T HE WAR IN GAZA has had alarming unanticipated consequences. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Islamophobia and Antisemitism on college campuses has resulted in great discomfort, even fear, for both Muslim and Jewish students. On March 13, 2024, The Boston Globe reported that campus fears are ‘intense and widespread’ across the country. Jewish students are the most impacted, with 56 percent reporting feeling ‘in personal danger’ since the Hamas attack. Muslim students are not far behind with 52 percent feeling endangered.

It is a serious issue that the Israel Committee and Brotherhood will address in their co-sponsored June 23 forum at Beth El: Unanticipated Consequences of Gaza: Campus Antisemitism and Islamophobia. This two-hour in-person forum, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm in the Beth El social hall, will address the existence and extent of both on college campuses with a focus on George Mason University.

• Allison Silberberg, forum moderator, a writer, public speaker, and lifelong advocate for social justice and inclusiveness. Ms. Silberberg is the former Mayor of Alexandria (2016 - 2019).
• Rabbi Daniel Novick, Executive Director of George Mason University Hillel. Rabbi Novick is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the Jewish Theological Seminar of America.
• Luby Ismail Kronemer, an Egyptian American, founder and president of Connecting Cultures whose mission is to promote interfaith and intercultural engagement. She has received national and international coverage of her work including the Washington Post, HR Magazine and Diversity Inc. and is a selected Peace Fellow for Seeds of Peace as well as a Malone Fellow in Middle East and Islamic Studies.
• GWU Jewish college student
• GMU Muslim college student
• GMU Jewish college student

A bagel luncheon will follow, catered by Moti's Market.

After the forum and luncheon, we hope participants will stay for the movie in Beth El’s summer film series Jewish Humor in Film. The movie will be the 2020 German-Israeli film Kiss Me Kosher. Questions about this event may be emailed to Len Rubenstein, the Israel Committee chairman at len.rubenstein@gmail.com.

The Israel Committee values diversity of opinion. We provide opportunities for committee members to express different perspectives that form our decisions about Israel. The articles represent the opinions of the author, not the committee as a whole. Questions about the Israel Committee, and expressions of interest in joining may be addressed to Len Rubenstein at len.rubenstein@gmail.com