When we hear words like “insurrection,” they often evoke struggles in faraway lands. Yet on U.S. college campuses, an insidious form of oppression is targeting Jewish faculty and students. The perpetrators? Not fellow Jews, but an overwhelming majority of faculty who sympathize with Palestinians and foster anti-Israel sentiment, creating an atmosphere of hostility and fear.
This reality became strikingly clear with the rise of the Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP), a network of 170 chapters formed in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks that claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives. Instead of mourning the tragedy, these chapters launched a campaign to vilify Israel, exploiting their academic positions to promote the academic boycott of Israel (BDS), suppress pro-Israel voices, and incite hostility against Jewish students and faculty.
The FJP movement is not isolated; it is fueled by substantial overseas funding. A 2022 study revealed that Qatar alone contributed $4.7 billion to U.S. academic institutions over two decades, often bypassing required reporting to the Department of Education. Research by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) further highlights illicit Middle Eastern funding tied to anti-democratic and antisemitic ideologies.
The result is a well-funded, mainstream movement to marginalize Jewish students and undermine Israel on campuses nationwide. Against this juggernaut, grassroots organizations like AMCHA, the Jewish Faculty Resilience Group (JFrg), and others have stepped up, operating as modern-day insurrectionists fighting for justice and equality.
The impact of FJP’s activities is deeply troubling. According to AMCHA’s research, campuses with FJP chapters see significantly higher rates of physical assaults and threats against Jewish students. Encampment protests, academic boycotts, and bullying campaigns against pro-Israel voices are commonplace, making campuses hostile environments for Jewish communities.
Addressing this crisis requires both exposure and action. Influential Jewish organizations and activists must rally behind efforts to shine a light on this pervasive discrimination. Groups like StandWithUs, Students Supporting Israel, and the Israel on Campus Coalition are already fighting back, advocating for consequences for those who engage in antisemitic behavior or intimidate pro-Israel students.
This is not just about supporting Jewish students; it’s about defending the ideals of higher education itself. Academic freedom and open dialogue are being replaced with one-sided indoctrination that normalizes antisemitism. Every discriminatory action must be scrutinized, just as every move by Israel is placed under a microscope.
For too long, Jews have been seen as part of the privileged class, but on college campuses, Jewish students and faculty are vulnerable. They are rebels in the face of an army of hate, and they need our solidarity. It’s time to combat campus antisemitism with strength, strategy, and unyielding resolve.