Since the terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, many Jewish students studying at universities nationwide say times have been difficult with the rise of antisemitism on college campuses; however, students are fighting back and slowly turning the tide with help from Jewish National Fund-USA and a few unexpected allies.
At the organization’s “Winning Formula: Turning the Tide Against Campus Antisemitism,” breakout session at the 2025 Global Conference for Israel in Hollywood, Fla., a panel of student leaders and professors discussed the issues facing Jews on campuses – and how they are combating the current anti-Israel sentiments and demonstrations.
“Today, we know that being visibly Jewish and visibly Zionist on a college campus can feel like an act of rebellion,” said moderator Dr. Logan Levkoff, Chair of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Caravan for Democracy. “We are living in a time when students and professors are told that their identity—Jewish, Zionist—is political, that their belonging is conditional, and that their values are suspect.”
Panelists, including Christian activist for Israel Arianna-Rosie Bourgoin, Syrian-born journalist Hayvi Bouzo, DePaul University music professor Cathy Ann Elias, social media activist Eyal Yakoby, and leading advocate against antisemitism Noa Fay, pointed out that programs like Caravan for Democracy, a fully subsidized, immersive trip that brings college student leaders beyond the Jewish faith to Israel to see the country firsthand, are instrumental in facilitating productive dialogue about Israel and the Middle East on college campuses across America while giving people greater insight about Israel’s political and security situation.
“Non-Jewish students need to go to Israel to experience it, just like I did,” said Bourgoin, a recent Caravan alum. “It's important to send your non-Jewish peers, your neighbors, whoever you know, on experiences like Caravan for Democracy. Because this program really helps and equips us to understand what's going on in Israel and how we can better defend that nation and our Jewish peers.”
However, panelists also noted that discrimination often comes from professors as well, who sometimes have agendas and let their biases get in the way of facts. Bouzo, who recently graduated from Georgetown, addressed the ideological capture in academia.
“Professors were preaching politics to students right from the get-go,” Bouzo said. “As someone who comes from a regime-ruled country, I had a sensitivity to the authority figure trying to tell me what to think and believe.”
“My college campus is absolutely polarized,” added Elias. “As a faculty member, I am disappointed in some of my peers who talk politics. Things really got bad right after October 7, and we had some nasty encounters.”
Elias recently participated in Jewish National Fund-USA’s Faculty Fellowship program, which invites full-time university and college faculty members to participate in an academic trip to Israel. The program links scholars from diverse disciplines with their Israeli counterparts at major institutions while also meeting government officials, industry professionals, education experts, and others, to understand the many facets of Israel’s evolving national and international policies.
“I think you have to go to Israel and see it,” she said. “I think programs like the ones offered by Jewish National Fund-USA are all excellent.”
Yakoby, a recent University of Pennsylvania graduate, urged others to speak out, even when it’s hard. “Everyone is an influencer in some capacity, whether you have three million followers or zero,” he said. “Right now, there’s a stigma of being Jewish or Zionist on college campuses. But I don’t want to just combat antisemitism. I want the Jewish people to win and thrive.”
Fay, a Columbia University student who has addressed both the United Nations and the U.S. Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, noted the importance of non-Jewish allies. “It is incredibly powerful for other people to see non-Jews siding and agreeing with us,” she said.
“Frankly, the world takes them more seriously. And that’s not to discredit the importance of our own work, but to have allies working with us gives me a lot of hope.”
And thanks to programs like Caravan for Democracy and Faculty Fellowship, Jewish National Fund-USA is ensuring the land and people of Israel and Jews everywhere will have allies for years to come.
“I want you guys to know that you guys are not alone,” said Bourgoin. “Continue to be strong and proud and stand tall, because we, as your allies, will be there to help you. Jews only make up about .2% of the world, and that's why you have us. Together, we are stronger.”
To learn more about Jewish National Fund-USA’s education initiatives, visit jnf.org/education. To register for next year’s Global Conference for Israel in San Diego, Calif., visit jnf.org/global.
