A recent poll by the Union of Jewish Students exposes pervasive anti-Semitism experienced by Jewish students on university campuses. Meanwhile, comedian Jerry Seinfeld encounters interruptions from pro-Gaza protesters at his events.
Poll Reveals Anti-Semitism on University Campuses
A recent poll conducted by the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) has revealed that eight in ten Jewish students have experienced ‘casual’ anti-Semitism on university campuses. Of the 1,000 respondents, 78% reported being victims of anti-Semitic stereotyping or offensive comments disguised as ‘banter.’ Furthermore, 40% of respondents mentioned facing more serious forms of direct anti-Semitism, while 42% witnessed it happening.
The survey also highlighted that 44% of Jewish students do not openly express their Jewish identity on campus. According to the poll, 82% of Jewish students are worried about anti-Semitism, with 33% considering it one of their primary concerns. Notably, 85% of the responses were collected before the Hamas attacks on October 7, indicating that the issue of anti-Semitism existed significantly even before recent events.
The UJS report emphasizes a climate of fear among Jewish students and mentions efforts to combat this through anti-Semitism awareness training for non-Jewish campus leaders.
Interruptions at Jerry Seinfeld Events by Pro-Gaza Protesters
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has faced disruptions by pro-Gaza protesters during his performances. On a recent occasion, a heckler interrupted his stand-up comedy show in Norfolk, New Jersey, on a Saturday night. The protester was confronted by other attendees and escorted out, with the crowd chanting “Jerry!”
This follows an earlier incident where dozens of students walked out during Seinfeld’s commencement speech at Duke University. The protesters rallied against Israel’s war on Gaza as Seinfeld, receiving an honorary degree, spoke. Despite the disruptions, Seinfeld mainly avoided discussing the issue during his speech.
Seinfeld has previously shown public support for Israel, particularly following the Hamas attacks on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties and hostages.
The Gaza conflict has led to numerous deaths, with the United Nations and various international agencies accusing Israel of creating famine conditions in Gaza, a claim denied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
