A $1 million emergency initiative aimed at strengthening Jewish students in key countries across Europe and Latin America in response to unprecedented levels of antisemitism worldwide was launched by the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry and Mosaic United, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Since October 7, Jewish students have found themselves at the center of a growing storm of antisemitic activity, including assault, social excommunication, hostility from faculty, and aggressive anti-Israel protests. Even during the recent ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, students reported no lull in antisemitism on campus.
“On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, three Jewish students in France came to campus to hang posters of hostages, including Kfir Bibas. That evening, they were physically attacked,” said Natasha Habel, a Jewish student from France.
“Despite complaints to the police and meetings with the dean, no real condemnation followed, and student organizations remained almost entirely silent. Jewish students are afraid to attend certain classes. This has been the reality since October 7.”
As part of the emergency initiative, six organizations operating in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Mexico, and Argentina received funding to implement support programs. The organizations include World Mizrachi, ScienceAbroad, WUJS, and YStreet, which are focused on bolstering personal safety, creating safe spaces on campuses, providing students with tools to confront antisemitism, and enhancing Israeli public diplomacy efforts.
Dealing with antisemitism
“We met with the families of hostages. It was a powerful moment,” said Jonathan Ladarola, a student from the University of Adelaide in Australia. “Their pain made it clear how critical our visibility is in the academic world. This isn’t just about campus debates – it’s about ensuring their voices are heard and that we never turn our backs on them.”
More than 3,430 Jewish students in Europe have already participated in the initiative’s various programs. Thirty-five took part in special delegations to Israel, and seven leadership conferences were held to connect Jewish students from different countries and help them develop strategies for fighting antisemitism and reclaiming their place on campus.
However, data shows that much work remains. A report from the European Union of Jewish Students documented over 110 antisemitic incidents on campuses since October 7 – many of which go unreported.
In the UK, the Community Security Trust reported a steep rise in campus antisemitism, with 272 incidents over the past year – five times the average of previous years. Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that many Jewish students feel isolated and unsafe on campus.
“The emergency programs have provided students with critical tools to deal with the crisis, but the battle is far from over,” Mosaic United said.