Today’s Dispatch

Issue: Threats to Jewish students are rising on college campuses with pro-Hamas protests acting well beyond the bounds of free speech. A college library was a scene of antisemitism as pro-Palestinian students bombarded and frightened their Jewish peers. On other campuses, students are spreading antisemitic rhetoric, and Jewish students are expressing that they no longer feel safe.

• After competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian rallies yesterday at Cooper Union - a college in downtown Manhattan - a group of  Jewish students barricaded themselves in the college library for self-protection from a mob of protestors who were cheering, “Free Palestine.” A video shared on social media shows the pro-Palestinian students pounding on the door of the room where the Jewish students had taken refuge.
• Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, Students for Justice in Palestine members at George Washington University projected a slideshow of virulently antisemitic slogans such as “Divestment from Zionist genocide now,” “Free Palestine From the River to the Sea,” and “Glory to Our Martyrs.”
• The incident comes after students at both Georgetown and American University recently told Fox News that they no longer feel safe on campus in the wake of the war and in the shadow of vitriolic accusations that their peers are making against Israel. They also expressed that their institutions are not doing enough to affirm Israel’s right to exist and its right to self-defense
• These antisemitic episodes on campus follow the well-publicized letter signed by two dozen student groups at Harvard University that blamed Israel for the brutal Hamas terrorist attacks.
• Today, the White House condemned the delegitimization of Israel and the “disturbing pattern of antisemitic messages being conveyed on college campuses.”
• The Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning Hamas and the student groups on campus that have glorified the terrorist attack. 

Suggested actions to support Israel in your local community:

• Students who feel that their college or university has discriminated against them on the basis of their Jewish ethnicity, ancestry, or national origin, can file an electronic complaint form with the Office for Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education.
• Hillel has created a resource guide for Jewish students and a portal to report antisemitic incidents.  Hillel staff will inform the appropriate authorities and ensure that the student receives the necessary support.
• Share our social media statement – or create your own – condemning campus antisemitism.
• Sign our Action Alert urging Congress to pass a supplemental funding request for vital emergency assistant to Israel and Ukraine and increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to keep Jewish institutions safe.
• Sign the ADL’s Action Alert condemning antisemitism on college campuses.

Community Spotlight

The Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines worked with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to issue a proclamation in support of Israel and condemning Hamas, declaring this week to be Blue Ribbons for Israel Solidarity Week and illuminating the state capitol blue. Similar proclamations of support were issued by the city of West Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa.
 

Click here to access Jewish Federations’ Swords of Iron toolkit, which we are updating every day with new materials.

Now, more than ever, it’s important for us to come together and be in community during this challenging time. Join us at next year’s Washington Conference, which will take place from Wednesday, February 28th to Friday, March 1st, 2024. For an early bird rate,please register here.

The Community Mobilization Center is monitoring major developments in Israel and North America related to Israel’s war against Hamas. The Community Mobilization Center will rapidly disseminate resources to help mobilize and support our local communities as they build and sustain civic and political support for Israel in this conflict. The work of the Community Mobilization Center will continue as long as it takes Israel to eradicate the terrorist threat and restore security to the country.

The Community Mobilization Center is at your service. Open zoom hours to ask questions and seek support in your community’s response efforts will be held daily from 10-12 ET at this link. Click here to send us an email.

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