UC Davis Reimagines Addressing Antisemitism Resource Hub
Updated site features the Nexus Project’s Campus Guide alongside campus initiatives supporting Jewish life, education and dialogue.
UC Davis has launched a newly reimagined Addressing Antisemitism resource hub, reinforcing the university’s commitment to confronting antisemitism as an ongoing challenge, globally, nationally and on college campuses, including UC Davis.
Originally established in September 2022, the page has continued to evolve through sustained engagement with Jewish students, faculty, staff and community partners.
Grounded in Community, Informed by Scholarship
The updated resource reflects that ongoing dialogue while drawing on scholarship and lived experiences to guide the university’s response. The site is designed to serve as a central hub for education, support and accountability, remaining responsive to the needs and perspectives of the Jewish community at and around UC Davis.
A key feature of the reimagined page is the inclusion of the Nexus Project’s Campus Guide to Identifying Antisemitism in a Time of Perplexity, a resource many members of the Jewish community have described as thoughtful, nuanced and balanced.
Joshua Shanes, Emanuel Ringelblum Professor in Jewish History, has contributed to the Nexus Project and related scholarly efforts to help universities navigate questions surrounding antisemitism, protest, free expression and campus climate. Shanes joined UC Davis this academic year and is expected to lead the Jewish Studies Program following the stewardship of Professor Sven-Erik Rose.
Shanes said the Campus Guide emerged in part from conversations with students trying to navigate difficult and highly situational questions surrounding protest and identity. Some students, he said, ask how to criticize or protest the actions of the Israeli government without crossing into antisemitism, while others ask when protest activity crosses the line into targeting or excluding Jewish students. The guide seeks to provide practical context for evaluating those situations while encouraging dialogue, historical understanding and respect for differing perspectives.
“I want to educate students to care about the world around them,” Shanes said. “On a college campus, you are going to confront things that challenge you. We need to help students navigate the difference between feeling unsafe and feeling uncomfortable. These can be hard calls to make.”
He emphasized that universities must both protect free expression and foster a campus climate where religious and cultural identities are respected and students are encouraged to engage thoughtfully across disagreement. “Protecting the right to protest and counter-protest has to be part of a university campus,” Shanes said. “At the same time, we should also have places where Jewish life can exist and thrive.” He encouraged community members to think about where and how they express dissent and the potential impacts of their protests on Jewish organizations that provide important spaces for community life.
Such an approach reflects the UC Davis Principles of Community, which emphasize respect, dialogue and the free exchange of ideas while affirming the dignity and belonging of all members of the campus community.
Supporting Jewish Life Across Campus
In addition to academic efforts, the reimagined site highlights the campus partnerships and community structures that support Jewish life at UC Davis.
Established in spring 2021 at the recommendation of the chancellor and in partnership with Hillel of Davis and Sacramento, the UC Davis Advisory Council on Jewish Student Life helps foster an inclusive campus climate by creating a direct line of communication between Jewish students and university leadership. The council includes the chancellor, Jewish student leaders, Hillel board members, faculty, community representatives and senior administrators. Its work has included:
- Ensuring kosher food options with clear labeling in dining commons,
- Coordinating a campuswide Solidarity Shabbat,
- Reviewing policies related to bias incidents, discrimination, academic freedom and free speech, and
- Gathering and sharing reports of antisemitism and bias with campus leaders during quarterly meetings.
Complementing this work, the Jewish Student Leaders Council meets monthly with the vice chancellor for student affairs to provide student input and address emerging concerns, with agendas co-developed by students and administrators.
Hillel at Davis and Sacramento continues to serve as a vital resource for Jewish students, offering programming, mentorship and support, along with pathways to report antisemitism or other bias incidents. Several registered student organizations (RSOs) further contribute to a vibrant and diverse Jewish campus life, creating spaces for cultural expression, religious practice and community connection.
In August 2025, faculty and staff established the Jewish Culture, Heritage, and Identity Faculty and Staff Association (JCHAIFSA), which promotes Jewish culture and identity while creating opportunities for education and engagement across campus. Faculty in the Jewish Studies Program have further strengthened the university’s educational response through public lectures, collaborative programming and courses examining antisemitism in comparative and global contexts.
Advancing a More Inclusive Campus Climate
Supporting these efforts is the UC Davis Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) team, formed in February 2024 as part of Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative Cohort 5 (2024–25). The CCI team—which includes senior campus leaders and the executive director of Hillel at Davis and Sacramento—works to foster a campus environment where Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity and values, free from antisemitism or marginalization.
Team members participate in Hillel and University of California CCI trainings, review policies related to expressive activity and critical incident response, collaborate with faculty partners and student groups, and help develop campus action plans. Staff have also engaged in Anti-Defamation League trainings on combating campus antisemitism, strengthening advisory councils and addressing the mental health impacts of bias.
The reimagined Addressing Antisemitism page brings together these scholarly, student-led and institutional efforts into a single, accessible resource. The work also aligns with Dynamic Discussions, a UC Davis initiative that supports respectful dialogue and informed engagement across differences through campus programming and educational resources. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to explore the updated page, learn more about the Nexus guide and campus initiatives, and take an active role in fostering a climate where Jewish identity and culture are respected and supported.