New York — Although World War II ended in Europe 81 years ago, the antisemitism that laid the foundation for the Holocaust and the extermination of 6 million Jews in Europe still persists today.
While May 8th and 9th were commemorated across European countries such as Poland as Victory Day or Remembrance Day marking the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, many Jews in the United States today live with concerns about growing violence — whether they are descendants of Holocaust survivors or students on university campuses.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), antisemitic incidents in the United States reached record levels in 2025, with physical attacks and harassment occurring every 85 minutes — a 900 percent increase over the past decade.
The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023 — the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust — and the wars that have unfolded in the Middle East over the past three years have also fueled hatred in places like New York City, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel.
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Antisemitism Has Long Existed on New York Campuses
Are these antisemitic sentiments solely the result of the conflict between Israel and Gaza, or part of a deeper underlying problem? Are some people using the Israel-Gaza conflict as a pretext to attack Judaism and openly express antisemitism?
Many Jewish students say they feel unsafe because of events taking place on their campuses. But according to Arielle Cojab, a Nutrition and Dietetics student at New York University, antisemitism existed on university campuses long before the October 7 attacks.
For example, her sister, activist Adela Cojab, sued NYU in 2019 over antisemitism and won. Her case played a major role in strengthening Title VI protections, a federal anti-discrimination law protecting Jewish students.
Attacks on Jewish Identity
Despite those changes, Cojab says antisemitism on campus has manifested in many ways since October 7, including insults from protesters, biased classroom presentations by professors, and antisemitic content.
“There has been vandalism, including swastikas, antisemitic graffiti, and posters being ripped down or damaged, even when they have nothing to do with Israel and are simply related to Jewish identity,” Cojab said. “Jewish spaces like the Bronfman Center, along with general campus areas, have become targets.”
These incidents continue to rise. Hillel International, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization, reported 2,334 antisemitic incidents in the United States between 2024 and 2025 — a 500 percent increase compared to the previous academic year.
Universities such as NYU have responded by implementing disciplinary changes, discrimination training, and enhanced security during student protests. Still, Jewish students like Brooke S. say they continue to face antisemitism from classmates.
According to the Psychology student, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, a roommate told him during his freshman year that he had a “big Jewish nose,” and he was later spat on during an event marking Israel’s Independence Day.
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Cojab says her participation in pro-Israel events has also cost her friendships.
“My boyfriend and I, along with some other Jewish students, stood together holding Israeli flags just to show that we were there,” she recalled about a protest in early 2024. “People shouted things at us like ‘baby killers’ and other hostile comments. It felt aggressive and personal — not like political protest, but like we were being attacked for being Jewish.”
She added: “I have experienced antisemitism from people I once considered friends or peers. I’ve seen them post content on social media that stereotypes or attacks Jews, which was honestly shocking. It made me realize those views were already there and have simply become more visible recently.”
Growing Intolerance and Self-Censorship
“I think one of the biggest problems right now is that many people talk about these issues without really trying to understand one another,” Cojab added.
Non-Jewish students such as Mario Ilievski, who studies International Relations at NYU, have also observed how difficult discussions about the Israel-Gaza conflict can become in the classroom.
“Professors have expressed concern that discussions about the conflict can become highly tense, making it difficult to maintain respectful dialogue,” Ilievski said. “There is also concern about self-censorship — from both students and faculty — due to fear of retaliation, which can affect academic freedom and open inquiry.”
Both Cojab and Ilievski suggested that universities should provide clearer guidelines on respectful speech.
“Universities are supposed to be places where you can ask questions, challenge ideas, and have difficult conversations, but that only works if people are willing to listen, not just argue,” Cojab said.
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Social Media Debate Growing More Extreme
It is also essential to examine the role of social media, which has become the primary platform for students to debate these issues. Many users have taken sides — either pro-Palestinian or pro-Israel — while a constant stream of war-related content has circulated online, sometimes creating a hostile environment where people express opinions without fear of public shame or scrutiny.
“Social media has definitely made things worse. The algorithm pushes whatever gets the most attention, which is usually the most emotional or extreme content, not the most accurate,” Cojab explained. “It also places people in bubbles where they mostly see opinions they already agree with. That only deepens division and makes balanced conversations harder.”
Another NYU student, who requested anonymity, said anti-Israel content on social media often goes beyond politics and becomes an attack on Judaism itself.
“I’ve seen hateful comments on almost every social media post related to Judaism,” the student said.
“Protecting students from hate while preserving open debate is a delicate but necessary balance universities must maintain, and keeping an open mind about the situation from both sides is essential,” Ilievski concluded.
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