Is teaching antisemitism necessary in college today?

If you ask Colorado Christian University, the answer is a resounding “YES” to teaching about antisemitism. Enter the Herzl Institute in Jerusalem to create a collegiate electives course that teaches the “political philosophies of the Hebrew Bible.”

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), antisemitism has skyrocketed a staggering 360% since the Israeli conflicts against the Palestinians in Gaza. Its recent research about nationwide and global incidents targeted against Jewish people shows close to 3,300 devastating incidents, which break down accordingly:

• 56 incidents of physical assault.
• 554 incidents of vandalism.
• 1,347 incidents of verbal or written harassment.
• 1,307 rallies, including antisemitic rhetoric, expressions of support for terrorism against the state of Israel and/or anti-Zionism.

“The American Jewish community is facing a threat level that’s now unprecedented in modern history,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “It’s shocking that we’ve recorded more antisemitic acts in three months than we usually would in an entire year.”

Do American students need to take a collegiate course about antisemitism? People from CCU and Berzl believe it’s not only important but necessary.

Currently, the Hebrew Bible is already taught in Christian schools of secondary or higher education. However, the joint release with CCU and Berzl underscores that “no university offers an introductory course in the political teachings of the Hebrew Bible that can be studied alongside other political theories.”

CCU Lifts Hebrew Pride High Over Antisemitism

Colorado Christian Unversity (CCU) and Berzl Institute co-drafted an announcement of the bold curriculum move. This preliminary elective credit will allow students who take the course to “learn about the Mosaic rule of law and the Biblical conception of the family.”

The release states the course will span from Genesis to the Book of Kings in the Bible. It will be curated in Jerusalem by American and Israeli scholars, and a team of CCU professors led by Chancellor Donald W. Sweeting, Ph.D.

“In this unusual collaboration of evangelicals and orthodox Jews, we will be meeting in Jerusalem,” said Sweeting. “At this very tense political moment, not only to stand in solidarity with our Jewish friend but to do something constructive for our universities and the rising generation of students.”

Students will learn:

• • Hebraic political concepts including monotheism and its implications
  • Abraham’s covenant
  • The Shepherd Nation’s stand against empire
  • Biblical conception of the family
  • The Israelite exodus from slavery
  • Mosaic rule of law and limited government
  • David’s just reign through repentance
  • Solomon’s successful succession

“In developing this course, CCU and the Herzl Institute are offering a way to reconstruct political philosophy, teaching students to appreciate the contribution of the Jewish people to Western political philosophy by introducing them to biblical concepts that enable them to recognize the challenges facing the family, the nation and the transmission of tradition,” said Yoram Hazony, president of the Herzl Institute.

Will This Curriculum Create or Continue a Trend?

Shortly after the treacherous Hamas attacks in October 2023, the ADL published a report to highlight the “current state of the campus climate for Jewish students.” Among the numbers cited in the report are some eye-opening emotions about an inferred wave of antisemitism at U.S. colleges.

Since that time:

• 73% of Jewish college students surveyed have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. Previously, that number was 70%.
• 67% of Jewish students said they felt “very” or “extremely” physically safe on campus. After October 7, that number is now 46%.
• 64% of Jewish students pre-October 7 felt “very” or “extremely” comfortable on campus. Today, that number is 39%.
• 32% of Jewish students indicated that they have felt unable to speak out about campus antisemitism.
• 30% of Jewish students said that they would be uncomfortable with others on campus knowing about their views of Israel.

Another ADL report was published before October 7 by the New York Post. The headline read “Just two colleges are doing enough to fight antisemitism–while Ivy Leagues fail.” That equates to 13% of the nation’s most prestigious universities doing very little to combat Jewish hate.

Among the 85 universities studied by the ADL, the only schools to receive an “A” grade were Brandeis University outside of Boston, and Elon University, close to Burlington, North Carolina. While only a handful of U.S. campuses are doing yeoman’s work against antisemitism based on these findings, there is a precedent for awareness.

In June 2024, the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives agreed. Americans prove frequently if something matters enough, voices will be heard. To prevent antisemitism at college, that voice should be:

L’fum tzara agra, according to the effort is the reward. (Ben Hei Hei, “Talmud: Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 5, Mishna 26.”)