SF Hillel's Statement on Recent News

We want to share our thoughts about the news article recently published about the climate for Jewish students on SF State's campus.

For over a year, a coalition (comprising the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Community Federation, Jewish Studies professors, and Hillel staff and student leaders) has met with the SF State administration, offering suggestions and making requests that would create positive change in the campus environment.

Unfortunately, things have moved in the wrong direction, as related in that news article, and an op-ed by two long-time Jewish Studies professors at SF State. 

Our role at SF Hillel is to support our students and ensure an inclusive and positive campus environment for them. We offer a vision in this piece for how SF State can bring about the needed change to make that a reality.   

We know that many students and community members will want to act. As our students know, they can help bring about change by becoming a student leader, joining our coalition building, Israel advocacy, and campus dialogue groups, or reaching out by replying to this email or clicking here to take more direct action. They can also report inappropriate incidents that happen on campus here.

Community members can feel free to reach out directly by replying to this email for more information.

We just finished a beautiful Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration on the quad this week, held an inclusive and touching Passover seder for 90 students last month, and in two weeks will bid farewell to our graduating seniors at the Final Shabbat of the semester. We will keep supporting, enriching and empowering students - the recently reported challenges demonstrate that our work is more important than ever.