Ensuring a safe return to schools and campuses is essential for all Canadians

Back to school should be a time filled with excitement about the year ahead, a fresh start. However, for Jewish students and teachers, given the antisemitism they faced since October 7th, the return to school this year may instead be especially difficult.

The landscape of antisemitism has shifted dramatically since October 7th, casting a dark shadow over the lives of Jewish students, faculty and staff across Canadian universities and public schools. As they saw their campuses taken over by protests, encampments, hateful chants and displays of antisemitic slogans, it’s understandable that many Jewish students are apprehensive about the return to school.

And unfortunately, the rise of antisemitism isn’t only on our university campuses. Children as young as fifth grade have been subjected to extremely disturbing acts of hatred. Imagine the trauma of a child enduring the Hitler salute from classmates or having money thrown at them in a grotesque display of age-old stereotypes. The 13 year-old son of one of my staff was told “F@$# the Jews” after he posted on Instagram for Yom Ha’atzmaut. Sadly, these are not isolated incidents, but a growing trend underscoring the pervasive antisemitism that has been permitted to fester due to the lack of recourse and follow-up by school administrations.

At the university level, Jewish students and faculty often find themselves in hostile environments where their identities are targeted, and their voices marginalized. The impact on their mental health is profound, leading to anxiety, depression, and a sense of alienation. The academic environment, meant to be a haven for learning and growth, has become a battleground where Jews must constantly defend their right to study in peace and participate in campus life. There’s been a chill on healthy debate, threatened boycotts on partnerships with Israeli academic institutions, amongst the best in the world, and even worse, exclusion of Jewish students and faculty who refuse to subject themselves to ideological tests or sacrifice a core part of their identity in order to access classes, jobs, activities and shared campus facilities. This is a clear departure from academic freedom.

The psychological effects of this hostility cannot be overstated, especially on a population carrying intergenerational trauma and still reeling from the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Jewish students are forced to navigate their educational journeys with a heightened sense of vulnerability, always on guard against the next act of Jew-hatred, while hearing statements like, “no Zionists allowed”, and “globalize the intifada”. The emotional toll is staggering, with students and seasoned educators alike facing a barrage of prejudice that threatens not only their safety but also their sense of belonging on campus, relationships with their colleagues, and their dignity. They are subjected to the additional cruelty piled on to this by the dismissive claim that Jewish students and faculty are overreacting to or politicizing the anti-Jewish actions they are experiencing. And the toll on our educational system damages all Canadians, as Jewish teachers and professors feel forced to leave their positions, and institutions lose the immense contributions of their Jewish faculties and staff.

Schools and universities have a responsibility to provide a safe environment and workplace for all members of their school community including their Jewish students, staff, and faculty. This begins with robust policies that are enforced and that unequivocally condemn antisemitism and ensure decisive action against perpetrators. If they have Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies, it is imperative that the fight against antisemitism is explicitly included. These policies must not just be words on paper but actionable frameworks that protect Jewish students and faculty from harassment and discrimination. They should be developed in consultation with experts who reflect the experiences and values of the majority of the Jewish community, following the philosophy of “nothing about us without us”.

School boards should utilize the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which Canada adopted in 2019 and most provinces have followed suit. This definition provides a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes antisemitism today and can help the development of effective policies. Teachers must be trained on modern-day antisemitism, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to recognize and combat this pervasive issue in their classrooms.

Education plays a crucial role in combating ignorance and fostering empathy. According to the Association for Canadian Studies, 16% of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 24 believe the Holocaust was exaggerated, and those Holocaust skeptics are more likely to have a negative opinion of Jews.? Clearly, schools must incorporate more comprehensive programs that educate students about the history and impact of antisemitism including how it manifests today. Faculty and staff should receive training to recognize and respond to antisemitic behavior effectively, ensuring that no incident goes unnoticed or unaddressed.

The rise of antisemitism since October 7th is a stark reminder that the fight against hatred is far from over as demonstrated by Statistics Canada’s recent release, revealing that 70% of all police-reported religiously motivated hate crimes targeted the Jewish community.? We owe it to our Jewish students, faculty and staff to ensure their safety and well-being, in educational institutions and beyond. And we owe it to all students to protect the rights of marginalized groups to demonstrate the values of diversity, inclusion, and respect that are the cornerstone of our Canadian society.

As a country, we must stand united against antisemitism in all its forms, committing to education, advocacy, and action. Only then can we hope to create a future where every student, regardless of their background, can learn and thrive in an environment free from fear and hatred. That is the fresh start to the school year that Canadians need and deserve.