If you’re beginning your first year of college or returning for your sophomore or junior year, you might be feeling first-day jitters ahead of move-in day.
Besides anxiety about making friends, moving away, and leaving high school behind, for many Jewish students, this school year might evoke worry amid the spike of antisemitism on college campuses last spring.
Many campuses’ anti-Israel protests got out of hand, veering from criticism of the war in Gaza into explicit antisemitism. Students recalled being alienated for their Judaism, harassed, prevented from accessing campus for being Jewish, and encouraged to flee colleges by Jewish leaders on campus.
College can and should be some of the best years of your life: Here’s some advice for the Jewish Class of 2028 to ensure that happens.
- Make an effort to find a Jewish community on campus
Jewish student unions, Jewish sororities and fraternities, and Hillel houses are great resources for Jewish students looking to find community on campus. If you’re looking to make Jewish life a central part of your college experience, these organizations are great opportunities to meet Jewish students, take part in Jewish philanthropy, and make friends with similar backgrounds.
More than your standard Jewish life clubs, many campuses have Jewish a cappella groups, Israeli societies, weekly challah bakes, Jewish advocacy organizations, and even Shabbat clubs to play board games, go on walks, and do other Shabbat-friendly activities.
However, for many students, campus Jewish life may not be the right fit. It’s important to know that if there isn’t Jewish life on your campus or it doesn’t fit your vibe, look to the local community off campus. In many college towns, there are synagogues, Chabad houses, or Jewish meeting places that might make you feel at home.
Jewish community is wherever you make it, so if you want something less formal, invite friends to your dorm for Shabbat dinner and make your own Jewish community events on campus.
Even though it might feel isolating to be a Jewish student right now, or even just a Jew in the world, it’s important to know that others feel the same way.
If you ever feel isolated, speak to people on campus (or even your support system at home) about those feelings. Very likely, it is just homesickness and a hard transition to a new environment. But knowing you have people who love and support you will make all the difference.
- Explore your Jewish identity
While you became an “adult” in the eyes of the Jewish people at 12 or 13, this is likely the first time you’ll be a Jewish adult on your own.
College is a great time to begin exploring what you want your Jewish identity to look like as an adult.
These four years are a perfect time to question the practices you do and why you do them. You’ll gain more meaning and understanding when you do this level of investigation — it’ll feel very Talmudic scholaresque! You’ll find more fulfillment when you begin doing these practices of your own volition rather than just because you grew up doing them. Choosing what kind of Judaism works for you is an important part of growing up.
Many people gain a lot from exploring different denominations of Judaism during college, whether that’s finding practices that better reflect their beliefs better or simply learning more about different traditions. Go to a different type of service with a friend or try lighting Shabbat candles for the first time, you might really find meaning in the experience.
Traditions that might speak to your family may not reflect your beliefs, so figuring out ways to get you more excited about being engaged is instrumental to determining your own Jewish identity.
- Put your mental health first
It’s a tragedy that we live in a world where students need to prepare for antisemitism. However, it’s best to be ready for these incidents, whether it’s a protest gone rogue, a professor spewing tropes, or even losing a friend.
It is not your job to educate others; you do not have to do it unless you want to. Some people are not willing to learn or be corrected, so it’s integral that you know when your energy could be better used elsewhere.
It’s important to know what kind of person you are and what you want your four years in college to look like. If that is becoming an activist on campus, that should be celebrated. It’s amazing that you’ve found a cause worth fighting for. However, if you are not interested in getting political in college, that’s also perfectly OK. Focus on your ambitions and mental health first and foremost.
Put the focus on your well-being and know when to disengage, either in person or online. Setting boundaries with yourself and others will reduce mental strain and make it easier to enjoy your classes and friendships.
Prioritize your mental health and embrace Jewish joy. Reading a book or trying a new recipe can always help you destress.
Read more: Self-care tips when the news gets too overwhelming
- Flaunt your Judaism in a way that feels authentic
Now that you’re decorating your dorm and likely bought a new wardrobe, you should invest in some new Jewish items.
Buying some fun, new Judaica can bring you a lot of happiness — and likely many compliments. Look at artisans who reflect your style to buy pieces for everyday wear or Shabbat. The same goes for purchasing a tricked-out mezuzah or even a beautiful siddur.
Having Jewish items that reflect your personality and that you’re buying for your own volition will make utilizing these pieces more exciting. Nothing is better than that new Shabbat outfit feeling!
If you do not feel comfortable being publicly Jewish on your campus, that is also entirely reasonable. Consider buying some crypto-Judaica (Jewish-themed jewelry that isn’t overtly Jewish) and putting a mezuzah on the inside of your door. Your comfort needs to be your priority.
- Read the news — and check your sources
Honing in on your fact-checking skills and media literacy is an integral part of living in the age of social media.
Unfortunately, Jewish students often bear an undue burden of being the primary fact-checkers for misinformation about the Israel-Hamas conflict. It is important for your own knowledge, as you will frequently encounter libels and misinformation, and for the benefit of your classmates, to be well-informed about the history of Israel and the Gaza conflict so you can share accurate information.
Moreover, news stories about Jewish people often go unreported and unshared, so spend time spreading the news about what is going on with Jewish people globally.
By stepping up to educate your peers or by immersing yourself in learning more about the Jewish community, you’ll not only feel better prepared to inform others but also be more connected to the Jewish people.
- Learn your rights as a student
It’s important for any student to understand their rights. Familiarize yourself with the policies and offices at your university that handle cases of antisemitism, and also learn more about national Title VI regulations and the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism that was rolled out this year.
Your university may also have a specific task force or published action plans for instances of antisemitism or other forms of prejudice. You’ll likely feel much more at ease knowing that solutions are in place.
It’s important to report instances of antisemitism you experience or witness. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or report it to university or local authorities, staff members at your college’s Jewish life center, or a religious official you trust because they are here to help you.
Reporting an incident can be daunting, but you’re helping other students of Jewish and other marginalized backgrounds by speaking up. Don’t remain a bystander to antisemitism; the more evidence universities receive, the greater the pressure will be to address and change these issues.
- Be an ally
Between campus jobs, clubs, classwork, and simply getting enough sleep, it’s hard not to focus on your everyday tasks and responsibilities. However, you should check in with your friends and let them know you’re always there to talk when they need to.
Make sure that you check in often and not only when things are tense because you don’t know what they’re going through.
However, especially when tensions on campus are high, your Jewish friends may also feel isolated and scared. Ensure they know they always have a confidante and a listening ear.
Look outward beyond the Jewish community as well. Discrimination comes in all forms, so showing your support for others facing hate on campus is important. Be the change you wish to see in your community and make the first step toward allyship.
Originally Published Aug 14, 2024 09:00AM EDT
