As many of you have probably read, heard about, or experienced firsthand, the war in Israel has spilled over — at least rhetorically — onto American college campuses. This week, we asked some of our Wise college students to reflect on their experience(s) over the past few weeks and beyond.  It was a Friday afternoon. I sat at my desk to finish a paper before I welcomed Shabbat by lighting the candles and singing the prayers in my apartment. I live on the 11th floor of my building. All my windows were closed. I began typing and was immediately interrupted. “Glory to our martyrs,” they shouted outside my window. “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free! Glory to our martyrs!” My fingers could no longer find the keyboard of my computer. Chills took over my body. I felt my heart beating faster. I began to sweat. Just [...]

As many of you have probably read, or heard about, the war in Israel has spilled over--at least rhetorically-onto American college campuses. This week, we asked some of our Wise college students to reflect on their experience over the past few weeks and beyond.  These words were shared at a USC Hillel/Trojans for Israel Vigil on October 10, 2023. The terrorist attack over the last couple of days has put a dagger to the heart of every Jewish family on this campus, in this country, and across the globe. As Jews, we are inextricably connected to Israel and the people of Israel. Our prayers turn us towards Israel. Our rituals yearn for return to Jerusalem. Our history is grounded in Israel. We are a people at the edge of the West with hearts in the East. And this weekend, the suffering of our Israeli friends and family has shattered [...]

As many of you have probably read, heard about, or experienced firsthand, the war in Israel has spilled over — at least rhetorically — onto American college campuses. This week, we asked some of our Wise college students to reflect on their experience(s) over the past few weeks and beyond.  On October 7th 2023, I think I finally realized what it really meant to be Jewish. I came home to my apartment in NYC to find two of my roommates, sitting in silence on the couch. I heard what had happened in Israel, but due to school and work I hadn’t had any time to process it. I put my stuff down, and joined them. We sat in silence for a good while, sometimes looking at each other, trying to come up with words that might be consoling, but nothing came. Finally after about 20 minutes, one of my roommates [...]

As many of you have probably read, heard about, or experienced firsthand, the war in Israel has spilled over — at least rhetorically — onto American college campuses. This week, we asked some of our Wise college students to reflect on their experience(s) over the past few weeks and beyond.  (A version of this piece appeared in The Jewish Journal; reprinted with permission of the author) Spending three invigorating days at the Israel on Campus Coalition’s (ICC) National Leadership Summit earlier this month, I couldn’t help but think back to last year when I was scrolling Instagram, as I often do in my free time, and came across Kanye West’s antisemitic rant. There is no way this is happening to us, I thought, as tears welled in my eyes, not here, not now, not just 78 years after our liberation from Nazi Germany. With every antisemitic post that tainted my Instagram [...]