Jewish university students brace for further hostility and antisemitism on campus as new academic year begins

"I was at university for a year before and I had no issue After October 7, everything changed. I got lots of messages from people saying they don't feel comfortable being my friend anymore,” she says.

“I wasn't going around saying my opinion, I wasn't doing anything - I was just Jewish.

"I had to rebuild my life at university.

Zarum doesn't hide her Jewishness – she felt no need to pre-October 7, but would do so now if she had the choice.

"When October 7 came, I couldn't hide my Jewishness because people already knew,” she says.

"I'm much more guarded now.”

She adds that she “definitely would have” made more of an effort to conceal her Jewish identity had she begun university after October 7.

The student describes how pro-Palestine students posted online about another Jewish student who had finished his IDF service and was returning to Aberdeen: "They posted 'There is an ex-IDF officer on our campus' and said what his course was. 'Would you want to be sat next to this monster in you lecture halls?' they said.

"He got a bit worried about his safety."

Zarum is apprehensive about returning for the new academic year: "There has been so much that has happened there and there are lots of people that I don't want to see. There is a lot of nervousness around going back.

"There are a lot of people I just really don't want to see including everyone who has messaged me 'I don't want to be friends with you because the views of your community'."

Louis Danker, the president of the Jewish Union of Students, says students are apprehensive about returning to campus[Missing Credit]

Another Jewish student, who attends City St George's, University of London and asked to remain anonymous, says of her experience in higher education: "I've kept being Jewish a secret because I've heard things around campus or seen how other people have been treated. It's not worth it for me. Keeping yourself safe is the main thing.

"[My classmates] don't know I'm Jewish but if they did know, what would they do to me?"

As well as the experiencing the general discomfort of seeing laptops covered in pro-Palestine stickers, and witnessing frequent anti-Israel protests on campus, the student says: "On the memorial of October 7, we were not allowed to memorialise [the victims] in our Jewish Society, but [pro-Palestine students] did a 'wear a keffiyeh to school day' a 'Wear a keffiyeh to school day'.

"They all wore them around campus and chanted 'free Palestine'... They specifically picked that day.

"We were advised not to do anything because they couldn't confirm our safety."

So great is this student’s fear of facing animosity or being subjected to antisemitism, she hides the fact she is Jewish from her friends.

"I have had to lie to friends and say I don't feel well, that is why I'm going home early on Friday and make up excuses as to why I'm not coming in on the Jewish holidays - it is not nice," she says.

"I've heard people who I thought were my friends say some very antisemitic things about how rabbis are paedophiles and making jokes about how ‘evil’ circumcision is.

"It definitely has ruined the university experience for me. I went in thinking in my mind it will be a nice opportunity to reach out to new people and make friends. Instead, I have had to hide my identity, and I haven't been able to make real connections with people."

Brodie Mitchell, Mitchell, who studies politics, international relations and law at Royal Holloway, University of London, is not Jewish but openly supports Israel, and has witnessed numerous examples of antisemitism.

"Students have said 'Hitler was right, Jews control the world' – all this 1930s ideology. I never heard anything like it till I went to university.

"I feel like they can be open [in their antisemitism] at social events. Even when they know about my views, they will still openly talk about Hitler and how he should have ‘finished the job’.

"A lot of Jewish students are too afraid to speak up because they're such a small group."

Mitchell claims he has received threats because of his pro-Israel views.

Over the summer holidays, he visited Israel and after posting a picture online from his trip, a student wrote: "Don't let me catch you in Royal Holloway." Another student wrote: "Let's remove your dirty soul from this planet."

Asked if he feels the university does enough to combat antisemitism on campus, Mitchell says: "My university isn't doing enough for Jewish students and also for people like me.

"The university just turns a blind eye."

Not all Jewish university students are fearful about going back, however.Geography student Maya Blackstone is getting ready to start her second year at the University of Birmingham next week.

She says: "We have such a vibrant Jewish community that a lot of us missed throughout the holidays.

"Were ready to go back get stuck in and revitalise Jewish life.

"People want to be there because we feel so connected."

Blackstone is chair of the university's Jewish society and despite citing various antisemitic incidents that have been reported to her over the last year, she said the university has handled them.

Louis Danker, president of the UJS, says: "Jewish students are returning to campus excited yet apprehensive.

"The past two years have seen the highest engagement in UJS and campus Jewish societies ever as Jewish students respond to challenges with resilience and Jewish pride.

"However, a culture of normalised antisemitism has developed whereby anti-Jewish hatred and the glorification of terrorism go unpunished by institutions.

"We are calling for zero-tolerance of the unacceptable rhetoric seen at protests in lecture halls and online.

"Through returning to campus may be worrying Jewish students should now that UJS and their Jewish society will be by their side fighting for them every step of the way."

It isn't only returning to campus that some of the students are worried about however – it’s the future."

Brodie Mitchell received threats after holidaying in Israel over the summer holidays (Image: Brodie Mitchell)[Missing Credit]

Royal Holloway, University of London said: “As a truly multicultural and international community, Royal Holloway, University of London, condemns any violence, discrimination and harassment in all forms. We believe we all have a role to play in maintaining a peaceful, respectful, inclusive and welcoming community, on and off campus.

“Due to student concerns around antisemitism, we commissioned an independent review, which confirmed our clear reporting lines and robust systems are working. We also established an antisemitism and Islamophobia group to coordinate our work across all our communities.

“If any of our students experience racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, or other discrimination, we always encourage them to report it via RH Be Heard so we can investigate and take appropriate steps. RH Be Heard also enables students to request immediate support from security.

“We will continue to work closely with and communicate and engage with our students on any areas of concern that are shared with us.”

City St Georges, University of London said: “There is no place for antisemitism, or any other form of bullying, harassment or discrimination, at City St George’s, University of London.

“Our student charter clearly sets out the expectations for members of our community to be inclusive, respectful and supportive of one another.

"Unacceptable behaviours will not be tolerated and students are encouraged to use our ‘Report and Support’ process to confidentially report issues of concern so our staff can support them.

"Reports of such behaviour are taken seriously, and each one is investigated. If a member of our community feels this has not happened, we would encourage them to make a student complaint.”

It added: “The university has an important role to play in supporting students and staff to discuss events happening around the world, and the most challenging issues they raise. This can sometimes be uncomfortable, but it reflects the place of universities within the broader democratic discourse and the role they play in helping students to prepare for professional life and the world of work.”

The University of Aberdeen did not respond to a request for comment.