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Jewish teens prepare to combat antisemitism on campus with history, humor and courage
Jewish Student Union (JSU) club presidents from across the US gathered for a three-day conference to prepare for antisemitism at school and on future university campuses. Organisers said the clubs provide community and help students build confidence to reach peers, while speakers shared their experiences and encouraged students to speak up.
JSU began at a California high school and has since grown to more than 500 clubs, according to managing director Rabbi Derek Gormin; the clubs are run by teens. Speakers included student activist Hillel Kornwasser and former University of California, Santa Barbara student body president Tessa Veksler, who described facing harassment after the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel. Veksler said she hoped students would see that speaking out can bring more to gain than to lose.
In short
- Jewish teens met to prepare for antisemitism at school and university.
- JSU has grown to more than 500 student-run clubs.
- Speakers shared personal experiences and urged students to speak up.
Explained simply
Antisemitism means hostility or prejudice towards Jewish people. It has a long history and can appear in schools and universities as insults, exclusion or harassment. Jewish Student Union clubs are student-run groups that offer Jewish pupils a place to meet and help them connect with classmates.
The Jewish Student Union began at a high school in California and now has more than 500 clubs across the United States, according to its managing director, Rabbi Derek Gormin. Student activist Hillel Kornwasser and former student leader Tessa Veksler are among those who have spoken to club members about their experiences. Their accounts reflect the challenges some Jewish students describe facing after the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel, and why support and confidence to speak with peers can matter.