9. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. BEFORE I SAY TOO MUCH. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE’RE DOING Q AND A THROUGH AN APP. I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW HOW TO SUBMIT THEM THROUGH THE PROGRAM. LET ME CHANGE THE SCREEN SO YOU CAN SEE THAT. IF YOU WANT TO SUBMIT A QUESTION
ON THE APP TOWARDS THE BOTTOM MY NAME IS CANDICE PERILSTEIN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I’M EXCITED TO DIVE INTO THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND I KNOW YOU ARE EAG TORE HEAR FROM OUR PANELIST. I’D LOVE FOR THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. >> STARTING WITH ME. I’M THOM WAYE. I’M WITH THE UMBRELLA
ORGANIZATION WITH THE CAMPUS NETWORK. THIS IS STAFFED BY HOUR NETWORK OF EDUCATORS OF APPROXIMATELY 858 PEOPLE. >> I’M SARAH FRIED. TIME EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER. WE WORK WITH 850 CAMPUSES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. WE OPERATE IN 16 COUNTRIES AS THE WORLD’S LARGEST JEWISH COLLEGE ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE OVER 1,000 PROFESSIONALS
IN OUR FIELD. THEY ENGAGE 100 THROW STUDENTS ANNUALLY BUILDING STRONG JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS AND DEEPENING CONNECTIONS FOR STUDENTS ON AND OFF CAMPUS. WE’RE A 100-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION. WE’RE CELEBRATING OUR CENTENNIAL THIS YEAR AND HAVE SPENT THE PAST DECADES SEEING THIS TREND OF ANTISEMITISM AND BUILDING SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY ACROSS OUR
TEAMS TO ADDRESS THROUGH THIS ISRAEL ACTION AND ANTISEMITISM CLIMATE INITIATIVE. >> HI. I’M MIRIAM TENENBAUM. I’M THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR OM E. WE’RE THE BEST KEPT SECRET. WE’RE A JEWISH ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATION WITH OVER 300 CAPTAINERS AROUND THE WORLD IN OVER 20 COUNTRIES AND WORK WITH 60,000 COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS USING MEANS
OF ENGAGE TOM INSPIRE YOUNG JEWS TO CONNECT WITH JUDAISM. BUILD PRIDE AND CONTINUITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE OVER THIS PANEL. >> I’M MICHAEL WAITZ. I’M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER WE HAVE 8500 MEMBERS. THIS YEAR WE HAVE ENGAGED A HALF MUNICIPAL PEOPLE ON CAMPUSES
WITH THE PROGRAM WE’RE DOING COMBATING ANTISEMITISM AND IT’S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. THANKS TO CANDICE. >> BEFORE I JUMP INTO QUESTIONS WITH THE PANEL I’D LIKE TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT WE’RE SEEING ON CAMPUS. THERE HAVE BEEN 746 ANTISEMITISM EVENTS ON CAMPUS. THAT A 750 PERCENT INCREASE.
WE KNOW INCIDENTS GO UNREPORTED ESPECIALLY ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES SO THAT LIKELY DOES NOT PAINT A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING. WE DID A JOINT CLIMATE STUDY AND SAW THAT 75 PERCENT OF STUDENTS. >> THE DATA IS OVERWHELMING. WE ARE TRACKING THE DATA. BUT I THINK WHAT REALLY BEARS
FRUIT RIGHT NOW IF YOU LOOK AT ME AND YOU SEE I LEFT ME HAT AND BEARD AT HOME. I’M NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL CHABAD GUY SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS SPEAKS TO WHAT WE’RE ALL TRYING TO DO. WE’RE TRYING TO EMBRACE EVERY SINGLE JEW ON CAMPUS. AND INSTEAD OF FOCUSING RIGHT
NOW ON THE DARKNESS, WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE LIGHT. AND WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING ON CAMPUS IS MORE PARTNERING. TODAY LATER IN THE DAY YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT A COLLABORATION BETWEEN LAUNCHED BETWEEN CHABAD ON CAMPUS AND THE ADL. THE TASK FORCE WAS LAUNCHED TWO YEARS AGO TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE BAD YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT BUT NOW FOCUSING ON THE LIGHT. SO CHABAD AT HARVARD, WE HEARD ALL THE BAD. A WEEK AGO WE HAD A CONCERT THERE. HE SHOWS UP AND THERE WERE OVER 100 PROTESTERS TRYING TO KEEP HIM AWAY. THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED
BEAUTIFULLY TO THIS AND THERE WERE TWO INCREDIBLE CONCERTS. AT UC BERKELEY ALL OF US SAW WHAT HAPPENED THERE LAST WEEK WHEN RON CAME TO SPEAK AND NOT ONLY WAS HE BARRED BUT THERE WERE VIOLENT PROTESTS, GLASS BROKEN. A STUDENT ALMOST STRANGLED. IT MOVED AWAY FROM CAMPUS. ENDED UP OFF CAMPUS AT THE HOUSE.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN HILLAL OR ANYWHERE. AND NOW ON THE 18th WE’RE BRINGING HIM BACK TO CAMPUS. AND WE’RE STANDING UP FOR OUR RIGHTS AND JUDAISM. AND THE VERY EARLY ON TWO WEEKS INTO ALL OF THIS CRAZINESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ASH AS I GET A PHONE CALL FROM THE CHABAD RABBI
THERE THAT SAID I’M VERY DISTURBED. I WAS TOLD THAT I CAN’T TABLE ON CAMPUS BECAUSE I’M NOT AN ADMITTED STUDENT GROUP. I SAID BUT WHY IS SJP ABLE TO TABLE ON CAMPUS AND THEY ARE NOT YET AN ADMITTED STUDENT GROUP. HE WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE IN THE OFFICE THAT HAMAS HAS THE RIGHT
TO A VOICE ON CAMPUS. HAMAS HAS THE RIGHT TO A VOICE ON CAMPUS. IT SO HAPPENED THAT’S NOT WHAT THEY MEANT. THEY MEANT THAT SJP BUT THEY COULDN’T DIFFERENTIATE THAT POINT. SO WHEN NO ONE OUT THERE CAN DIFFERENTIATE AGAINST AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS CAUSED HARM TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE, THAT
CAUSED HARM TO ISRAEL AND THOSE THAT ARE TRYING ARGUABLY TO HAVE A CHOICE, THEN WE’RE IN BIGGER ISSUES. HE REACHED OUT TO HIS LOCAL ASSEMBLY WOMAN WHO REACHED OUT TO THE UNIVERSITY N. ONE DAY IT WAS SOLVED. WHAT IS MY POINT IN ALL OF THIS? THERE IS SO MUCH RIGHT OUT THERE.
WE DON’T WACK DOWN OR STAND BACD ASIDE. WE DIDN’T HAVE A RIGHT TO BE WHAT WE NEEDED TO BE IN THE WORLD AND THIS COUNTRY. ON HANUKKAH WHAT DO WE DO? WE PUT IT IN THE WINDOW TO SHINE A BRIGHT LIGHT FOR EVERYONE TO SEE FOR TO US STAND UP AND TO SAY.
SO THE CONCLUSION SITS NOT ALL DARNING. THERE IS A LOT OF LIGHT. >> IF I CAN PAINT A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR. WE DID SIT ON THIS PANEL LAST WEEK AND THE NUMBERS WERE STARK. WE AT HILLEL INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPED A PARTNERSHIP. WE HAVE TRACKED ANTISEMITISM ACTIVITY FOR TWO DECADES.
THREE YEARS AGO WE DEVELOPED A PARTNERSHIP WHERE ADL’S NUMBERS ARE COMING FROM. OUR RECORDS BECAUSE WE TRACK IN REAL TIME AND THEN WE RECONCILE LATER. WE’RE AT OVER 1,000 INCIDENTS OF ANTISEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. WHEN HILLEL STARTED TRACKING WE HAD 24 INCIDENTS IN ONE YEAR. SO THE REMARKABLE DIFFERENCE 48
OF THOSE WERE PHYSICAL ASSAULTS. THERE WERE ZERO. SO IT’S IMPORTANT I DO THINK FOR THIS AUDIENCE TO KNOW AND WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE WAYS WE’RE ADDRESSING THIS IN THIS ORGANIZATION ON THIS PANEL ARE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR THIS AUDIENCE
TO BE AWARE WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM ON CAMPUS. THAT OUR STUDENTS, MANY OF YOUR STUDENTS, MY DAUGHTER IS A JUNIOR AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. I KNOW HOW SHE’S EXPERIENCED THIS. THESE INCIDENTS ARE REAL. IT’S THE LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT THIS GENERATION IS HAVING TO DEAL WITH AND HOW CRITICAL THE
WORK IS WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT. >> I JUST WANT TO ADD TO YOUR OBSERVATION ON THE STAGE. PRIOR TO OCTOBER 7, OUR ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON REACHING UNENGAGED JEWS. PRIOR TING ON 7 WE DID NOT DO MUCH WORK IN THE SPACE OF ISRAEL ADVOCACY OR COMBATING ANTISEMITISM. THERE ARE OTHER AMAZING
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS SPACE DOING WONDERFUL WORK. WE WERE FOCUSED ON SPREADING THE LIGHT OF JUDAISM AND MAKING YOUNG JEWS UNDERSTAND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO BUILD STRONG JEWISH CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY IDENTITY AND THAT WAS WHERE OUR STRENGTHS WERE. AND AFTER OCTOBER 7 WHAT WE REALIZED FIRST OF ALL OUR
STUDENTS WE SAW A SURGE IN ENGAGEMENT. YOUNG JEWS WHO HAD NEVER CONSIDERED WALKING INTO ANY JEWISH INSTITUTION ON CAMPUS WERE COMING OUT BECAUSE OCTOBER SEVENTH FOR GOOD OR BAD FORCED THEM TO RECKON WITH THEIR JEWISH IDENTITY. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE UNDERSTOOD AS A MOMENT THAT WE NOW HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY, MORE SO RESPONSIBILITY TO SEIZE THIS MOMENT WHERE YOUNG JEWS ARE COMING IN AND THEY ARE SCARED. AND THEY THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON ON CAMPUS. THEY ARE SERVING ON THE FRONT LINES IN THIS WAR AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM. AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD UP THESE YOUNG JUICE AND
NOT HAVE A REACTIVE RESPONSE BUT ENABLE THEM AND EMPOWER THEM TO BE PROACTIVE ON CAMPUS. TO NOT ONLY GROW IN THEIR JEWISH PRIDE AND IDENTITY BUT ALSO TO GO OUT TO THEIR PEERS AND FRIENDS ON CAMPUS AND SHARE THE LIGHT OF JUDAISM SO WHEN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ADMINISTRATION GETTING INVOLVED, WE DON’T EVEN
HAVE TO GET THERE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CAMPUS CULTURE IS THERE RIGHT ALONG WITH THEIR JEWISH FRIENDS SAYING NO TO ANTISEMITISM AND BUILDING A ZERO TOLERANCE CAMPAIGN FROM THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL. WHEN YOU ARE LISTENING TO ALL THESE INCIDENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, I WANT TO HOLD THE MOMENT BECAUSE IT IS ALSO SOMETHING
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE A POSITIVE AND TAKE THESE INCIDENTS AND GIVE THE STUDENTS THE TOOLS TO DO BETTER FOR THEMSELVES FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE, FOR THE JEWISH FUTURE. AND I’M EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOON MORE ABOUT OUR EFFORTS IN THIS SPACE WITH OUR ZERO TOLERANCE CAMPAIGN.
>> THANK YOU CAN YOU SHARE WHAT YOU’VE SEEN FROM NON-JEWISH ALLIES. YOU HAVE SEEN SUPPORT FOR THE FLUENT. >> ON OCTOBER 7 MY COLLEAGUE ETHAN WHITE CALLED ME AND SAID WHAT IS CAMPUS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN TWO HOURS, TOMORROW, THE NEXT WEEK, THE REST OF THE SEMESTER.
AND WE SAW SINCE AUGUST RISE IN ANTISEMITISM STARTING WITH OUR BERKELEY CHAPTER WITH SHRIMP BEING THROWN AT THE HOUSE. WE SAW ALLIES, FRIENDS FROM OTHER FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES ON CAMPUS COME TO US, HOW CAN WE HELP. 15 YEARS AGO MY FIRST DAY ON THE JOB AT AEPI I DON’T THINK I WOULD Z THAT.
NOW WE’RE SEEING STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY AND STAFF COMING TO US AND SAYING WHAT CAN WE DO, HOW CAN WE PARTNER FURTHER TOGETHER. AND JUST TEN DAYS AGO WE LAUNCHED OUR PETITION INITIATIVE WHEN THINGS HAPPEN ON CAMPUS WE’RE HAVING OUR UNDERGRADUATE BROTHERS, ALUMNI, PARENTS, FRIENDS AND OTHER STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS HELP GET
THE WORD OUT THERE. JUST LAST WEEK AT UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH HILLEL, THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT TRIED TAKING IT THAT HILLEL SHOULD LOSE THEIR SPACE ON CAMPUS. WE WORKED TOGETHER SENDING OUR PETITION OUT AND IT DIDN’T PASS. WE’VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN TEN TIMES NOW. EVERY SINGLE TIME IT DIDN’T PASS.
LAST NIGHT IN PENNSYLVANIA THE COUNCILWOMAN WHO BROUGHT UP THE CEASEFIRE MENTIONS THAT SHE WAS BOMBARDED WITH EMAILS FROM NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ON THIS TOPIC. LAST NIGHT IT DIDN’T PASS. THEY HAD ONLY TWO VOTING YES AND 9 VOTING NO. AND WE’RE SEEING ALLIES GETTING BEHIND US AND WANTING TO SUPPORT
ON A NATIONAL LEVEL GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE ABOUT HOW TO HELP JEWISH STUDENTS ON CAMPUS, HOW TO TALK TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, CONGRESS, SENATORS ABOUT OUR DEFINITION AND GETTING THAT PASSED AT CAMPUSES. AND IT’S BETTER THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED. AND REALLY GOING OFF OF NUMBERS AND WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE.
ON OCTOBER 17 ALPHA EPSILON PI HOSTED A DAY OF STRENGTH. WE HAD 18 CHAPTERS PARTICIPATE DOING A MARCH, DOING CONVERSATIONS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLEL ON CAMPUS AND WE HAD 30,000 PEOPLE SHOW UP. A FRACTION ARE JEWISH. WE’RE BRINGING THE NON-JEWISH STUDENTS OUT THERE AND EDUCATING THEM ON ISRAEL, ON ANTISEMITISM,
ON ANTISCIONISM AND THEY ARE SAYING WE NEED MORE EDUCATION. WE NEED MORE STUFF TO GET TO THEM. AND? DECEMBER FOR SHINE A LIGHT WE HOSTED A PANEL WHERE CANDICE SAID — WE HOSTED OVER 150 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, PRESIDENTS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS, DEAN OF THE LAW SCHOOLS. AND WE STARTED OFFERING OUR
ANTISEMITISM E LEARNING THAT IS FOR OUR UNDERGRADUATE BROTHERS, WE OPENED IT UP TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. IN THE FIRST WEEK WEEK WE HAD OVER 200 TAKE THE COURSE. OUR GOAL IS CONTINUE EDUCATING AND BRINGING IN MORE ALLIES WITH WHAT WE’RE DOING AND SERVE STANDING WAS, STANDING BY OUR SIDE.
WANTING TO PARTNER WITH US AND HELP THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW. >> I WOULD LOVE IF YOU COULD GO DEEPER ON THE EDUCATION PIECE I. KNOW FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE. I’VE HAD SO MUCH TO LEARN IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO
THESE VERY NUANCED TOPICS. PUTTING MYSELF IN THE SPACE OF A COLLEGE STUDENT, GOING INTO CONVERSATIONS ON ISRAEL WITH THEIR PEERS, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO EDUCATE THEM TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS? >> IT’S A GREAT QUESTION I. AGREE WITH EDUCATION BEING A KEY TOOL IN TERMS OF SHIFTING TIDES.
THERE IS A FEW WAY HILLEL IS WORKING TO ADDRESS THIS. WE LAUNCHED A SERIES WE’RE GOING TO REACH OVER 100 CAMPUSES BRINGING EXPERTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST. EXPERTS ON THE SITUATION THAT IS HAPPENING. ONE OF THE THINGS WE’RE HEARING FROM STUDENTS IS A DESIRE TO ENGAGE WITH REAL CONTENT, NOT TO
BE IN SHOUTING MATCHES BUT TO BE IN REAL DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTAND FROM REAL EXPERTS WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ON THE GROUND NOW AND HOW DID WE GET HERE. ONE IS AROUND THE TEACHING TOUR WE’VE LAUNCHED. THAT IS ONE OF OUR SMITH SPRING INITIATIVES. PRIOR TO THAT WE WORK WITH A
NETWORK OF STUDENTS, ISRAEL LEADERSHIP NETWORK THAT SPRINGS LEADERS FROM EACH CAMPUS. WE HAVE 150 CAMPUSES REPRESENTED AND THEY WORK WITH STUDENT BODIES IN TERMS OF BRINGING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH ISRAEL, ENGAGE IN THE TOPIC. WE HAD 800 STUDENTS COME TOGETHER JUST TWO WEEKS AGO IN ATLANTA.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO BE ABLE TO WATCH THE STUDENTS TAKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. FOR MANY OF THEM IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD FELT BEING IN A ROOM THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE THAT WERE LIKE MINDED THAT COULD THINK — BY THE WAY, THEY WERE NUANCED AND DEEP AND THOUGHTFUL.
OUR STUDENTS ARE INCREDIBLE BY THE WAY. ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE INCREDIBLE. BUT THEY WERE HUNGRY FOR EDUCATION. THEY WERE HUNGRY FOR MASTER CLASS SERIES. THIS IS A KEY WAY WE’RE ADDRESSING IT WITH STUDENTS. I’M HAPPY TO TALK MORE IN TERMS OF HOW WE’RE ADDRESSING THIS WITH UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL.
THERE IS A KEY PART OF EDUCATION THAT IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL. >> THAT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT POINT. AS WE SEE NUMBERS OF INCIDENTS TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, ARE WE SEEING ADMINISTRATORS RESPOND WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY? >> SO I THINK WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS AND PRESIDENTS.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT LEADERSHIP STARTS AT THE TOP. WE KNEW THAT PRIOR TO OCTOBER SEVENTH. IT’S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT NOW. HILLEL HAS BEEN WORKING DEEPLY WITH UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS AND PRESIDENTS FOR MANY DECADES. WE’RE BUILT INTO THE FABRIC OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND MOST OF OUR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS HAVE DEEP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS. BUT IN A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT WE LOST OUR CAMPUS CLIMATE INITIATIVE. THIS YEAR WE’LL TRAIN OVER 1,000 UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO DO DEEP WORK ON THEIR CAMPUS TO ASSESS WHAT IS THEIR CLIMATE AND HOW CAN THEY IMPROVE IT.
THAT SAID, THAT’S LONG TERM WORK AND WE NEED QUICK ACTION. THERE IS A FEW WAYS WE’VE BEEN ADDRESSING THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ADL, WE LAUNCHED A CALL LINE. YOU CAN’T CALL, CALL. BUT IT IS AN ONLINE TOOL THAT IS A LEGAL TOOL. PART OF THIS WE DID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ADL AND GIBSON
AND DUNN LEGAL TEAM. PART OF THIS IS TO PUT PRESSURE ON ADMINISTRATORS TO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES IF THEY DO NOT SPEAK OUT ON THEIR CAMPUSES. I KNOW MANY OF YOU HOPEFULLY WERE AT THE MORNING EMPLOYEE MORNING PLENARY.NAME ANTISEMITIH STRONGER. AND JUST TWO WEEKS AGO WE SAW PRESIDENT FROM MI T.
I’M SURE MANY OF YOU REMEMBER HER IN THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING THIS PAST DECEMBER. WHO CAN FORGET? JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, SHE ASKED CAMPUS GROUP AND I HAVE TO SEE THE NAME. THEY ARE AN OFFSHOOT OF THE STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINIAN. THEY CALL AT THIS TIME COALITION AGAINST APAR TIED.
>>> IT’S A REGISTERED STUDENT GROUP. SHE SUSPENDED THEM FOR VIOLATING CAMPUS POLICY. THIS IS A DIRECT COR RELATION. MIT IS PART OF OUR CAMPUS CLIMATE INITIATIVE WHERE THEY LEARNED THE TOOLS THEY NEEDED TO SHARE THEIR UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WITH ALL STUDENTS WHICH THEY DID AT THE START OF THEIR WINTER TERM.
WHETHER THIS STUDENT GROUP VIOLATED THOSE, THEY SUSPENDED THEM. WE NEED TO SEE THIS ACTION HAPPENING. >>> IT’S NOT ENOUGH. THERE ARE TOO FEW INCIDENTSOVER INCIDENTSOVERTHIS I CAN POINT TE STARTING TO SEE SOME CHANGE. >> I THINK IT’S A CRITICAL ELEMENT. HILLEL HAS BEEN LEADING THIS INITIATIVE AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION AND TO WHATEVER
DEGREE FACULTY POSSIBLE WITH A REAL FOCUS ON ADMINISTRATION. CHABAD LAUNCHED OUR CAMPUS TASK FORCE TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. THINK ABOUT THIS. ANTISEMITISM DID NOT START ON OCTOBER 7 ON CAMPUS RIGHT. AND WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TOOL WE HAVE? SARAH TALKED ABOUT BERKELEY. I MENTIONED BERGOGLIO. MENTIONED BERKELEY.WITHOUT THE F
THOSE ON THIS PANEL TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IT WOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED BUT IT’S THE STUDENTS. IT’S THE STUDENTS THAT WENT TO ETHAN, PROFESSOR OF DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY THAT SAID THIS IS A LETTER WE HAVE THAT DEMANDS OUR RIGHTS BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. AND PEOPLE ASK ALL THE TIME WHAT CAN WE DO.
SUPPORT STUDENTS RIGHT, MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO UP AND MAKE DEMANDS. AND THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I THINK ARE EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HERE. SARAH, I DON’T THINK MENTIONED THEM BY NAME. BUT ALLUDED TO BOTH OF THEM. ONE IS THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
THERE IS A CODE OF CONDUCT AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE UNIVERSITIES AND THE SECOND SOMEONE FROM ALPHA EPSILON PI STANDS OUT OF LINE ON THAT THEY ARE SHUT DOWN. BUT THE REST OF THE STUDENTS WHEN THEY ATTACK JUICE AND ISJEWS ANDDESTROYS THEY ARE NOT. WE HAVE TO HOLD THE STUDENTS TO
THE CODE OF CONDUCT. AND THE SECOND IS TITLE SIX. TITLE SIX IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT TOOL THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS THE ABILITY TO ENACT CHANGES AND OVERSEE THESE SCHOOLS AND MAKE THEM CHANGE WAYS. WHEN THE LATEST TITLE SIX AT MIDDLE BERRY COLLEGE WAS FILED. WHAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE?
WE’RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG. THAT WAS THE SAME RESPONSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT WHO ULTIMATELY CAME AROUND AND MADE SOME CHANGES. THESE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. THE TOOLS ARE THERE. WE NEED TO EMPOWER STUDENTS AND OTHERS TO USE THEM AND LET FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION KNOW WE WILL USE THEM.
>> JUST TO MENTION BUZZ WORD IS STUDENT CONDUCT. WE READ FOREVER EACH UNIVERSITY. WE HAVE OUR UNDERGRADUATE BROTHERS READ SO WHEN THEY ARE MEETING WITH ADMINISTRATION, THEY ARE ABLE TO TALK WHAT IS GOING ON. MANY OF THESE POLICIES ARE OUTDATED. YOU CAN USE YOUR SCHOOL UNIVERSITY FULL NAME IN AN
INSTAGRAM HANDLE ON E ON A TWITTER HANDLE. BUT WHEN YOU USE ANTISEMITISM REMARKS WHILE USING THE SCHOOL NAME, THERE IS NO — IT’S NOT BREAKING ANY RULES. THAT IS SOMETHING WE’VE BEEN WORKING WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION ON. THEY ARE REPRESENTING YOUR UNIVERSITY, YOUR NAME AND YOU ARE LETTING THEM SAY X, Y AND Z
ON TIK TOK AND INSTAGRAM. THAT SUN ACCEPTABLE. THE OTHER THING WE’RE SEEING IS STUDENT GROUPS ON CAMPUS USING THE SCHOOL WIFI TO POST HATE SPEECH. THEY ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT THEIR POLICIES WITH THAT AS WELL. TO UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF PUNISHMENT COULD HAPPEN AND THE BEST THING THAT I’VE SEEN WITH
JEWISH STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD WITH OUR PANELISTS IS WE’RE SITTING AROUND THE TABLE TALKING TO THE UNIVERSITY SAYING WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU. WE WANT TO MAKE LIFE ON CAMPUS BETTER. AND THEY’VE BEEN WANTING TO WORK WITH US BECAUSE OF THAT. >> ARE YOU FINDING THAT MICHAEL
THAT THEY ARE ENGAGING BACK WITH YOU? >> IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. 15 YEARS AGO I THOUGHT THERE WERE THREE OR FOUR DEAN OF STUDENTS AT A UNIFORM I’VE NOW REALIZED EACH UNIVERSITY HAS 15 TO 25 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, DIFFERENT DEANS THAT DEAL WITH DIFFERENT STUFF. SOMETIMES IT’S THE RUN AROUND.
BUT I THINK THEY ARE AFRAID. I’VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEAN OF STUDENTS WHO WAS VERY AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING. I SAID I’M NOT VIDEOTAPING ANYTHING. I’M NOT RECORDING THIS CONVERSATION. SPEAK OPENLY TO ME. I WANT TO HELP. I WANT TO HELP THE JEWISH STUDENTS ON CAMPUS.
AND SHE SAT BACK IN HER CHAIR AND SAID THANK YOU. AND I DON’T WANT TO OFFEND YOU. I SAID MY SKIN IS THICK. I WORKED WITH ISRAELIS FOR NINE YEARS DOING IT. ISRAEL TRAVEL DOING BIRTH RIGHT TRIPS. NOTHING YOU ARE GOING TO SAY IS GOING TO OFFEND ME BUT I WANT TO HELP.
SHE WAS ABLE TO TALK FREELY AND UNDERSTAND SHE HAS THE SAME GOAL. SHE DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO ARTICULATE HOW TO GET THERE AND WHAT PARTNERS THERE NEEDS TO BE TO GET TO THAT. >> IF I CAN JUST ADD. WE ARE SEEING UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS REACH OUT. THEY NEED HELP. THEY ARE ASKING FOR IT.
OFTEN THEY DO NEED TO UPDATE THEIR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE ARE FINDING. THEY NEED HELP. THERE IS A 35 ACTIVE TITLE SIX CASES, IT MIGHT BE UP TODAY. IT GOES UP QUICKLY. THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN THAT MANY OPEN TITLE SIX CASES. THIS IS NEW TERRITORY FOR EVERYBODY.
WE ARE SEEING UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS REACH OUT. THEY ARE AT TIMES TEXTING OUR HILLEL DIRECTORS ASKING QUESTIONS DIRECTLY. THAT IS THE KIND OF CLIMATE WE’RE IN. TO THAT POINT, I THINK THEY ARE ALSO VERY AFRAID AND THEY NEED TO BE. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT.
THAT IS HOW CHANGE STARTS TO GET MADE. >> TO ADD STUDENTS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THEY ARE SCARED, DEPRESSED, FRUSTRATED. I THINK AFTER THE INCIDENT AT BERKELEY LAST WEEK, IF YOU READ THE POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA,
PEOPLE IN GENERAL ARE JUST I DON’T KNOW WHY WE’RE SHOCKED BUT WE’RE SHOCKED THAT THINGS LIKE THIS ARE HAPPENING AND THE WORLD MOVERS ON. AND THERE AREN’T REPERCUSSIONS. AND STUDENTS ARE SEEING THIS. THE JEWISH STUDENTS ARE FEELING THIS. AND BUGGING OUT. AND THE REST OF THE CAMPUS STUDENTS AND GENERAL COMMUNITY
ARE SEEING THIS AND SEEING YOU CAN DO THIS AND GET AWAY WITH IT AND MAYBE A WEEK LATER YOU’LL GET SHARP REMARKS FROM ADMINISTRATION BUT IT’S ALREADY HAPPENED AND ISN’T MAKING THE NEWS AND THERE IS THIS TOLERANCE THAT IS ACCEPTED IN SOCIETY NOW THAT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
AND SO WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING IS SPEAKING TO STUDENTS AND WE SPOKE ABOUT THE DATA WHERE THE — I CAN’T KEEP TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS COMING UP THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS NOT ISSUED NOT THAT STUDENTS DON’T CARE ANYMORE BUT THEY ARE NOT SEEING ACTION BEING TAKEN WITH THEIR COMPLAINTS.
THE HIGHEST PROFILE CASES MAKE THE NEWS. BUT EVERY DAY THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS TAKING PLACE THAT WE’LL NEVER KNOW ABOUT. WE REALIZE WE NEED TO BRIDGE THIS BROKEN TELEPHONE OF SORTS. WE NEED TO GIVE STUDENTS A WAY FOR THEM TO NOT JUST REPORT THEIR INCIDENTS BUT RECORD THEIR
INCIDENTS SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT IT’S NOT JUST GOING INTO A BLACK BOX WHERE WE JUST UP TRACK THE NUMBERS AND SAY LOOK AT THESE STATISTICS, THEY ARE RISING. WHEN THEY SHARE WHAT IS GOING ON ON CAMPUS THERE ARE WAYS ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO REACT. WE LIVE IN AN INSTANTOUS WORLD.
WE CAN’T WAIT A WEEK OR MONTH TO RESPOND TO WHAT IS GOING ON ON CAMPUS. WHEN WE CAN GIVE THE STUDENTS THE ABILITY TO FAST TRACH E TRACK TO ADMINISTRATION OR FAST TRACK TO THE ADL AND ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THEMSELVES AND
FOR THEIR CAMPUS. THAT IS WHEN WE’RE GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS CAMPUS SPACE. WE’RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE NCRI AND WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THEM TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO EACH CAMPUS. NOT TO JUST ADD TO THE REPORTING. BUT TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM PRACTICAL
NEXT STEPS ABOUT WHAT TO DO. SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN BERKELEY, A STUDENT MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. WHO IS SHE COMPLAINING TO? TO CAMPUS POLICE, THE ADMINISTRATION, THE LIL. BY THE TIME SHE FIGURES IT OUT HER HEAD IS SPINNING. WITH OUR PARTNERS AT NCRI WE’RE GIVING THE STUDENTS THE ABILITY
TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL VOICE, SHARE THEIR PERSONAL STORIES. AND THEN THE NCRI REPRESENTATIVE IS DIRECTING THEM. THIS INCIDENT IS MORE FOR CAMPUS POLICE. AND THIS INCIDENT IS FOR THE ADL TO MANAGE. AND THEN HAND HOLDING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAMPUS RESPONSE — CAMPUS POLICE RESPONDS, YES, THIS IS
WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO NEXT. BY GIVING STUDENTS THE ABILITY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OVER WHAT IS GOING ON ON CAMPUS IS THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGE. WE CANNOT SIT BY IN A PASSIVE REACTIVE REALITY. WE NEED TO EMPOWER THE STUDENTS, EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION BECAUSE ONLY
THAT IS WHEN WE CAN MAKE THE CHANGE AND REALLY TRULY BUILD THIS ZERO TOLERANCE CULTURE THAT WE SO BADLY KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT AMERICA SHOULD AND HAVE ON EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS. AND WE’RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP AND TO WORK WITH ADL AND OTHER PARTNERS ON
THE GROUND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR JEWISH STUDENTS AND ALL STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO BUILD OFF WHAT YOU JUST SAID. I THINK FOR ME IN THE ROLE THAT I’M IN AT CHABAD ON CAMPUS WHERE WE’RE OVERSEEING WHAT HAPPENS ON SO MANY CAMPUSES.
WHAT MIRIAM, THE WORK SHE MENTIONED SO MANY PARTNERS AND PARTNERING. IT’S EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. WHEN CHABAD ON CAMPUS DECIDED WE NEEDED TO EDUCATE OUR RABBIS AND EDUCATORS, THIS IS NEW FOR US. THIS IS NOT — LIKE MIRIAM WAS SAYING, WE WERE FOCUSED MORE ON TOUR OF VALUES, ON JOY OF LIFE,
ON JEWISH VALUES, ON EDUCATION, ON HISTORY. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF, THREE YEARS WE SAW THIS RISE IN ANTISEMITISM WHAT DO WE DO. WE REACHED OUT THE BOUNDLESS, TO IEC C. WE’RE PARTNERING WITH AD L. WE’RE REACHING OUT TO OUR PARTNERS, HILLEL AND CHABAD HAVE
HISTORICALLY EXISTED ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER ON CAMPUS, OCCASIONALLY DOING THINGS TOGETHER. TODAY WE’RE LAUNCHING PARTNERING OPPORTUNITIES ON CAMPUS TO BRING SPEAKERS TO CAMPUS TOGETHER FOR HILLEL AND CHABAD STUDENTS. AND THIS EMPOWERS OUR STUDENTS. THIS SAYS TO A STUDENT YOU DON’T HAVE TO NAVIGATE THIS. GO TO WHOEVER YOU NEED TO GO TO
WHETHER IT’S HILLEL, CHABAD, ICC, GO WHEREVER YOU WANT AND WE’LL GRAB THAT INFORMATION AND WE WILL GET BEHIND YOU. BECAUSE WE’RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO BE BETTER PARTNERS TOGETHER FOR THE STUDENTS. >> IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR THIS ROOM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES HAPPEN WHEN STUDENTS REPORT IN TERMS OF THE RELATIONSHIP SINCE
WE ARE AT THE ADL NEVER IS NOW CONFERENCE. TAKE A MOMENT. >> WHEN ANY INCIDENT COMES INTO OUR SYSTEM, IT IS TAGGED TO THE REGION. WE HAVE 26 REGIONAL OFFICES IN FLORIDA. THE REGIONAL OFFICE WHERE THAT INCIDENT COMES IN RECEIVES THE INCIDENT AND REACHES OUT TO THE PERSON THAT REPORTED IT.
WE HEAR A LOT STUDENTS DON’T WANT THEIR NAME ATTACHED TO WHAT THEY ARE REPORTING. THEY DON’T WANT TO BE PERCEIVED AS A VICTIM. NO ONE EVER HAS TO BE THE FACE OF AN INCIDENT. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HAND IT IT TO ADL AND ASKS TO US HELP, WE CAN DO THAT.
IF THEY WANT TO COME ALONGSIDE US IN THE JOURNEY THEY CAN DO THAT AS WELL. IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO THE UNIVERSITY IN A VARIETY OF FORMS. SOME ARE ESCALATED TO POLICE OR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO TAKE PART OF. BUT IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GO TO A UNIVERSITY AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING ON YOUR CAMPUS. HERE ARE SOME TOOLS WE HAVE THAT YOU CAN USE OR HERE ARE PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH THAT CAN HELP EDGE YOU IF THAT IS IN YOUR ON BOARDING OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO MAKE SURE YOUR STAFF
UNDERSTANDS WHAT ANTISEMITISM LOOKS LIKE. WE HAVE A JOINT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WITH HILLEL THAT IS ANY STUDENT CAN UTILIZE. IT’S NOT JUST JEWISH STUDENTS. TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE RESOURCES TO HELP MAKE IT BETTER AND HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE WHEN NECESSARY. SARAH MENTIONED OUR CALL HELP LINE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU
CALL AND PUT INFORMATION INTO A SYSTEM. >> WE’LL NEVER LET LAWYERS NAME SOMETHING AGAIN. >> EVERYTHING THAT COMES INTO THAT IS REVIEWED BY A LAWYER AND IF NECESSARY ACTION IS TAKEN. WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 500 INCIDENTS INTO THAT CALL HELP LINE. EVERYTHING THAT COMES INTO OUR SYSTEM IS ADDRESSED BY AN ACTION
HUMAN TO HELP MAKE WHAT IS HAPPENING BETTER. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU CAN REPORT CAMPUS HATE.ORG IS WHERE A STUDENT CAN REPORT AN INCIDENT ON THEIR CAMPUS. IT’S A SHARED PARTNERSHIP HILLEL HAS WITH ADL AND SCN WHICH HELPS US ALERT. WE NEED TO ESCALATE IMMEDIATELY FOR POLICE OR OTHER TYPE OF SECURITY.
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOW A HEIGHTENED PART OF OUR WORK WHICH I THINK WAS NOT FOR SURE A YEAR AGO SOMETHING IN TERMS OF SECURITY BEING NEARLY THE CONVERSATION THAT WE’RE HAVING TODAY. BUT REPORT CAMPUS HATE.ORG, IT COMES IN HILLEL DIRECTOR GETS NOTIFIED THROUGH. THAT WE WORK WITH REGIONAL
OFFICES AND THERE IS A CENTRAL WAY IN WHICH WE’RE ALERTING ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. >> WHILE IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO GIVE LIFE TO THE NUMBERS WE SEE COMING IN. THOSE NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT. THOSE NUMBERS HELP US DRIVE ADVOCACY EFFORTS. THEY HELP US KNOW WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMMING. THE MORE YOU CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE TO REPORT SOMETHING WHEN THEY SEE IT, THE MORE THAT HELPS SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE IN. WE’LL GET TO Q AND A SOON. I DO SORT OF THE SAME, STUDENTS ARE HAVING ALL THESE INCIDENTS THROWN AT THEM.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE MENTAL HEALTH? YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STUDENT WITH HER HEAD SPINNING IN CIRCLES. WHAT SORT OF MENTAL HEALTH TOLL IS THIS TAKING ON OUR STUDENTS? >> AFTER OCTOBER 7 THE CAMPUS LIFE CHANGED AS WE KNEW IT. AND THE INITIAL SURGE OF STUDENTS, STUDENTS WHO WERE
LOOKING TO SEEK ANSWERS AND FIND A COMMUNITY FRANKLY TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE WHAT WAS GOING ON BOTH IN TERMS OF HOW THEY PROCESSED WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN ISRAEL AS WELL AS WHAT WAS GOING ON ON CAMPUS. THERE WAS JUST A LOT TO TAKE N. AND SO SOMETHING THAT WE PRIDE
OURSELVES ON ATLANTA OLAM SIXTH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS. FOR US WHILE WE WERE DOING EVENTS EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK OUR STAFF WERE SPENDING DAYS MEETING ONE ON ONE WITH STUDENTS TO HELP THEM INTERNAL LOSE WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE AND HELP THEM NAVIGATE INDIVIDUALLY THROUGH THIS WHOLE LAST FEW MONTHS.
WE DIDN’T JUMP RIGHT INTO DEVELOPING A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR OUR STUDENTS AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE REALLY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS ON THE GROUND. AND SO WE TOOK THE FALL SEMESTER REALLY LISTEN. WE DID A LOT OF FOCUS GROUPS AND SURVEYS AND OF COURSE SPEAKING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS TO
SEE WHERE WERE THE GAPS. ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THE JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING UNBELIEVABLE WORK ON CAMPUS. AND IT’S BEEN AMAZING TO LEVERAGE OUR STRENGTHS AS A JEWISH COMMUNITY TO REALLY SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. THERE WERE CERTAINLY GAPS. THAT IS WHAT WE TOOK THE TIME TO REALLY UNDERSTAND.
AND SEE HOW WE CAN PLAY A ROLE. AND SO WHERE THERE WERE TWO MAJOR FINDINGS, THE FIRST WAS A LACK OF CENTRALIZATION. THERE WERE AMAZING SOURCES OF SUPPORT WHETHER IT WAS THROUGH MENTAL HILLEL HEALTH INITIATIVES THAT HILLEL DOES OR THROUGH STAND WITH US. AMAZING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AND INITIATIVES.
AND YET IF A STUDENT WASN’T INVOLVED IN THOSE ORGANIZAORGANIZATIONS,THEY MIGHE EVENT. THERE WAS AN EVENT ON PENN CAMPUS. THEY BROUGHT IN ONE OF THE SURVIVORS FROM THE MUSIC FESTIVAL. SHE WAS SCHEDULED TO SPEAK TWICE. THE FIRST TIME SHE SPOKE THERE WERE A HAND FULL OF STUDENTS IN THE ROOM.
THEY CANCELED THE SECOND TIME BECAUSE THEY WERE EMBARRASSED. IT WASN’T RIGHT TO THE SURVIVAL I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. HOW COULD THIS SORT OF EVENT NOT HAVE PEOPLE FILLING THE ROOM? AND UPON LOOKING AT IT FURTHER IT WAS JUST THERE WAS A COMMUNICATION ISSUE. IT WASN’T DISTRIBUTED WELL TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF
COURSE THIS SORT OF EVENT, WE HEARD FROM THE SURVIVORS THIS MORNING. THIS EVENT WOULD BE FULL TO CAPACITY IF PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT IT. THERE WAS A BROKEN TELEPHONE ON COLLEGE CAMPUS LIFE. WE DON’T NEED TO CREATE NEW PROGRAMS. WE DON’T NEED TO COME ONE THE MOST CLEVER AMAZING — THEY ALREADY EXIST.
HOW CAN WE BRING THEM TOGETHER FOR ALL THE JEWS ON CAMPUS, THOSE CONNECTED TO JEWISH LIFE BUT CERTAINLY AS WE’VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN ENGAGED WITH CAMPUS LIFE BUT WANT TO SEE AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. WE CREATED A CENTRALIZED EFFORT
ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES FROM THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS. AND WE’VE TAKEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL THE JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS AND BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER UNDER A LEADERSHIP WHERE THEY SHARE THEIR RESOURCES. AND THEY SHARE WHAT IS GOING ON TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAMPUS.
AND REALLY HIGHLIGHT TO THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY WHAT ARE THE OFFERINGS TO FURTHER EDUCATE AND INCLUDE THE STUDENTS WITH THESE IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL HELP THEM GROW FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. THE SECOND PIECE THAT WE SAW WAS THAT THE — LIKE WE’VE BEEN SAYING. THERE IS APATHY ON CAMPUS THAT
HAS BEEN A SHOCK TO JEWISH STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE FINDING THAT THEIR FRIENDS ARE NOT STANDING UP FOR THEM IN THE WAY THAT WE’VE STOOD UP FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER AND OTHER MOVEMENTS. AND WE HAVE THIS EMPHASIS ON ADMINISTRATION BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ALSO LIES ON THE OTHER JEWISH YOUNG ADULTS ON CAMPUS.
HOW CAN WE CREATE A POSITIVE MESSAGING TO ENCOURAGE THE ENTIRE CAMPUS TO PROMOTE A ZERO TOLERANCE CULTURE AGAINST JEWISH HATRED? THIS IS THROUGH THESE TWO FINDINGS ZERO TOLERANCE CAME ABOUT AND WE LAUNCHED THIS SEMESTER TO CENTRALIZE THE EFFORTS ON OF JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS ON CAMPUS TO SUPPORT OUR JEWISH STUDENTS AND
ALSO TO PARTNER WITH OUR NON-JEWISH FRIENDS ON CAMPUS AND CREATE A GRASS ROOTS INITIATIVE THAT FOSTERS A COMMUNITY OF RESPECT OF DIALOGUE, OF COMMUNICATION. BECAUSE THESE YOUNG ADULTS, THEY ARE THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY. THEY ARE THE FUTURE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FREE WORLD. AND IF WE MISS THE MARK HERE AND
JUST LOOK TO THE TOP TO MAKE A CHANGE. THEN WE’RE REALLY MISSING THE BOAT. AND WE HAVE SEEN JUST IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS SINCE WE’VE LAUNCHED A TREMENDOUS SHOWING OF INTEREST, EXCITEMENT AND WE’RE VERY PROUD OF THIS INITIATIVE. AND FOLLOW ALONG ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES BECAUSE YOU’LL
YOU’LL SEE IT CONTINUE TO GROW IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS THROUGHOUT THIS SEMESTER AND BEYOND. >> THANK YOU. IF I CAN ADD ONE THING. THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS TOLL IS SOMETHING THAT IS SCHISM I KNOW IT WEIGHS ON ALL OF THE PEOPLE UP HERE. WE WERE SEEING THIS TREND PRIOR TO OCTOBER 7.
THERE IS NO QUESTION POST PANDEMIC. WE’RE ALSO SEE IT IN OUR PROFESSIONALS. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE. CAMPUS PROFESSIONALS, I SAY THE HILLEL DIRECTORS, MY DAUGHTER IS A JUNIOR AT SYRACUSE, THEY ARE MY HEROES. THE CHABAD RABBIS ARE DOING INCREDIBLY HARD WORK RIGHT NOW. THIS IS NOT EASY TO BE ON CAMPUS.
THEY ARE HOLDING THE PAIN OF THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR OWN PERSONAL PAIN. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT DEEPLY IN OUR COMMITTED TO IS NOT ONLY THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR STUDENTS BUT ALSO THE PROFESSIONALS INVESTING IN CAPACITY TO HAVE THE TRAINING,
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO DO THE WORK THEY NEED TO DO AND ALSO HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH E HEALTH SUPPORT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE IN THIS SPACE. >> THANK YOU. WE DO NEED TO TRANSITION TO Q AND A. BEFORE WE DO THAT. I’LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE’RE TAKING Q AND A THROUGH THE APP OR THROUGH A NOTE CARD F. NEED A NOTE CARD RAISE YOUR HAND. BEFORE I JUMP INTO THAT, I’D LOVE FOR YOU TO EACH SAY SOMETHING TO BE HOPEFUL ABOUT ON CAMPUS. >> THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE HOPEFUL ABOUT. I’LL SAY WITHIN EVERY SINGLE ONE
OF US WE’RE BORN WITH A LIGHT. WE’RE BORN WITH A LIGHT. AND THE MORE WE COME TOGETHER AS JEWISH PEOPLE AND THE MORE THAT WE PARTNER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER, THE MORE CONNECTED TO OUR HISTORY, TO OUR VALUES, THE BRIGHTER THAT LIGHT GETS. AND WE COLLECTIVELY ARE SHINING
A LIGHT ON CAMPUS THAT IS BRIGHTER THAN EVER. AND THERE IS ONE THING I WANT TO ADD TO THIS THAT DIDN’T COME UP YET ON THE PANEL. AND I KNOW WE ALL FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS. OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO ISRAEL AND EDUCATING STUDENTS ABOUT ISRAEL AND EDUCATING OUR PROFESSIONALS ABOUT ISRAEL.
THIS SUMMER CHABAD ON CAMPUS IS HOLDING OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONFERENCES IN ISRAEL BECAUSE IF WE CAN EDUCATE THE EDUCATORS AND WE CAN GET THEM COMFORTABLE ALL THESE TOPICS, WE CAN CONNECT THAT EVEN FURTHER TORE STUDENTS. SO THE HOPE IS THERE, THE HOPE IS GREAT. IT’S BEYOND HOPE. IT’S SUCCESS.
AND WE’RE ACHIEVING A GREATER CONNECTED JUDAISM THROUGH ALL THAT WE’RE DOING. >> ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO ADD A FEW THINGS TO ONLTHOM. OUR STUDENTS ARE INCREDIBLE. THE YOUNG PEOPLE ON CAMPUS TODAY, I HAVE A COLLEAGUE WHO SAYS HE WAS BORN 20 YEARS TOO LATE AND WISHES HE COULD BE ON
CAMPUS IN THIS MOMENT. THEY ARE STANDING UP, THEY ARE LOUD, THEY ARE PROUD. AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WE’RE ALL BEHIND THEM. I CAN POINT TO A YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS A STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BASH BAT. MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE
INCIDENT WHICH N WHICH SHE WAS A VICIOUS CAMPAIGN. AND THEY TARGETED HER SPECIFICALLY. SHE DIDN’T BACK DOWN. SHE WAS INCREDIBLE IN THE WAY SHE STOOD UP. SHE PARTICIPATED IN HILLEL FELLOW LEADERSHIP LAST SUMMER TO TALK POSITIVELY AROUND ISRAEL. THESE TYPES OF SKILLS THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GAINING THEY ARE INCREDIBLE.
I HAVE INCREDIBLE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. I THINK IF WE CAN ALL SHOW WE’RE BEHIND OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS TODAY, WE’RE GOING TO BE OK. [APPLAUSE] IT’S BEEN A CHALLENGING LAST FEW MONTHS. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A STRONGER POSITION. WE HAVE A JEWISH STATE. WE HAVE A JEWISH ARMY FIGHTING
FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL, FIGHTING FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE WE AS A GLOBAL JEWISH COMMUNITY HAVE NEVER BEEN STRONG. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOUNG JUICE EVERYJEWS AROUND THE WORLE SEEING. IT’S INSPIRING THEM TO CONNECT TO JEWISH COMMUNITY AND LIFE IN A WAY THAT PRIOR TO OCTOBER SEVENTH THAT RADAR WAS NOT QUITE
THERE. AND THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE TO REVIVE THAT JEWISH SPARK AMONGST JEWS EVERYWHERE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEIR JEWISH IDENTITY AND BUILD THEIR JEWISH PRIDE. >>> AND IT’S ININCREDIBLE MOMENT FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE. ONE THAT WILL STRENGTHEN US AS A PEOPLE, TO CREATE A STRONG AND
VIBRANT JEWISH FUTURE. THERE IS TREMENDOUS HOPE. IT’S AN HONOR TO BE HERE REPRESENTING JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE BECAUSE THIS IS THE JEWISH FUTURE. THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD IN STORE AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME. >> WE TALK ABOUT BEING LOUD AND PROUD ON CAMPUS. WE HAVE 10,000 OF THESE T SHIRTS
ALL OVER CAMPUS. IT’S NOT JUST BROTHERS WEARING THESE T SHIRTS, IT’S OUR ALLIES WEARING THESE AS WELL. OUR GOAL IS NEXT YEAR NOT JUST 10,000 STUDENTS, 20,000 STUDENTS. SECOND IS PHILANTHROPY. SINCE OCTOBER 7 BROTHERS HAVE RAISED $600,000 FOR ISRAEL ORGANIZATIONS $600,000. AND THEY ARE NOT STOPPING. OUR GOAL IS TO HIT A MILLION
DOLLARS BEFORE JUNE 1. AND LASTLY, I MENTIONED WE HAVE CHAPTERS IN ISRAEL. AND RIGHT AFTER OCTOBER 7 WE DID THE WEBINARS WITH OUR BROTHERS IN ISRAEL. AND IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE UNDERGRADS IN THE UNITED STATES TO HEAR FROM OUR BROTHERS. HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON. AND ISRAEL BROTHERS SAID DON’T
WORRY ABOUT US. WE NEED YOU FIGHTING FOR ISRAEL ON CAMPUS. YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT. AND YOU NEED TO YOUS YOUR VICE E USE YOUR VOICE.HOPEFULLY WRECK S THIS SEMESTER. SCHOOL IS DELAYED FOUR MONTHS. WE HAD THE LARGEST RUSH CLASS IN ISRAEL OUR 16 YEAR HISTORY OF BEING THERE.
WE HAVE MORE BROTHERS WANTING TO BE A PART OF ALPHA EPSILON PI ON CAMPUS THAN EVER BEFORE. WE’RE COMING TOGETHER BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, ISRAEL, THE UK TO REPRESENT ALPHA EPSILON PI AND HELP WITH THE JEWISH STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION ON CAMPUS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS WE TURN TO Q AND A. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS. I’M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO ASK WHAT SEEM TO BE RECURRING THEMES. ONE THING I WANT TO SHARE. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ASKED ABOUT HEARING FROM THE STUDENTS. WE WILL HAVE A PANEL TOMORROW THAT IS STUDENTS.
WE’D LOVE FOR TO YOU JOIN THAT AS WELL. IT’S THE SECOND BREAKOUT SESSION TOMORROW IN THE MORNING WHERE WE WILL HEAR FROM THREE STUDENTS CURRENTLY ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. HERE, HERE AND HERE, ONE OF THE MOST RECURRING QUESTIONS RELATES TO PROFESSORS. I’M GOING TO ASK THE ONE THAT
HAS THE MOST VOTES ON THE APP. HOW DO WE ADDRESS PROFS SHE’S ARE SKEWING ANTISEMITISM INFORMATION IN CLASSROOMS AND ONLINE. HOW DO WE DRAW DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BIRKS BIGOTRY AND ANTISEMITISM. >> FACULTY IS A REAL ISSUE. THERE IS NO QUESTION. THE PART OF THAT IS FACULTY HAVE CODES OF CONDUCT.
WE DON’T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT THAT. SO SOME OF THIS IS IN TERMS OF HOW ARE WE WORKING IN TERMS OF WE TALK ABOUT STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. FACULTY CODE OF TICKET E CONDUCT. IF A FACULTY IS TEACHING A MATH CLASS THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CHANGE HOW THEY ARE TEACHING
THAT IN A WAY TO RELATE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ISRAEL. THOSE ARE ACTS OF ANTISEMITISM. THOSE CAN BE REPORTED AND THERE CAN BE THIS IS WHERE THE LEGAL HELP LINE AND TOOLS CAN REINFORCE IT. THERE IS NO QUESTION IT’S NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER ON HOW WE’RE GOING TO ADDRESS THE FACULTY ISSUES.
I WILL NOT FRIEND TO PLAY A LAWYER ON TV TO GIVE YOU THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH VERSUS HATE SPEECH THERE. IS A REAL DIFFERENCE. WE’RE LUCKY TO HAVE INCREDIBLE LEGAL — HILLEL HAS AN EXPERT IN TITLE SIX. THEY ARE TRAINED TO HELP US ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. THE KEY HERE IS THIS SHOULDN’T
BE ALLOWED. STUDENTS SHOULD BE REPORTING IT. AND JEWISH COMMUNITY WILL BE ADDRESSING IT. ANOTHER RECURRING THEME HERE IS HOW DO WE EDUCATE OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS. WE WILL HAVE 800 HIGH SCHOOLERS HERE TOMORROW GOING THROUGH THEIR OWN TRACK AND PARTICIPATING IN OUR SESSIONS AS WELL. WE ARE CERTAINLY WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND OUR WORDS TO ACTION PROGRAM GETS INTO HIGH SCHOOLS IN JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR IDENTITY AND THINGS THEY MAY FACE ON CAMPUS. PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT THE REPORT CARD THAT ADL IS DOING. WE’RE ASSESSING A NUMBER OF CAMPUSES NOW. WE’RE ACTIVELY IN THAT 30 SIS.
MID APRIL WE’LL RELEASE A REPORT CARD THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE HOW UNIVERSITIES ARE RESPONDING AND COMBATING ANTISEMITISM ON THEIR CAMPUS. >> ANOTHER COMMON THEME WAS STUDENTS WHO JEWISH STUDENTS WHO ARE SUPPORTING A CEASEFIRE. HOW ARE WE REACHING OUT TO OUR JEWISH STUDENTS WHO ARE PERHAPS UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE
DIFFERENTLY THAN MANY OF US? >> I THINK WE ARE ONE JEWISH PEOPLE. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS. I KNOW THAT’S A SHOCK. AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE MEMBERS OF EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY THAT STAND ON ONE END OF THE SPECTRUM OR IN THE MILLED.
AND WE HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE LOVE THEM AS JEWISH PEOPLE. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN THAT SPECTRUM, WE’RE GOING TO LOVE THEM AS JEWISH PEOPLE. THEN WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO SIT DOWN AND INVITE THEM. START WITH THEM ON A DIALOGUE OF SOMETHING THAT ISN’T SO TEARING
US APART AT THE SIDES AND TALK ABOUT A CLASS THAT WE ENJOY TOGETHER OR SOMETHING LIKE. THAT EASE INTO THESE CONVERSATIONS. I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT HILLEL. YOU CAN’T GO AFTER THEM AND SAY WE’RE GOING TO CONVINCE YOU YOU ARE WRONG.
THAT ISN’T GOING TO WORK. WITH KNOW THAT ISN’T GOING TO WORK. SO LET’S APPROACH IT THOUGHTFULLY. LET’S FIGURE OUT HOW TO ENGAGE ON A FRIENDLY BASIS. WE DON’T SHOW UP TO COUNTER PROTEST. WE SHOW UP TO WATCH. SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW TO ENGAGE INTELLIGENTLY IN
CONVERSATION WITH INDIVIDUALS, NOT WITH MOBS. >> THE JOKE THREE JEWS IN A ROOM 100 PINS. 100 OPINIONS. THERE IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT MINDSETS AND OPINIONS AMONGST JUST OUR JEWISH STUDENTS ON CAMPUS, LET ALONE THE REST OF COMMUNITY. BUT WHAT WE NEED TO IT RATE IN A POSITIVE WAY IS EDUCATION.
SO MANY YOUNG ADULTS ARE GETTING THEIR INFORMATION FROM TIK TOK AND OTHER FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA. AND WE DON’T EVEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE, BUT THE NEUTRAL PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND GIVING HISTORICAL ACCURACY AND HELPING THEM BUILD A FOUNDATION OF
KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION TO REALLY GO ABOUT MAKING THE RIGHT OPINION ON THE MATTER. AND SO THAT HAS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT FOCUS OF OLAMI. PRIOR TO OCTOBER 7 WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAM. AND THE GOAL WAS TO SHARE THE POSITIVES ABOUT JUDAISM IN A VERY HAPPY NEUTRAL WAY THAT WAS
CATERED TO THE COLLEGE CAMPUS COMMUNITY JEWS AND NON-JEWS ALIKE. WE’VE CONTINUED IT AFTER OCTOBET IS GOING ON AND GIVE THE BASIC EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE FOR STUDENTS BUILD THEIR OWN FOUNDATIONS OF TRUTH TO GO OUT AND MAKE THEIR OWN OPINIONS. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY SO THAT
WE’RE NOT ONLY RELYING ON TIK TOK FOR THEM TO CREATE THEIR OPINIONS, BUT WE’RE GIVING THEM REALLY THE FULL SCOPE OF WHAT THE FACTS ON THE GROUNDS E GROUND ARE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OPINIONS AND THEN HOLD TRUE TO THEM WHEREVER IT LIES. BY MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MAKE AN EDUCATED OPINION. >> I’M GOING TO GO TWO MORE QUESTIONS. THIS ONE IS FROM A STUDENT IN THE AUDIENCE. I FEEL LIKE SHOULD GET PRECEDENCE. AS A CURRENT JEWISH STUDENT ON COLLEGE CAMPUS, WHEN WE ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH OPPOSING VIEWS WE ARE NOT
LISTENED TO OR TAKEN SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY SAY OUR FACTS ARE UNTRUE PROPAGANDA. HOW SHOULD STUDENTS RESPOND TO THIS? >> A COUPLE OF THINGS. PART OF THIS QUESTION IS HOW DO ENGAGE IN CIVIL DIALOGUE. HOW DO YOU HAVE DISAGREEMENT? HOW DO YOU ENGAGE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS? PART OF THIS IS TEACHING
STUDENTS AND BY THE WAY ADMINISTRATION THE TOOLS IN WHICH YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THESE KINDS OF DIALOGUE ACROSS DIFFERENCE. I WANT TO REALLY STRESS WHAT THOM PUT OUT THERE. WE WORK WITH GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TRAINING OUR HILLEL PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENT LEADERS HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS WHEN YOU HAVE
DIALOGUE ACROSS DIFFERENCE AND WHERE YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS. AND THE SECOND PART IS EDUCATION. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE STARTING FROM TIK TOK AND WHERE IS THE AUTHENTIC INFORMATION I’M GETTING FROM. IT’S PART OF WHY HILLEL FOCUSES ON BRINGING EXTERNAL EXPERTS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF EDUCATORS THAT STUDENTS THEMSELVES CAN USE
THAT AND SAY I LEARNED THIS AT AND WHO I DID RECEIVE IT FROM. AND PART HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT. WE DID SURVEYS OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT’S SHOWN IS THE NUMBER ONE THING WE’RE SEEING FROM STUDENTS THEY WANT IS REAL EDUCATION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE STUDENTS
BOTH TO AUTHENTICALLY HOLD YOUR OWN WITH YOUR OWN VOICE AND TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON EXPERTS AT ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP VALIDATE WHAT IS FACTUAL INFORMATION. >> ONE MORE THING TO ADD. I SAW A FUNNY REEL ON INSTAGRAM. IT WAS CONTRASTING THE PALESTINIAN CRY TO ACTION FROM
THE RIVER TO THE SEA TO THE JEWISH CALL TO ACTION WHICH IS OFTEN WAIT, LET ME GIVE YOU THE HISTORY. IN 1948 THIS HAPPENED AND THIS HAPPENED AND WAIT I HAVE MORE TO SHARE WITH YOU. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU CAN’T REASON WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.
AND AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DIALOGUE AND COMMUNICATION, IT’S JUST I THINK SOMEONE ON THE PANEL EARLIER SAID YOU COULD HAVE A PH.D. AND AND NOT. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE NEUTRALS, THE STUDENTS HAVE NOT FORMED THEIR OPINION. THAT’S WHERE EDUCATION COMES
INTO PLAY FOR BOTH THE JIBE AND NON-JEWISH STUDENTS ON CAMPUS. THAT’S WHERE THE PEOPLE ON THIS PANEL HAS DONE EXTRAORDINARY WORK TO EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE. >> THANK YOU. LAST QUESTION. EVERYONE CAN ANSWER. WHAT CAN RABBIS, DONORS, PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM DO TO SUPPORT COLLEGE STUDENTS? >> PROBABLY THE EASIEST QUESTION
AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED. STAND UP, STAND PROUD, STAND LOUD, USE YOUR VOICE. JONATHAN SAID THIS MORNING IN THE SESSION USE YOUR CHECKBOOK, USE YOUR CONGRESS PEOPLE, USE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU TO MAKE YOURSELF HEARD AND PUT THAT VOICE AND PUT THAT SUPPORT BEHIND STUDENTS.
I’M GOING TO MAKE A QUICK CAVEAT BECAUSE I’M SITTING HERE AND WE HAVE THESE GROUPS. WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS ALSO IN ISRAEL. WE’RE PARTNERS WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED MOSAIC CAPITAL. THEY NUNSED A $1 MILLION FUND TO FUND SMALL ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEAL WITH STUDENTS ON CAMPUS AND THESE ISSUES. THERE IS MORE AVAILABLE OUT
THERE THAN EVER. ACCESS IT. YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO TALK TO CALL ONE OF US. REACH OUT AND SAY HOW DO I DO MORE, WE WILL TELL YOU. >> JUST TWO THINGS I WANT TO ADD TO THAT. CHECK IN WITH YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT IF YOU HAVE ONE ON
CAMPUS IF IT’S YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD. DON’T START WITH I SAW THIS ON. ASK THEM HOW THEY ARE DOING FIRST. ONE, LET THEM LEAD THE CONVERSATION. TOO OFTEN WE BRING THE ISSUES TO THEM RATHER THAN HEARING FROM THEM. AND THE SAME GOES FOR YOUR CAMPUS PROFESSIONAL. WHOEVER YOU ARE CONNECTED WITH.
START BY CHECKING IN ON THEM. THEY ARE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK AND THEY NEED TO KNOW. I’LL SAY IT AGAIN. THEY NEED TO KNOW THE JEWISH COMMUNITY STANDS BEHIND THEM. >> A FEW YEARS AGO AT WE WERE TRACKING NUMBERS AND WE STARTED NOTICING THAT ALTHOUGH WE WERE DOING AMAZING WORK ON CAMPUS OUR
NUMBERS WERE NOT INCREASING. WE TRIED DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AND INITIATIVES TO TRY TO INCREASE INVOLVEMENT. YEAR AFTER YEAR IT WAS KIND OF WE HIT A GLASS CEILING. AND WE REALIZED IT’S BECAUSE WE ARE THE GLASS SEALING IS A RESULT OF STAFFING. WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO GO AROUND THE WORLD.
WE HAVE 300 LOCATIONS. WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO MAN NOT JUST THE LOCATIONS BUT TO BUILD THOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HOLD SO DEARLY TO OUR MISSION. AND WE WERE KIND OF AT A STAND STILL. WHAT SHOULD WE DO? WE KNOW WHAT OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD THIS JEWISH PRIDE AND
ENGAGE AMONGST YOUNG JEWS. HOW CAN WE REACH IT. WE REALIZED WE’RE SITTING ON THE BEST ASSET. WE HAVE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND HOW CAN WE TAP INTO THIS ASSET TO HELP US WITH OUR GOALS TO HELP YOUNG JEWS CONNECT TO UNIT AND HAVE THAT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP? IT’S THREW OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY.
WE SET UP A ROBUST MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF MENTORSHIPS SUSPECT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WITH STUDENTS CONNECTED WITH JEWISH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE THERE TO LOOK OUT FOR THEM. IT’S BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLE PROGRAM. I SAY THIS ALL BECAUSE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE AN ARMY OUT THERE. IF WE CAN ACTIVATE HOUR PEOPLE, WE WILL BE IN ALE BETTER PLACE AND BE HAPPIER AND STRONGER FOR THAT. >> I’VE SEEN A LOT OF ALUMNI REACH OUT. HOW CAN I HELP MY CHAPTER AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM. WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF SMALL TOWN
HALL CONVERSATIONS WITH CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE BROTHERS WITH ALUMNI. I ALWAYS TELL ALUMNI F YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO CAMPUS, WE’LL BRING YOU BACK TO CAMPUS AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. THE STUDENTS NEED YOU. AS WE’VE ALL SAID, THE STUDENTS NEED OUR SUPPORT MORE THAN EVER RIGHT NOW.
AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE CONNECTION TO COLLEGE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS OR AN ORGANIZATION ON COLLEGE CAMPUS, PLEASE LET ONE OF US KNOW. WE’RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP GET YOU CONNECTED TO A CAMPUS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IN YOUR STATE ETC. BUT THE 18-22-YEAR-OLDS. THE 18-26-YEAR-OLDS. THEY NEED US RIGHT NOW.
AND I RECOMMEND STANDING UP AND GOING TO CAMPUS AND SEEING WHAT THE JEWISH STUDENTS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. THEY NEED AND WE ALL NEED YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR HANGING WAS FOR A FEW EXTRA MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU TO MY PANELISTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
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