On Monday, November 11th, the M.D. Katz JLIC at Tel Aviv University, directed by Rabbi Eitan and Elana Phillips, hosted an impactful event titled “Israel Discussion Forum: Confronting Antisemitism on Campus.” This event responded to a troubling surge in antisemitic incidents globally, particularly after the October 7th attack by Hamas. Students gathered for the forum, eager to explore ways to address this pressing issue.
The featured speaker, Michal Cotler-Wunsh, an Israeli politician and diplomat serving as Israel’s Special Envoy on Combating Antisemitism, delivered a powerful address to the roughly 50 students in attendance. Cotler-Wunsh shared a nuanced analysis of the overlapping challenges facing the Jewish community, both on campuses and beyond, providing insights into the complex dynamics of antisemitism today. Her speech tied together various dimensions of recent Jewish history and current events, including the October 7th tragedy, ongoing campus protests, antisemitic attacks worldwide, Israel’s resilience, and the enduring impact of the Holocaust. She also discussed the shifting perceptions of Zionism in today’s cultural discourse.
One student reflected afterward, saying, “Her presentation connected so many pieces of the Jewish experience over the past year. She showed us how everything from the October 7th attack to the UN controversies and protests on campuses are all part of a larger picture of both resilience and challenge. It opened my eyes to how deeply these issues intersect.”
Elana Phillips noted the overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, many of whom engaged Cotler-Wunsh in a Q&A session after the formal presentation. Students expressed concerns about navigating the institutional biases they often encounter at their home universities and asked for guidance on handling interactions with anti-Zionist Jewish groups in the U.S. Some even questioned the efficacy of speaking up in a space where anti-Israel sentiment often feels overpowering. Cotler-Wunsh, in response, emphasized the need for consistent efforts to dismantle harmful narratives, saying, “Even when it’s difficult, we have to try.”
The event concluded with students sharing sushi and conversations, reflecting on their roles as young Jewish advocates. Many left feeling more equipped to approach these complex issues with a renewed understanding of the interconnected nature of antisemitism, and with a determination to contribute to positive change on their campuses and beyond.
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