Letter Urging Campus Administration to Reject Israel-Related Boycotts
Tools and Strategies
Dear President [Last Name], I am reaching out to address a pressing concern: the increasing prevalence of shadow boycotts targeting Israeli, Jewish and openly Zionist academics at [University Name] and institutions nationwide. This harmful trend, which has grown in response to the Israel-Hamas war, undermines the values of academic freedom and diversity that form the cornerstone of higher education. Shadow boycotts entail the subtle yet systematic exclusion of Israeli, Jewish or openly Zionist…
ADL, in partnership with Gratz College, has developed a short, validated campus climate survey instrument aimed at helping campus stakeholders assess the experiences of Jewish students on their college and university campus. This initiative was born out of the need for colleges and universities to utilize tried-and-tested survey questions, developed by academics, researchers and experts in antisemitism studies to accurately capture experienced antisemitism. This survey instrument was created…
Colleges and universities have seen an alarming and unprecedented rise in antisemitic incidents and rhetoric since the October 7 Hamas led attack on Israel, including vandalism, support for terrorism, disruptions to classes and commencement ceremonies, intimidation and even physical violence. In the 2024 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, ADL found that incidents on college and university campuses rose more steeply than those in any other location. 1,694 antisemitic incidents were recorded…
Incident reporting mechanisms are vital avenues for members of the campus community to report incidents of harassment and discrimination to guarantee thorough investigations and appropriate adjudication. Such mechanisms are not only essential to foster a safer and more inclusive campus climate, but they can also help ensure that students, staff and faculty affected by discriminatory behavior receive the support they need. However, the effectiveness and impact of incident reporting mechanisms…
Championing Change: How Parents and Families Can Address Antisemitism in Schools
Tools and Strategies
This resource assists parents, families and caregivers when an antisemitic incident happens at school. It includes tools and guidance to support the young person and to help make the school safer and more inclusive for Jewish and all children.
In 2023, ADL issued The Six Asks: Policy Actions to Counter Antisemitism on Campus. We urged all colleges and universities to take these steps, consistent with the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and ADL’s Not On My Campus Campaign, to help address the hostile environments on campuses. In line with the Six Asks, and together with our Jewish Communal Partners, ADL also published comprehensive guidance to university leadership that is central to the mission of making campuses…
ADL is addressing antisemitism through advocacy and education to help Jewish students, teachers and allies feel safe in the classroom. Explore the toolkits now!
This resource is not intended to provide and should not be construed as legal advice. Please consult with your own legal counsel for legal guidance. CommencementAs universities begin preparations for the 2026 commencement season and other major events, we urge administrators to take immediate and comprehensive steps to ensure that these milestone events are celebrated with the dignity, joy and safety they deserve. Commencement is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for graduating students and…
Questions for Jewish Students to Ask When Considering a College or University
Tools and Strategies
There’s been a disturbing increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses across the country in the wake of the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel. During the 2023/24 academic year, ADL tracked over 1,400 antisemitic incidents on campus. In addition, according to a fall 2023 ADL, Hillel International and College Pulse survey, a plurality of students reported feeling physically unsafe on campus, with even less feeling emotionally safe. To address the rise of antisemitism on campus,…
Show your support for No Tolerance for Antisemitism by sending a letter to your supervisor. Below is a template letter you can use to urge your campus administration to proactively counter antisemitism and make campus a safer, more welcoming environment for Jewish staff and faculty. Dear [Insert University Administrator], Since October 7, 2023, Jewish students, faculty and staff across the nation have faced a wave of hate, violence and ostracization – ADL recorded 1,694 antisemitic…
Israel Divestment Talking Points: A Primer for Engaging University Endowment Leadership
Tools and Strategies
IntroductionThese talking points address critical issues about university endowment divestment from companies doing business in Israel. We aim to provide comprehensive insights into the economic, legal, academic, and social implications of such decisions. Background and Key Definitions1. ADL believes that many of the founding goals of the BDS movement, which if implemented, would eradicate Israel, are antisemitic. Some BDS advocates and campaigns engage in antisemitic rhetoric. Boycott,…
What Universities Should Do to Prepare for the Academic Year
Tools and Strategies
This unified agenda provides recommendations to college and university administrators to address antisemitism on campus ahead of the new academic year.
Reading List: The Relationship between Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism
Tools and Strategies
The Shame of Antisemitism on the Left Has a Long Malign History by Philip Spencer The EHRC Report Shows How Difficult Building a Real Anti-Racist Politics Will Be by Feldman, Ridley, McGeever IHRA and JDA: Examining Definitions of Antisemitism by Jeffrey Herf Antisemitic Attitudes Across the Ideological Spectrum by Laura Royden and Eitan Hersh Soviet Anti-Zionism and Contemporary Left Antisemitism by Izabella Tabarovsky The Cult of Anti-Zionism by Izabella Tabarovsky Progressive Jewish Thought…