The best survey data that you can find on some of the questions around the impact of recent events on how Jewish students have been impacted are likely from a Tufts professor, Eitan Hirsch. The survey data also pre-dates the recent encampments, so it likely understates the present sentiments.

But Jewish students are indeed reporting that they are enduring quite a bit on college campuses. Since October 7, 36% report that they need to hide the fact that they’re Jewish to fit in on campus, up from 20% the year prior. Forty-two percent said that people will judge me negatively if I participate in Jewish activities on campus. Almost half. And when it comes to Israel, 77% report that Jewish students pay a social penalty for supporting the existence of Israel as a Jewish state.

What’s interesting is this isn’t just in their heads. According to the Hirsch’s data, when you survey non-Jewish students with the question: “I wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who supports the existence of Israel as a Jewish state,” since last year the number more than doubled from 13% to 29%. That’s almost a third of students. The percentage who avoid socializing with Jews because of their views about Israel more than tripled from 2% to 7%.

Image Credit: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhorn/2024/05/22/antisemitisms-impact-on-choosing-college-jewish-sentiment-on-campus/?sh=52245fa71e42, Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images