The assault, which occurred on October 7, targeted Israeli military bases, civilian areas, and a festival, leading to a tragic toll of approximately 1,400 deaths and 240 kidnappings.
The assault, which occurred on October 7, targeted Israeli military bases, civilian areas, and a festival, leading to a tragic toll of approximately 1,400 deaths and 240 kidnappings.
Two Jewish students from New York colleges have recently vocalized their distress and insecurity due to a rise of antisemitic sentiments on their campuses following a fatal attack by Hamas on Israel last month. The assault, which occurred on October 7, targeted Israeli military bases, civilian areas, and a festival, leading to the death of approximately 1,400 people, and the kidnapping of 240 more.
In an interview with “America Reports,” Bella Ingber of New York University (NYU) and Yola Ashkenazie of Barnard College shared the atmosphere they’re experiencing.
“Being a Jew at NYU right now is scary. We are seeing an uptick in anti-Israel protests that are turning antisemitic. There are signs that read ‘globalize the Intifada,’ which is a historical call for the extermination of Jews and call for violence against Jews,” Ingber, a student at the university, said.
According to Ingber, protests against Israel have escalated into antisemitic displays, with slogans and chants that call for violence against Jews, a reality that has left many students in shock and fear.
Ingber said that Jewish people are hearing chants of “gas the Jews” and “Hitler was right,” leaving students terrified.
“As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, these statements being thrown around so carelessly and thoughtlessly are extremely harmful,” she said.
The historical context of these chants and slogans evokes particularly painful memories for those like Ingber, who is a descendant of Holocaust survivors. She notes the disparity in reactions when similar hate is directed at other minority groups compared to when Jews are targeted, pointing out a concerning silence or lack of action in response to antisemitism.
“We are seeing a constant contextualization and justification of Hamas’ brutal terror attack at NYU. If this was any other minority group on any college campus or anywhere else in the world, everyone would be up in flames. There would be condemnation everywhere, and when it comes to Jews, the world is silent.”
At Barnard College, the situation is equally unsettling. After President Laura Rosenbury announced enhanced security measures due to several concerning incidents on campus, some faculty members openly criticized her stance against antisemitism. Ashkenazie expressed alarm over the faculty’s opposition to condemning antisemitism and highlighted the incongruity of the group, Students for Justice in Palestine, inviting speakers who have endorsed past violent uprisings.
“I’m scared and disgusted by this faculty who are saying that condemning antisemitism is something that should be looked down upon. It’s ridiculous,” Ashkenazie said.
She pointed out that the Students for Justice in Palestine group had arranged to host a speaker who, according to her, “praised the second Intifada, something where there were suicide bombers who came into Israel, and they’re allowing this man to preach to our students on our campus? It’s disgusting.”
These sentiments have not only been confined to protests but have found their way into academic settings. Faculty letters from Columbia University and Barnard have come to light, revealing support for narratives that downplay the severity of Hamas’ actions in the recent attack, which both students find deeply troubling.
Ashkenazie was particularly outspoken about the horror of the attacks by Hamas, stating that the actions taken on October 7 were in clear violation of the accepted rules of war.
“It’s horrible, and knowing that these are the professors who are educating our students in my university is so scary,” Ashkenazie said.
“The rape of women, the burning of babies, the beheading of babies — none of that is war. There are rules to war, and Hamas broke every single one of those rules on October 7, and anyone who calls this just another part of this ongoing war is naïve,” she added.
The students’ testimonies underscore a fear that the ideological battlefields on campus have taken a dangerous turn towards normalizing violence and hate speech against Jews, an issue that demands urgent attention and action from both academic institutions and the wider community.
