Supporting Our College Alumni

While we continue to mourn the tragic events our friends and family in Israel are enduring, we are also struggling with the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents across the world, especially on college campuses. To support our Golda Och Academy alumni, our Israel Education Department held a Zoom on October 26  for our college students as a space for them to share what their campus climate has been like over the past weeks. Alumni logged on from colleges across the country including the University of Michigan, the University of Maryland, American University, Northeastern, Haverford College and Brandeis University. 

Our alumni shared their experiences of protests on their campuses, anti-Semitic drawings on their doors and the difficult interactions that they have been having with those whom they once considered friends. Although this has proven to be a challenging time for our alumni in college, we are proud of their efforts in combating antisemitism on their campuses and for sharing their stories. On the Zoom, Golda Och Academy Israel Educator Noa Kolomer presented an Israel on Campus Toolbox. It focused on five main areas of what college students can do right now - Taking Care of Yourself, Caring for Your Community, Taking Action, Reporting Antisemitism, and Navigating Social Media + External Media. There were links for alumni to use to get support in each area along with practical advice. The slides for the program are available along with the Israel on Campus Toolbox. At the end of the Zoom, we came together to say the Prayer for the State of Israel and sing Hatikvah. Despite the difficult times, Golda Och Academy remains committed to supporting our alumni on their college campuses.