The ongoing college protests around the country over the war in Gaza are prompting some school officials in the Chicago area to address the issue with Jewish students planning college tours.
Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, Dean of Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Skokie., says the unrest on college campuses is increasingly concerning - as his high school students are preparing to graduate.
"This year was the very first time that we saw students who, in the past, would've applied for early decision to some of the ivy league schools, and yet, they and their parents chose not to apply because they couldn't be ensured that a year from now, that campus would be some place safe for them," Matanky said. "It's something that is unheard of; something that we would've never imagined to be possibility just a year ago."
And because of that Matanky says school officials and parents are now asking universities what specifically they're doing to keep Jewish students safe.
Meanwhile, other families of Jewish high school seniors are grateful for certain aspects of their future alma maters.
Elizabeth Abrams is a spokeswoman for the Jewish United Fund, as well as a parent in the northern suburbs of a high school senior. She sought out campuses with Hillels during her daughter’s college search.
"The presence of a strong Hillel has been more important than ever," Abrams said. "Hillels have been around for over a century and it's an important component for Jewish students on campus."
Abrams says the student religious organizations can be a support system and a resource for students facing harassment or intimidation.
She says the constantly evolving situations have many parents closely following what’s happening on campus through student newspapers, messages from the administration and parent Facebook groups.
None of what she’s seen is making her question her daughter’s choice of a large public university next year, nor has she heard of other Jewish families altering plans due to protests.
But, Abrams says, they’ve been having a lot of talks about student safety.
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