Words by Vivian Simon SC ’28

Graphic by Penny Messinger SC ’29

Once, at lunch with a Jewish professor, he remarked something akin to: “the problem with Jewish life on campus is that it’s all anti-antisemitism; where did the semitism go?” I began thinking about how it’s come to feel like my Judaism is pinned down to a discussion of Israel and antisemitism. That’s not what it means to be Jewish. If we want a strong, joyful community, the idea that the politics of Israel or the constant rallying against antisemitism is the core tenet of Judaism must die.

It’s true that Jews have been persecuted ceaselessly since the beginning of time. For over 2,000 years, Jews were a homeless people. Throughout history, they have been targeted as the host of many economic anxieties. Jews were forced to flee from Russia due to pogroms, and then, were mass murdered in the Holocaust. So, there’s no doubt that a Jewish throughline is great hardship. After thousands of years of oppression, it’s unsurprising that Jews feel a constant need to defend themselves. Nonetheless, that is not the whole picture. Judaism is more than a reaction.

Before October 7th and the constant prevalence of Israel in the news, I hardly ever thought of one’s connection to Israel as a thing that might determine their Judaism. Now, it seems unavoidable. Whether critical or laudatory, stories and talk about Israel are omnipresent. In every major news source, in the classroom, in the government, and in Jewish communities everywhere. It’s imperative that we talk about Israel, but we simultaneously need to hold space for Judaism separate from these conversations.

In my senior year, my high school launched a Jewish affinity group in the wake of the October 7th attacks. My peers declared that now, more than ever, was the time to be proud of our Judaism and labeled anyone critical of Israel as antisemitic. I was speechless. I wondered what they would say if I, a Jew, questioned Israel’s actions.

As I sat with that group, I had a feeling that I’ve returned to again and again, a sadness that we could only ever come together over pain or hate. I craved a Jewish community that wasn’t about geopolitics, and didn’t create more hate in the name of eradicating it.

Many young American Jews feel this way. Several polls have shown that there is a generational divide between Jews regarding Israel and Palestine. This divide has existed for several years, but has grown since the war began. It’s easy to see how this plays out with the presence of Jewish Voice for Peace at college campus protests and the blowback from older Jewish generations.

Also on campuses are many organizations promoting staunch support for Israel, similar to the one I found myself at in high school. Organizing for justice is important, but what we need is more space to honor and celebrate Jewish tradition. Jewish youth can’t lose touch with what it really means to be Jewish.

We have been plagued by our fears for so long, and it’s time to remember what it is we defend. Jewish culture is plentiful: hours spent on brisket when family comes for dinner, organizing Seder plates, grandchildren hiding the Afikoman, playing with dreidels, and ancestral stomachaches. This is the Judaism I remember from childhood. Judaism was joy, tradition, food, and family. It was about love. Now, the experience of being a Jew seems inseparable from fighting about culture wars.

The professor was right that Jewish life seems to be dominated by fighting antisemitism. However, there are some places on campus where this isn’t always the case. Chabad, for example, hosts weekly Shabbat dinners and celebrates High Holidays. Places like Chabad make me feel safe as a Jew—safer than I did in that high school affinity group, and certainly safer than with no affinity at all.

Those Shabbat dinners are a place for Jews and non-Jews alike. They are welcoming, and often the Rabbi’s yard seats over 30 people every Friday. There is hardly mention of Israel. We aren’t bonding over hatred, we’re finding community in prayers and Chinese food. The Rabbi and his family introduce themselves to each person sitting, and celebrate upcoming birthdays. Chabad is a great alternative model for Jewish life on campus, one that embraces all kinds of Jews.

The way to protect ourselves from antisemitism isn’t to dox protestors or obsess over hate speech, it’s to come together, break bread, laugh, and feel joy.