Overcoming Campus Antisemitism

By L’CHAIM Staff, Aish

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Jewish students on college campuses have experienced an unprecedented wave of antisemitism that has caused thousands of students to feel unsafe, targeted and under attack. Most feel unprepared to understand and effectively respond to these situations.

To support Jewish students, Aish and StandWithUs’s San Diego Chapter have launched initiatives aimed at combatting antisemitism and providing support. Aish connects with people from all backgrounds through digital content, in-person discovery and exploration at the Dan Family Aish World Center in Jerusalem. StandWithUs’ San Diego chapter is part of an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism.

StandWithUs San Diego Task Force

In February, the non-profit Stand With Us organization launched a pivotal task force in San Diego to combat anti-Semitism. Heading up the initiative is Liat Reeis. With eight board members at her helm, all from different Jewish ethnicities, the initiative aims to address rising challenges through education, law enforcement partnerships, and community-building efforts. They will use their varied resources and able finances to unite for Israel and against antisemitism.

Key areas of focus include tackling anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic events, establishing new alliances, and strengthening existing relationships, particularly with non-Jewish allies in the Christian community. While progress is steady, the task force recognizes the urgency of moving faster to address these critical issues.

Efforts to work through the Board of Education have sparked various ideas, and a dedicated team of activists is driving these strategies forward. In parallel, the task force collaborates with interfaith communities, leveraging their shared values to host events that foster understanding and unity. These gatherings aim to build momentum, draw in more supporters, and strengthen the Jewish community’s ability to stand together.

Ultimately, the task force envisions building bridges between Jewish and interfaith communities, creating a united front for Israel and against anti-Semitism. Their commitment to this cause reflects a hopeful, proactive approach to addressing prejudice and fostering solidarity.

Executive Director of SWU Southwest Oz Laniado asserts, “We are proud to launch this transformative task force in San Diego under the leadership of Liat Reeis, whose passion, integrity, and ability to bring people together set her apart from a remarkable pool of candidates, including retired admirals and agency directors. Backed by a group of highly influential leaders, this initiative is not about quick fixes or surface solutions. It’s about tackling the roots of anti-Semitism in our county with courage, strategy, and purpose. This effort is for every American who believes in the values of Western civilization as we know it today. By fostering understanding, strengthening alliances, and empowering communities, we aim to safeguard the principles of freedom, justice, and unity that bind us all. Together, we will rise to this challenge with strength and unwavering resolve”

Liat Reeis is a formidable Zionist, speaker, organizer and fundraiser as well as a successful businesswomen. In addition to her new role with SWU, she is Vice President of the Jewish National Fund in San Diego, the Chair for Women for Israel, and the Founder of the Christian and Jewish Alliance.

Aish’s Online Community

Following discussions with both Jewish professionals and students regarding the lack of resources to deal with the sheer amount of antisemitism, especially on underserved campuses, Aish has launched United Against Antisemitism (UAA) with the support of Cross River Bank through its philanthropic arm, Foundation@.

UAA provides a dedicated, safe space for support, action and community-building among Jewish students and young professionals. The private online community ensures a space where Jewish students can freely express themselves, discuss difficult situations, get answers to their questions, share resources and ideas, and collaborate to implement action items against antisemitism.

“We’re excited to partner with Aish to combat this age-old hatred called antisemitism,” said Gilles Gade, founder and CEO of Cross River. “Aish has been the bedrock of Jewish education and values, has created the tools to fight against disinformation, bias reporting and campus agenda-driven instruction, and has led many initiatives to seek truth, honesty and integrity.”

“Together with Aish, we are taking a stand to ensure that college students feel supported, safe and inspired to aspire to become future leaders with courage and conviction, with untainted truth and a rejection of falsehood, with the freedom to think and act without fear of consequences, retribution or violence,” Gade said. “The launch of United Against Antisemitism embodies our belief that lasting change begins with thinking and teaching what is right, what is true, and what we believe will bring peace and harmony amongst nations.”

The UAA space will serve as a hub for critical discussions, incident reporting and expert insights on Jewish thought and advocacy. Through live events, real-time Q&A sessions and interactive tools, UAA aims to empower Jews to stand united and foster resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.

“UAA isn’t just building a platform,” said Rabbi Steven Burg, CEO of Aish. “It is a movement dedicated to empowering Jewish identity, resilience and connection. Thanks to the support of our partners at Cross River Bank, we’re reaching new audiences of students, offering spaces where Jews everywhere can explore, unite, and take action together.”

The initiative for UAA came about after representatives from U.S. college campuses, including Hillel directors, shared that they didn’t have enough resources to adequately serve their student populations in the face of the overwhelming antisemitism students are facing.

Beatie Deutsch, an American-Israeli marathon champion and community leader, serves as the UAA program manager. Deutsch is known for her accomplishments as a public advocate for the Jewish people and has more than a decade of experience directing programming for thousands of Jewish students and young professionals globally.

“The UAA space will enable Jewish students who feel isolated and on distant campuses, as well as those on more centralized campuses who feel they don’t have enough resources,” Deutsch said. “I think more than anything else, students need community. They need a space where they can feel safe and where they realize they’re not alone.”

She continued, “UAA is a space where students can get connected, come together, learn from student leaders and their peers, and feel that they can make a meaningful impact in response to the antisemitism that is going on.”