Director's Letter
December 20, 2024
Dear Friends,
The effects of October 7 and the Israel-Hamas war have shattered the lives of tens of thousands in Israel, Gaza, and across the Middle East. Antisemitism, with Israel as its center, has risen significantly and captured the public discourse. In the wake of the war, our longstanding focus on studying the relationship of diaspora Jews to Israel and their perceptions and experiences of antisemitism—particularly on college campuses—has gained urgency. In the past year, we have published four reports examining antisemitism on campus. Our most recent report, the third in a series on the experiences of Jewish students, focuses on the voices of Jewish students and Jewish campus professionals from Hillel and Chabad.
The report uses interview and survey data to understand how the day-to-day lives of Jewish undergraduates were affected in the aftermath of October 7. The report highlights how the hostility experienced by Jewish students impacted their social relationships, academic studies, and sense of belonging. The report also sheds light on the role of Hillel and Chabad professionals in supporting Jewish students and their work with university administrators and concerned parents. We hope that this report and our previous studies will be helpful in supporting Jewish students and addressing antisemitism on campus.
I am also very pleased to announce that Abe Foxman has joined CMJS this year as a Visiting Professor of the Practice. For nearly 30 years, Abe led the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and is, perhaps, the best-known spokesperson in efforts to combat antisemitism. He is a Holocaust survivor whose life work has been to eliminate prejudice and discrimination. I am privileged to call Abe a friend and mentor. He will work with us to help make our academic research more useful to policy makers, communal professionals, and the public.
As we approach the end of the secular year, and as many of us begin the celebration of Chanukah, I hope that we can find more light than darkness in the world. Together we wish for a year of peace and health.
Chag sameach, 
Leonard Saxe, PhD
Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies and Social Policy
Director, Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis University