Brandeis University

Are American Jews in crisis? A conversation with Professor Jonathan Sarna

By Jeffrey Salkin — January 11, 2024
American Jewish weather report: increased chill in the air. A conversation with historian Professor Jonathan Sarna.

Survey: Antisemitism at US campuses limited to select schools

By Yonat Shimron — December 15, 2023
(RNS) — The survey of 51 public and private universities from The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University found a small number of 'hotspot' schools where Jewish students faced a hostile environment.

Poll: Less than half of Jewish college students feel safe on campus

By Yonat Shimron — November 29, 2023
(RNS) — The poll of 3,084 American college students, of whom 527 were Jewish, comes amid an alarming rise in incidents of both antisemitism and Islamophobia as Israel and Hamas wage war.

Brandeis University bans campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine

By Yonat Shimron — November 7, 2023
(RNS) — The university notified the student group on Monday (Nov. 6) that it will no longer recognize the group ‘because it openly supports Hamas, which the United States has designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.’

US Jews fracture over support for Israeli retaliation

By Yonat Shimron and Jack Jenkins — October 26, 2023
(RNS) — Pro-Israel groups have denounced left-leaning Jews, accusing them of being antisemitic and not really Jewish.

Religious leaders without religion: How humanist, atheist and spiritual-but-not-religious chaplains tend to patients’ needs

By Amy Lawton — September 8, 2023
(The Conversation) — As more Americans step away from organized religion, so do more chaplains – but they are prepared to offer spiritual care regardless of a patient’s beliefs.

Survey: Drop in Eastern European antisemitism may be due to Zelenskyy effect

By Yonat Shimron — May 31, 2023
(RNS) — As arguably the world’s most famous Jew, he may also be contributing to a decline in antisemitic attitudes not only in Ukraine but also in neighboring Poland to the west and Russia to the east.

Caste discrimination laws remain fraught. Here’s why they shouldn’t be.

By South Asia Scholar Activist Collective — April 28, 2023
(RNS) — Caste is one of the least visible yet most pernicious sources of anti-Asian hate in the US.

Hindu advocates sue California, arguing bans on caste discrimination misrepresent beliefs

By Richa Karmarkar — September 28, 2022
(RNS) — At the crux of the HAF lawsuit is the question of whether caste is inherently tied to Hindu dharma.

He claimed white Jews gained from white supremacy. Now he’s more popular than ever.

By Yonat Shimron — March 12, 2021
(RNS) — Historian Marc Dollinger is on a quest to analyze Jewish complicity in racism.

Brandeis University stands by caste-bias ban despite pushback from Hindu activists

By G. Jeffrey MacDonald — October 19, 2020
(RNS) — A year-old ban against caste bias, says the Hindu American Foundation, is a ‘deeply problematic’ remedy for a largely nonexistent problem.

Welcome to the Jewish Inquisition!

By Jeffrey Salkin — September 20, 2017
(RNS) — The controversy over the appointment of a high-profile scholar is only the most recent manifestation of a Jewish community that is turning ever more fiercely to the right.

Study: College experiences can boost Jewish identity for children of mixed marriage

By Lauren Markoe — October 28, 2015
(RNS) Jewish experiences in college were found to boost attachment to Jewish life for those whose Judaism comes from one side of the family.

Brandeis University reneges on honorary degree for Muslim critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali

By Omar Sacirbey — April 9, 2014
BOSTON (RNS) Many Muslim and Jewish leaders welcomed the decision by Brandeis to renege on awarding Ali an honorary degree, calling it a victory against hate speech.
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