One Year Later: Reflections on Antisemitism, Activism and the Campus Divide Since October 7
As the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel approaches this Monday, many are reflecting on its impact on both Israel as well as the diaspora, particularly on college campuses. Antisemitism has become increasingly visible, and students have felt its weight. Consequently, the reluctance for Jewish students to express their identities has grown, stemming from a climate where hostility often feels normalized. Tensions are especially high after the recent ballistic attack on Israel from Iran.
While not everyone holds antisemitic views, the insistence by some that protests have been entirely peaceful overlooks some of the troubling elements that have emerged. As anyone who has ever been targeted by hateful action or speech knows, there is nothing more upsetting than being told by perpetrators of the offensive conduct how you should perceive or internalize it.
Students living in the United States have grown to be afraid to express who they are and have been made to feel ashamed about being Jewish or having a strong affinity for Israel.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” “There is only one solution, intifada revolution!” Students often heard these chants throughout campus last year, and expect to hear them again on October 7, a day on which many are fearful to be on campus, as protests and student walkouts have already been planned.
NYU SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine) took to Instagram in the post linked above to urge attendance in their walkout:
“Monday, October 7th, marks one year since Israel began its genocide of Gaza and the West Bank. Over 186,000 Palestinians in Gaza alone have been murdered. 10,700 Palestinians have been illegally detained and tortured in Israeli prisons. We refuse to be silent, we refuse to be complicit, and we refuse to shut our eyes and attend class while there are zero universities left in Gaza. Join us in refusing to turn a blind eye while Israel continues its colonial project beyond the borders of Palestine and into Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
We demand:
1. Disclosure and divestment from all companies investing in the Israeli genocide.
2. The cutting of all ties with Tel Aviv University, and the ending of all affiliated institutional trips to apartheid Israel.
3. NYPD officers off of NYU’s campus.
4. The protection of Pro-Palestinian speech on NYU’s campus.”
Protestors implore students to partake in an intifada. The word “Intifada” translates to “uprising” and is used to describe times of intense Palestinian protest against Israel, mainly in the form of violent terrorism. It culminated in attacks targeting civilians on buses, in restaurants and on the streets in which over 1,000 Israelis were murdered in cold blood.
The fad of chanting “intifada” has become a catalyst for the use of the term “zionist” to shame pro-Israel protesters. Comparisons of Zionists to Nazis have been made. By seeking to dehumanize those with strong allegiance to Israel, it becomes easier to disparage and denigrate them publicly.
Many Pro-Palestinian demonstrators are advocating for the humanitarian concerns in Gaza, and the conditions there have been described as a “humanitarian crisis.” The loss of innocent lives, both Palestinian and Israeli, is concerning. Seeing the images of Palestinian civilians living in the streets and the difficult circumstances that they face daily is worrisome, and many pro-Israel people would agree.
While this is a conflict that seems to have no resolution in sight, I believe that those on both sides of it can see eye to eye in some way - that a person can support both Israeli and Palestinian rights simultaneously – as one should.
Not all demonstrators are ill-intended, but people can be misguided or misdirected. Only by fostering understanding and empathy, can we work towards a peaceful resolution that respects the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. Engaging in shouting matches, using racist tropes and denigrating a group based on their religious affiliation will not achieve the desired outcome. People must be prepared to listen, which is the intent behind the new NYU in Dialogue program launched by NYU. For example, on Tuesday September 17, NYU hosted “Shared Grief, Shared Hope: Holding Onto Humanity,” during which “bereaved families from Israel and Palestine [came] together to share stories and unpack their decision to work through dialogue rather than revenge.”
Protesters hold signs such as this during protests in Washington Square Park which read, "Long Live the Intifada," calling for uprisings against Israel.
Group-think, reciting chants derived from terrorist regimes and engaging in personal attacks merely entrench positions and prolong conflict. Of course, human beings are imperfect, and statements are occasionally made in the heat of the moment. However, if we fail to learn and improve, if we continue to further attack and diminish one another, the objective of a lasting peace will be ever more elusive.
Yadin Gellman, Israeli actor and October 7 soldier and survivor spoke at the NYU Hillel Bronfman Center on September 26. After recovering from serious injuries inflicted on him by Hamas terrorists during his military duties, he has been traveling to different universities in the United States to speak to college students about his story. In an interview with The NYU Review, Gellman said, “the biggest problem is that you cannot talk about anything [due to] being canceled and being labeled as something and that is the biggest fear…. If you don’t have conversation, the only thing that is left is violence.”
Events like NYU in Dialogue highlight the importance of different perspectives and dialogue, as well as meaningful conversations regarding the most important issues of today.
Freedom of speech is a pillar of our democracy, intended to shield those who might otherwise be attacked for their views. It is not intended to be used as a sword— to incite violence, propagate hate or silence others. When it is used in this manner, a line has been crossed— a line all too prevalent in authoritarian regimes where the loudest and most vitriolic voices become the only voices heard.
Gellman says, “I believe in peace. I want peace with Palestinians. I think that we have to learn how to have peace because we live side-by-side…even though I have been through war and battle and my friends have died, I still fight for peace.”
The anniversary of the October 7 attack is nearing and I myself realize the change I have experienced over the past year. I was previously weary of openly expressing my Judaism. Now, the hatred of others will not consume me, and I will not hide my identity. I am committed to seeking peace in the Middle East— without the ongoing threat of terrorism and where cooperation can be fostered through meaningful dialogue. This starts with acknowledging the humanity on both sides, and eschewing those who indoctrinate hatred of others— a hatred that has become all too normalized on our college campuses.
NYU Spokesman John Beckman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.