Antisemitism on Campus: The high school front line since October 7

Since the horrors of Oct Jewish high schoolers across North America have faced a drastically altered reality marked by fear hostility and a surge in antisemitism At NCSY we work with tens of thousands of Jewish teens nationwide and what we re seeing in the present day is not just troubling it s unprecedented in this country What once might have been subtle slights or awkward silences from peers has for countless students turned into open hostility Students are being isolated intimidated and even harassed and threatened purely for being Jewish or expressing backing for Israel which was viciously attacked on Oct and has subsequently been fighting to release hostages and prevent future attacks One attendee was requested whether she supports genocide after posting an Israeli flag on social media Another was narrated to remove her Star of David necklace to avoid provoking others These stories reflect a breakdown in the values our schools are meant to uphold TRUMP ADMIN WON T TOLERATE ANTISEMITISM IN SCHOOLS SAYS LEO TERRELL AS NYC SCHOOLS UNDER MICROSCOPEThe Anti-Defamation League s audit underscores this surge reporting antisemitic incidents across the U S a increase over and the highest since tracking began in This includes harassment vandalism and assaults mostly in schools and colleges Hate speech and intimidation have become disturbingly normalized High school is a time for increase and personal growth which schools have a responsibility to help foster Yet since Oct plenty of Jewish students have instead been put in the position of defending their identity often without guidance or institutional advocacy When schools fail to act they signal that this hate is somehow less urgent Time and time again we ve seen the complacency of school leadership in these cases In one troubling situation in New Jersey a yearbook photo of Jewish students was replaced with that of Muslim students and the Jewish students names were omitted entirely Acts like this aren t oversights they re erasure At NCSY we are committed to ensuring that no trainee feels alone Through our Jewish Novice Union JSU clubs in over society schools across North America we give students a space to process what they re experiencing connect with others who understand and develop the strength to stand tall in their Jewish identity CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONWe also provide leadership training Israel teaching and guidance on how to address antisemitism with confidence and dignity These students aren t just casualties of hate they are American Jewish leaders in the making and powerful voices of moral clarity and courage It is unacceptable for schools to be silent or neutral in the face of antisemitism Schools have a responsibility to act with clarity and consistency when addressing antisemitism That means updating anti-harassment policies to reflect in the current era s realities training staff to identify modern forms of antisemitism including anti-Zionist rhetoric and fostering an atmosphere where Jewish identity is respected Parents educators and society leaders must also stay engaged Listening to students and taking their concerns seriously is critical Their stories are not exaggerations they are early warnings that deserve thoughtful compassionate responses Oct didn t just shake Israel it shook Jewish identity around the world when Jews saw pro-Hamas rallies conducted across the country before Israel had even responded to the attacks against it For Jewish high schoolers in the U S the aftershocks are still being felt daily But rather than shrink in the face of this pressure students have shown something remarkable resilience pride and an unshakable connection to Jewish values and peoplehood Now is the time for all of us to rise to the occasion Sponsorship Jewish students in your neighborhood Challenge school boards and administrators to do better Speak out clearly and consistently against antisemitism in all its forms With the right tools partnerships and commitment we can ensure our schools are places where every Jewish attendee feels safe seen and valued With the right backing they won t just survive this moment they will lead us into a stronger and more just future