In the wake of the October 7 terror attacks and the war in Israel, antisemitism — already on the rise in America — has been fully unleashed on campus, on the streets, and online.
And we’re taking action.
Download UJA’s Comprehensive StrategyAntisemitic incidents in the U.S. have seen a
since October 7.
Last year had highest number of
in U.S. on record.
experienced antisemitism online in the last year.
in New York City were anti-Jewish.
After the attack on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, our funding enabled our longtime partners to respond swiftly and effectively to this urgent need:
Security Funding: UJA is the largest contributor to the Jewish Agency for Israel’s security fund, which has been instrumental in supporting the physical security of Amsterdam’s Jewish community. Recently, an emergency grant was approved for the Jewish school in Amsterdam to address immediate security needs. The Jewish Agency’s security team is also in ongoing contact with local security authorities to ensure the community’s protection.
Victims of Terror Fund: In addition to helping victims of terror in Israel, this fund provides emergency grants for Israeli citizens injured in terror attacks abroad to aid their recovery.
Community Preparedness: We’ve supported disaster training and leadership development for Amsterdam’s Jewish community and Jewish students at the University of Rotterdam.
Jewish Life: BBYO, our grantee, held gatherings for Jewish teens in Amsterdam and hosted a European Leadership Training Institute for 132 teens and 40 staff.
THE CHALLENGE: Jews are targeted and feel unsafe.
OUR RESPONSE: As a direct response to the Tree of Life massacre, in 2019, with our partner JCRC-NY, we created the Community Security Initiative (CSI), now an indispensable 20-person team focused on safeguarding the New York Jewish community. Security will always remain our top priority.
THE CHALLENGE: Anti-Israel incidents on campus have grown 477% since last year, including an explosion in pro-Hamas protests.
OUR RESPONSE: We’re ensuring the physical safety and well-being of Jewish students, empowering them to proudly and publicly express their Judaism and Zionism. This is about meeting acute needs, fighting misinformation, and instigating lasting change.
THE CHALLENGE: Antisemitic incidents are escalating at both public and independent schools.
OUR RESPONSE: We’re working with decision-makers to help shape classroom content, safeguard Jewish students’ rights and safety, and provide teachers and administrators with vetted instructional materials and professional development. Much of this work is about longer-term change, reaching young people before they ever set foot on college campus.
THE CHALLENGE: Significant numbers of Jewish employees continue to feel isolated and alone after October 7, and not adequately supported by colleagues and company leadership.
OUR RESPONSE: We’re working to ensure that Jewish employees feel safe expressing their identities and that corporate leaders foster a positive environment for their Jewish employees.
Convening and sitting at the most influential tables, we are making it clear that antisemitism will never be tolerated. That silence is complicit acceptance. We’re strongly advocating at the federal, state, and local levels for funding and support.
Recognizing the fear and anxiety that some are feeling, we’re supporting initiatives that foster community resilience and well-being in schools, workplaces, Hillels, JCCs, and more.
We’re investing an additional $25 million over three years — above and beyond the tens of millions we already spend each year to strengthen Jewish life. With these funds, we will support opportunities to further inspire, lift up, and connect the Jewish community. On college campuses. At JCCs. At summer camps. In all the places Judaism comes alive.
to enhance security at New York Jewish institutions
Since the start of the war, antisemitic incidents in the United States have spiked by 200%. Given the significantly increased threat to Jewish schools, synagogues, Hillels, Jewish community centers, and other Jewish institutions, we are allocating additional dollars to the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York for the Community Security Initiative (CSI) to support physical security upgrades, increased security guards and patrols, and expansion of overall CSI capacity.
to respond to antisemitism on campus
As anti-Zionist rhetoric soars on campus, Jewish students and Hillel professionals are facing unprecedented levels of challenge as well as emotional and physical insecurity. We believe that the single best way of combatting the incendiary campus climate is strengthening Jewish student life through our Hillels. UJA currently provides 11 Hillels (serving over 20 campuses) with approximately $2 million in annual support. We are also making investments to provide legal protection, strengthen health and wellness support for students and staff, and offer additional opportunities for Jewish students to gather.
to support community-based activities
Promoting pro-Israel voices in traditional and social media.
Funding Israel education groups to provide thoughtful content and facilitation about what is happening in Israel for Jewish community members.
Planning and supporting 10/7 commemorations.
Creating meaningful ways for the community to gather to show their support for Israel.
Supporting trips to Israel for educators, young adults, and others.
Working with the DOE to train middle and high school principals about antisemitism and Israel education.
Bolstering advocacy efforts on behalf of the hostages in NY.
Supporting Israel education at camp.
Strengthening connections between Jewish young adults in Israel and New York.
to support smaller Jewish communities around the world that have little to no resources to address growing antisemitism.
to enhance security for the Jewish community of South Africa, which has experienced an alarming uptick in antisemitic incidents since October 7.
We’ve put together this resource page so you can be educated and prepared, understanding how to respond if you experience incidents of antisemitism.
Learn more >In 2022, UJA’s Community Security Initiative (CSI) played a critical role in thwarting a potentially deadly attack on the New York Jewish community. While monitoring the web, CSI’s threat intelligence analyst discovered a tweet threatening to “shoot up a synagogue.” CSI staff alerted the FBI and local law enforcement, who apprehended two suspects carrying a gun, ammunition, a large hunting knife, and a Nazi armband at Penn Station. What might have been a terrible tragedy was thankfully prevented.
Read an in-depth report on what happened that day in Vanity Fair.
Almost four years ago, on January 5, 2020, we mobilized 25,000 people — Jews and non-Jews — to march across the Brooklyn Bridge under the banner of "No Hate. No Fear." The historic march and the rally were conceived and funded by UJA, and planned along with JCRC-NY. A parallel rally took place in Jerusalem, and nearly 200 organizations participated nationwide — including our senior-most political leaders from the state, city, and Congress.
