Boston University, all of these places had great Hillel facilities and offered so many programs for all students, not just Jewish ones! This makes it super inclusive and even more inviting to Jewish kids, who feel comfortable bringing their non-Jewish friends to a safe space for everyone. 

So, even through the increase in antisemitism, our communities are only growing stronger and continuing to thrive in schools across the country!