Jewish Faculty Experiences on Campus After the 2023 Hamas Attack on Israel

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) surveyed 209 Jewish-identifying U.S.-based faculty members to assess the environment on American university campuses since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. They found that 73% of respondents observed anti-Jewish activities or statements from faculty, administrators, or staff, and 44% were aware of an organized Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP) chapter on their campus. On those campuses with an FJP chapter, faculty reported that 77% engaged in anti-Israel programming, 79% organized anti-Israel protests and demonstrations, and 85% endorsed anti-Israel divestment campaigns.

“Legitimization of anti-Semitism by faculty, staff and administrators,” the study says, “risks emboldening anti-Semitic attitudes among students.” It also found that:

• 50% believed that their campuses had been affected by “soft” or “shadow” boycotts.
• 55% noted that departments avoid co-sponsoring events with Jewish or pro-Israel groups.
• 30% reported that partnerships with Israeli institutions and/or academics are discouraged or blocked. 

Faculty also reported “being publicly maligned, professionally isolated, and in severe cases, doxxed or harassed, with repercussions including canceled academic talks, denied professional opportunities, reputational damage, and even withdrawal from the academy.”

The victims of anti-Semitism were often told by others on campus what is and is not anti-Semitism. Some 64% had this experience, while 45% of the 190 respondents who are members of professional academic associations reported a similar response from colleagues.

The survey found that faculty received little support in responding to anti-Semitism. A majority (53%) described their university’s response as “very” or “somewhat” unhelpful, and 77% viewed their association’s response as “very” or “somewhat” unhelpful.

Many faculty described worsening mental and physical health, increased self-censorship, fear for personal safety, and perceived risks and long-term costs for their professional careers. In addition, 38% felt a need to hide their Jewish and/or Zionist identity from others on campus, and 25% felt the same in professional academic association forums. Faculty with these experiences also said they were less comfortable with others on campus knowing they are Jewish. 

On the positive side, the survey found that some respondents felt “a deepened commitment to fighting anti-Semitism and a growing sense of pride in openly sharing their Jewish and Zionist identities.”

Source: Faculty Under Fire: Antisemitism and Anti-Israel Bias in Higher Education, ADL and the Academic Engagement Network, (September 10, 2025).