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Why Defending Jewish Students on Campus Is Everyone’s Responsibility
George Washington University students assembled at the campus’ Kogan Plaza on Oct. 9, 2023 to mourn those who died during Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. Photo: Dion J. Pierre/The Algemeiner
In today’s world, the question of Jewish identity is no longer confined to synagogues or family gatherings — it’s now a question that echoes across college campuses.
With incidents of antisemitism on the rise — including violent attacks on Jews — many of our students find themselves facing an unimaginable choice: Do I proudly express my Jewish identity or hide it out of fear?
This question deeply impacts not only these young students, but the future of our entire community.
Recently, two brave students at the University of Pittsburgh, Ilan Gordon and Asher Goodwin, found themselves attacked on their way to a Shabbat dinner. But rather than retreat, they stood their ground — physically and spiritually.
Despite the violence they faced, these young men proudly stated that they were not victims and reaffirmed their commitment to living openly as Jews. Their courage is a beacon of hope, a reminder that our young people are not just surviving — they are thriving and leading.
The story of Ilan and Asher isn’t an isolated incident. Across college campuses, Jewish students are rising to the occasion. They are choosing to wear their kippahs, attending Jewish events, and holding fast to their Jewish identity in the face of growing hostility.
And these brave students and warriors — students like Ilan and Asher — will define the future of Jewish life.
These students are not just the next generation of Jewish leaders — they are the future of the Jewish people. What happens on college campuses today will shape the Jewish community of tomorrow. Their experiences, the challenges they face, and the strength they muster will ripple far beyond the walls of the university and into the fabric of Jewish life for generations to come.
Our responsibility is clear: we must ensure that these students feel supported, both physically and spiritually.
At Chabad on Campus, we are doing everything we can to provide a safe and welcoming environment where students can proudly live their Judaism. Whether it’s advocating for stronger security measures, like we are doing at the University of Pittsburgh, or creating vibrant Jewish communities where students can connect with their heritage, we are dedicated to empowering Jewish students to embrace their identity.
But our efforts go beyond physical safety. Our goal is to inspire a lifelong connection to Judaism that students will carry with them far into the future. The values of kindness, charity, and love for Israel that they learn through their experiences on campus will guide them as they become leaders in their own communities and the world.
When Ilan and Asher walked into Chabad after their attack, they were met with a warm meal, the love of their fellow students, and a night filled with song and Jewish pride. It was a moment that exemplified the resilience and beauty of Jewish life.
These students didn’t just survive — they were strengthened by their experiences, leaving with an even deeper connection to their heritage and a renewed sense of purpose.
This is what makes our work at Chabad on Campus so essential. We are not just helping Jewish students get through a challenging time — we are shaping the future of the Jewish people. Every student who chooses to stand tall in their Jewish identity, who wears their Magen David necklace or who attends a Shabbat dinner with pride, is a testament to the strength of our community.
We must remember that these students are not isolated individuals — they are our future.
So, if anyone asks, “Why should I care about what’s happening on campus?” remind them: It’s not just about a few students at a university. It is about the future of the Jewish community and, ultimately, the future of the world.
What happens on campus today will shape who we are tomorrow. We owe it to our present to ensure they have a future.
Chazak — be strong and courageous. Together, we will ensure that our students — and the Jewish people — continue to thrive.
Rabbi Yossy Gordon is the CEO of Chabad on Campus International.
The post Why Defending Jewish Students on Campus Is Everyone’s Responsibility first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Germany: 5 Killed, Scores Wounded after Saudi Man Plows Car Into Christmas crowd
Magdeburg Christmas market, December 21, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Christian Mang
i24 News – A suspected terrorist plowed a vehicle into a crowd at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg, west of the capital Berlin, killing at least five and injuring dozens more.
Local police confirmed that the suspect was a Saudi national born in 1974 and acting alone.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his concern about the incident, saying that “reports from Magdeburg suggest something bad. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
Police declined to give casualty numbers, confirming only a large-scale operation at the market, where people had gathered to celebrate in the days leading up to the Christmas holidays.
The post Germany: 5 Killed, Scores Wounded after Saudi Man Plows Car Into Christmas crowd first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Syria’s New Rulers Name HTS Commander as Defense Minister
A person waves a flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers, as people gather during a celebration called by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) near the Umayyad Mosque, after the ousting of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Photo: December 20, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo
Syria’s new rulers have appointed Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency which toppled Bashar al-Assad, as defense minister in the interim government, an official source said on Saturday.
Abu Qasra, who is also known by the nom de guerre Abu Hassan 600, is a senior figure in the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group which led the campaign that ousted Assad this month. He led numerous military operations during Syria’s revolution, the source said.
Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa discussed “the form of the military institution in the new Syria” during a meeting with armed factions on Saturday, state news agency SANA reported.
Abu Qasra during the meeting sat next to Sharaa, also known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, photos published by SANA showed.
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said this week that the defense ministry would be restructured using former rebel factions and officers who defected from Assad’s army.
Bashir, who formerly led an HTS-affiliated administration in the northwestern province of Idlib, has said he will lead a three-month transitional government. The new administration has not declared plans for what will happen after that.
Earlier on Saturday, the ruling General Command named Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister, SANA said. A source in the new administration told Reuters that this step “comes in response to the aspirations of the Syrian people to establish international relations that bring peace and stability.”
Shibani, a 37-year-old graduate of Damascus University, previously led the political department of the rebels’ Idlib government, the General Command said.
Sharaa’s group was part of al Qaeda until he broke ties in 2016. It had been confined to Idlib for years until going on the offensive in late November, sweeping through the cities of western Syria and into Damascus as the army melted away.
Sharaa has met with a number of international envoys this week. He has said his primary focus is on reconstruction and achieving economic development and that he is not interested in engaging in any new conflicts.
Syrian rebels seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war and ending his family’s decades-long rule.
Washington designated Sharaa a terrorist in 2013, saying al Qaeda in Iraq had tasked him with overthrowing Assad’s rule and establishing Islamic sharia law in Syria. US officials said on Friday that Washington would remove a $10 million bounty on his head.
The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people, caused one of the biggest refugee crises of modern times and left cities bombed to rubble and the economy hollowed out by global sanctions.
The post Syria’s New Rulers Name HTS Commander as Defense Minister first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Sweden Ends Funding for UNRWA, Pledges to Seek Other Aid Channels
View of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) building in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib / Flash90.
i24 News – Sweden will no longer fund the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) and will instead provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza via other channels, the Scandinavian country said on Friday.
The decision comes on the heels of multiple revelations regarding the agency’s employees’ involvement in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.
Sweden’s decision was in response to the Israeli ban, as it will make channeling aid via the agency more difficult, the country’s aid minister, Benjamin Dousa, said.
“Large parts of UNRWA’s operations in Gaza are either going to be severely weakened or completely impossible,” Dousa said. “For the government, the most important thing is that support gets through.”
The Palestinian embassy in Stockholm said in a statement: “We reject the idea of finding alternatives to UNRWA, which has a special mandate to provide services to Palestinian refugees.”
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel thanked Dousa for a meeting they had this week and for Sweden’s decision to drop its support for UNRWA.
“There are worthy and viable alternatives for humanitarian aid, and I appreciate the willingness to listen and adopt a different approach,” she said.
The post Sweden Ends Funding for UNRWA, Pledges to Seek Other Aid Channels first appeared on Algemeiner.com.