In Support of our Jewish Community 2023-24 Year In Review

Antisemitism is a persistent and evolving form of hatred that affects Jewish communities worldwide — and it is not absent from university campuses, including UC Davis. Acknowledging this reality is essential to addressing it. UC Davis is committed to fostering an environment where Jewish students, staff and faculty feel safe, respected and able to express their identity and culture without fear of discrimination or harassment.

Programs and Academic Engagement

The following programs took place during this reporting period:

• Resisters: How Ordinary Jews Fought Persecution in Hitler's Germany with Professor Wolf Gruner, presented by the Jewish Studies Program, German Department and History Department (May 16, 2024)
• Panel Discussion on Antisemitism and Islamophobia, co-sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program and Middle East/South Asia Studies (February 29, 2024)
• Environmental Peacebuilding in Israel and Palestine, presented by the Jewish Studies Program and Middle East / South Asian Studies (February 22, 2024)
• Countering Antisemitism, presented by the Countering Antisemitism Committee of the Congregation Bet Haverim, sponsored by the division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as part of the Campus Community Book Project (January 9, 2024)

These programs reflect collaboration across the UC Davis Jewish Studies Program, the UC Davis Department of Religious Studies, and other academic units committed to research-based engagement with antisemitism and Jewish history, culture and identity.

Community, Faculty and Student Engagement

In addition to academic programming, the university continued engagement with:

• Hillel House UC Davis and Sacramento
• UC Davis - Hillel College Guide
• Guide to Jewish Student Organizations in Davis
• UC Davis Registered Student Organizations with a Jewish focus

These organizations and resources play an essential role in supporting Jewish student life, identity expression and community connection.

Leadership Communications

Within this reporting window, university leadership issued the following statements:

• UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May issued a statement after students voluntarily removed the encampment. Chancellor's Statement: Status of the Encampment | June 2024
• UC Davis Statement on Student Encampment and Statement from Chancellor Gary S. May on Encampment Set Up | May 2024

These communications reaffirmed the Principles of Community and addressed campus climate during a period of heightened activity and concern.

Resources

Building on the September 2022 launch of the Addressing Antisemitism website, UC Davis and community partners continued expanding infrastructure for reporting, education and accountability during 2023–24. This included additional engagement with faculty in the UC Davis Jewish Studies Program. In March 2024, the Hate-Free Together initiative — a community partnership involving UC Davis, the City of Davis, Yolo County, the Davis Joint Unified School District and the Yolo County Office of Education — launched its public website, providing a centralized hub for resources, reporting information and community engagement related to bias and hate incident response. 

Throughout 2023–24, UC Davis continued maintaining and promoting:

• Anti-Racism Resources, including guidance for understanding and taking local action at UC Davis Health
• Understanding Religious Differences in the Workplace, a Professional Education Course
• Free Speech Resources to support learning about the First Amendment at a public institution, how to exercise your rights within campus policies and ways to get support