On May 18, ADL Associate Regional Director Ariella Schusterman participated in a panel discussion sponsored by the Jewish Federation of San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys at the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center about campus climate for Jewish college students. Other panelists were UCLA Professor David Myers, UCLA student and co-president of UCLA J Street Gil Bar-Or, and the temple’s Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater. The discussion was moderated by Federation Executive Director Jason Moss.
The panelists provided a brief history of anti-Semitism and its permutations over the centuries; discussed the rise in anti-Semitism worldwide using ADL’s Global 100 poll; spoke about the reality for Jewish and pro-Israel students, faculty and staff on college campuses today; and gave community members ideas of how the issues surrounding today’s campus climate can be more effectively addressed.
ADL has numerous tools to help students, faculty and staff feel safe and secure on campus and successfully advocate for Israel should they choose to make that a priority in addition to their academic pursuits and campus life:
- Connect on Campus – Both on and off campus, there are numerous organizations and institutions set up to help including Hillel, the Office of Student Affairs and pro-Israel off-campus organizations such as ADL.
- Become Empowered — ADL’s Words to Action interactive education program is expressly tailored to empower college students to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias on campus. Call your local ADL office if you want us to bring this program to your campus.
- Be aware — ADL’s Responding to Bigotry and Intergroup Strife on Campus is a resource that provides information and guidance to university administrators about anti-Semitism and issues facing Jewish students. ADL also does trainings for campus law enforcement to help them learn how to respond to situations that threaten the security of the campus community. Your local ADL office can tell you more about these programs.
- Contact ADL – ADL can bring programs and resources to your campus. Contact the Pacific Southwest Region office, 310-446-8000 or LA@adl.org. Check out our webpage dedicated to Campus Affairs.