Every Day Since: Jewish Agency Israel Fellow Finds Purpose Amid Tragedy
Eyal, who was born and raised in Tel Aviv, always knew he wanted to make an impact abroad. He spent time traveling through South America, studying Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), and working with students from all over the world through Masa, an immersive international experience in Israel for Jewish young adults.聽 When Eyal moved to the United States in the summer of 2023 to become a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow, he took another step forward in his desire to connect with the Jewish community outside of Israel and share his love for his country.聽
But on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists murdered nearly 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 251 others, that plan took a harrowing turn.
鈥淐ampus changed drastically after 10/7,鈥 Eyal said. It had only been a week since classes started, and students had attended welcome events like Sushi in the Sukkah. That newfound sense of building campus community evaporated in the wake of the brutal attack, as many Jewish students on Eyal鈥檚 campus suddenly felt unsafe.
For Eyal, the trauma was also deeply personal鈥攈is longtime friend, Ilan Moshe-Yaakov, was killed during the Nova Music Festival massacre.
“I found out three days later that Ilan had been killed at Nova. It was impossible to process, so I threw myself into the work of supporting the students on campus,” Eyal said.
Ilan鈥檚 death shook Eyal, but the emotional toll didn鈥檛 end there. Almost immediately, he found himself grappling with a wave of anti-Israel and antisemitic hostility on his campus. The university environment, which he had anticipated would be challenging yet intellectually stimulating, quickly became toxic for Jewish students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 different than what I expected,鈥 Eyal admitted. 鈥淚 knew campus life would be political and that not everyone would agree with me, but I didn鈥檛 anticipate the hatred that exploded after October 7.鈥
Eyal recounted stories of students on his campus facing harassment for being Jewish.
鈥淥ne student was told by her suitemates that, because she was a Zionist, she couldn鈥檛 live with them anymore,鈥 he said. Another student, wearing a Magen David, was told, 鈥淔 [sic] you, we will kill all the Jews.鈥 Yet another student received multiple anonymous and hate-filled calls. And a Jewish student was spit on during a tabling event for Hillel.
“It鈥檚 bad, but it鈥檚 not the majority of students,” Eyal added. “The students who are anti-Israel are loud, and they make the campus feel unsafe. When you see thousands of people chanting ‘intifada,’ it鈥檚 impossible not to feel the hostility. These people aren鈥檛 interested in dialogue.”
Despite the antagonistic climate, Eyal remains inspired by the strength and unity of the Jewish community on campus. He鈥檚 especially proud of his students, who have stood their ground in the face of adversity.
“What鈥檚 kept me hopeful are my students,” Eyal said. “They鈥檝e been incredible. Their initiative, their support for one another, and their determination to stand strong inspire me every single day.”
In fact, the students have come together like never before, creating a network of support that has helped them endure challenges and harassment.
“They鈥檙e doing a great job, and I鈥檓 so proud of them,” Eyal said. “We鈥檙e planning a series of events to commemorate October 7. It鈥檚 about remembering the difficult moments, but it鈥檚 also about lifting people up and reminding them that hope is how we move forward.”
One of the events Eyal is helping organize is a vigil on campus, followed by a group trip to the local JCC for a community commemoration. The students will share their experiences from campus and remember the victims of October 7, including Carmel Gat, in whose honor they鈥檒l hold yoga practices the following day.
“We鈥檙e also tabling, handing out cards with the stories of those lost. It鈥檚 important to bring a human face to what鈥檚 happening, to remind people that these are not just numbers鈥攖hey are lives, families, and communities torn apart,” he said.
Through all the tragedy and the tough conversations, Eyal鈥檚 decision to remain in the United States this past year wasn鈥檛 a given. Many of his friends back home have been called into miluim, Israel鈥檚 reserve duty, and the choice to stay or return right after October 7 was something he grappled with.
“It was a very tough decision,” Eyal said. “Part of me feels like I should be there, but I know that being here, working with these students, is also important, and I will return to Israel when I鈥檓 needed there.”
Every Day Since is a series of original stories about the impact of October 7 on Jewish students and professionals on campus.