In the past year alone, the percentage of Jewish students nationwide who said they feel comfortable with others on campus knowing they are Jewish dropped by almost half. A plurality of Jewish students no longer feel physically safe on their college campuses. Talk to Jewish students at WashU, however, and you will find a community strengthened, not weakened, engaged, not discouraged. Brazenly proud. As this year’s High Holidays have come and gone, WashU students reflect on celebrating the year’s holiest days in a troubling national environment.

I can only imagine the fear young Jewish college students felt when they were abruptly shaken from their studies to such violent chanting by unknown strangers who had descended upon their campus.

MeToo WashU, an advocacy Instagram account for survivors of sexual violence, has become a microcosm of the larger tensions on campus around Israel and Palestine following two posts published on its account, Nov. 29 and Dec. 11. 

Washington University Chabad and Hillel held an event on Monday, Nov. 27 to raise awareness for hostages that were taken by Hamas on Oct. 7. 

Roughly 800 Washington University students and community members gathered for a candlelight vigil organized by multiple Jewish student organizations to honor those who lost their lives in the latest Israel-Hamas War over the past week, Oct. 12. 

I want to make this (Jewish) new year a time of no lost chances. If I try something and I fail or make a fool of myself, I get to look at it as a learning opportunity or a time to laugh. I don’t want to regret missed opportunities. 

Roughly 120 viewers attended the panel, which featured a handful of Jewish speakers discussing issues ranging from the historical roots of antisemitism to the whitewashing of the Jewish community. Student Life sat down with sophomore Orly Einhorn to discuss her motivations for organizing the panel and what she took away from it.

When sophomore Scott Massey learned that students wouldn’t be returning to Washington University this semester, his immediate thought was to connect with his campus religious community. One of the main reform service leaders at Hillel, Massey quickly texted Rabbi Jordan Gerson to express interest in creating a form of worship experience over the internet.

Holocaust survivor Rachel Miller urged Washington University students to keep stories of the Holocaust alive at a Hillel event commemorating Kristallnacht Nov. 9.

Holocaust survivor Boris Kotler recounted his experiences living through World War II in occupied Poland at Hillel Saturday.