While antisemitism has always shown up on college campuses throughout history, it didn’t seem to be an issue that was impacting campus culture until 2017 when rioters marched in Charlottesville chanting “The Jews will not replace us.” After that event, and after the May 2021 conflict between Israel and Hamas, incidents of antisemitic acts on college campuses across the United States started to spike. As a Jewish IEC in the Pacific Northwest, Beth Silverstein had few colleagues with whom she could share concerns and best practices. It only seemed natural that she turn to her professional association, so she reached out to IECA about creating a space for Jewish IECs to connect and share best practices and resources for Jewish students and families. Initially, Beth envisioned a group of colleagues who would come together to discuss the unique needs of Jewish students and the challenges of managing a Jewish-centered practice. This was how the Jewish IECs Affinity Group was created.
Beth is a native of Evanston, Illinois, and a former resident of Central Ohio. So, when she met Alison Merzel, a native of Highland Park, Illinois, a graduate of Northwestern University, and a current Buckeye, she had found her perfect partner for this endeavor.
Together, we have made space for a group of more than 75 IECs who self-identify as Jews. We come together once a month to discuss a wide range of topics. Some are simpler or practical, like how to manage your calendar during the height of our busy season while also observing Jewish holidays. Others are more complicated: how can we support our families through these very difficult times while creating positive experiences for ourselves?
During our first year of meetings, we invited representatives to speak to us from national organizations that could address the rising tide of antisemitism on college campuses. We hosted national leaders from Hillel International, StandWithUs, and the Anti-Defamation League who were able to educate us and provide resources we could use and share with our students and families. We were excited to continue our work by inviting Hillel directors from various campuses to share information about their unique campus cultures and the programming they offer to Jewish students.
Then, October 7, 2023 happened. The Jewish community was faced with the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and Jews around the world, including IECA members, had personal connections to Israeli victims or hostages, many who still remain in Gaza. We knew we had to pivot; consequently, we have worked tirelessly to create opportunities for IECs to discuss how these events affected us personally and the students and families with whom we work. We invited Hillel directors to speak to us this time about individual campus programming created in response to the events in Israel and Gaza and their corresponding reactions worldwide and at home. In the next year, we will continue to provide opportunities to hear from different campus representatives (both staff and students) so we understand how colleges and universities are supporting Jewish students and what they are doing to ensure their safety and sense of belonging on campus.
In addition to making space for Jewish IECs, we have been proud to partner with leadership to create statements denouncing campus antisemitism, as well as a first-of-its-kind advocacy letter to national leadership in the House and Senate encouraging stronger oversight of the increasingly untenable situation for Jewish students.
The need for our work has never been stronger. As our membership grows, we look forward to growing and learning together, encouraging more advocacy, and building a stronger partnership with the larger IECA organization. We welcome Jewish IECs to join our supportive and educational group and non-Jewish IECs to tune into programming that will benefit your work with Jewish students and families.
By Alison Merzel, MLHR, IECA (OH) and Beth Silverstein, IECA Associate (WA)