Jerusalem, September 26, 2024 – The Jewish Agency for Israel has announced its addition of 15 new Campus Israel Fellows at the start of this fall semester, growing its corps of Shlichim (Israeli emissaries) on campuses by 20% this year and 50% over the last two years in a major step to help Jewish college students navigate the challenge of skyrocketing antisemitism due to the Swords of Iron War.

The Jewish Agency now has 106 Israel Fellows worldwide, including about 90 in North America. Israel Fellows — young adults who maintain an authentic, engaging Israeli presence on campuses by enabling students to learn about, engage with, and support Israel — are present at all eight Ivy League universities for the first time with the addition of Fellows at Brown University and Dartmouth College. (Harvard University received its first Israel Fellow last year.)

Other campuses with their first-ever Israel Fellows this fall include New York University, Indiana University, American University, University of Colorado at Boulder, Florida State University, Arizona State University, Queen’s University, and the College of William & Mary. The Jewish Agency prioritizes the placement of Israel Fellows on campuses where they are needed the most, as the Fellows now serve at the top 19 public institutions as well as 16 of the top 20 private schools that Jewish students choose to attend.

“Meaningful connections between world Jewry and Israelis are a key component to fostering and cultivating Jewish identity,” said Nati Szczupak, Director of The Jewish Agency Campus Israel Fellows Program. “Since October 7th, the urgency to connect and support one another has intensified, especially on college campuses. I am grateful that we can rise to this challenge by expanding the Jewish Agency Campus Israel Fellows Program, helping Jewish students embrace their identity proudly and unapologetically.”

The Jewish Agency has dramatically expanded the Israel Fellows program at a time when Jewish students around the world continue to endure the fallout of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The past year has seen widespread verbal and physical harassment and intimidation targeting Jewish students, last spring’s tent encampment protests and cancelled commencement ceremonies, intensified campaigns pressing for institutional divestment, and various university administrations’ failure to condemn the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.

According to a survey conducted by Hillel International in May, 58% of Jewish students said the encampments made it more difficult for them to learn, study, or concentrate. More than half (51%) reported that their classes were canceled, interrupted, or moved to Zoom, or that they were blocked from attending class altogether, due to the anti-Israel protests.

“The Jewish Agency will not stand idly by as Jewish students in North America and worldwide continue to shoulder much of the load when it comes to the wave of antisemitism associated with the Israel-Hamas war,” said Mark Wilf, Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency. “By dramatically expanding the presence of the Israel Fellows, we are bolstering one of Jewish students’ first lines of defense against hate and allowing them to feel safer expressing their identity, while also enabling campus communities to discover an accurate picture of Israel.”

In partnership with Hillel, The Jewish Agency brings Israeli young adults to colleges and universities to help fulfill those environments’ role as safe spaces for education, tolerance, and diversity. These Campus Israel Fellows spend one to two years working closely with Hillel to inspire students and faculty alike, connecting them with Israel through their Jewish identity.

The Israel Fellow’s job is to confront attitudes toward Israel, substituting education for ignorance, while giving students a chance to develop a personal relationship with Israelis and to learn what Israel is really all about.

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About The Jewish Agency for Israel:

Since 1929, The Jewish Agency for Israel has been working to secure a vibrant Jewish future. It was instrumental in founding and building the State of Israel and continues to serve as the main link between the Jewish state and Jewish communities everywhere. This global partnership has enabled it to address the Jewish People’s greatest challenges in every generation. Today, the Jewish Agency connects the global Jewish family, bringing Jews to Israel, and Israel to Jews, by providing meaningful Israel engagement and facilitating Aliyah. It also strives to build a better society in Israel – and beyond – energizing young Israelis and their worldwide peers to rediscover a collective sense of Jewish purpose. The Jewish Agency continues to be the Jewish world’s first responder, prepared to address emergencies in Israel, and to rescue Jews from countries where they are at risk.