ZOA’s Erez says antisemitism is a crisis because it’s no longer confined to the fringes.
By Ashley Zlatopolsky
Local Jewish organizations unite to address a surge in antisemitic incidents.
(March 24, 2026 / The Detroit Jewish New)
As antisemitic incidents reach historic highs in the U.S. — including the recent terror attack at Temple Israel — the Zionist Organization of America’s Michigan chapter is taking action to address what it calls “a crisis facing American Jewry.”
On April 12, ZOA Michigan, together with Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Anti-Defamation League, Jewish Family Service and other leading Jewish organizations will host a major program titled “The Rise of Antisemitism on Campuses and American Society.”
The free event at Congregation Shaarey Zedek aims to educate Metro Detroiters on the ongoing crisis with insights from leading scholars and concrete takeaways for how to respond.
Kobi Erez, executive director of ZOA Michigan, says the timing couldn’t be more critical.
“We organized this program now because the U.S. recently experienced the highest level of antisemitic incidents ever recorded,” he explains. “When a trend reaches a historic peak, it becomes clear that education, awareness and public engagement are urgently needed.”
Understanding the Crisis
Erez says antisemitism is a crisis because it’s no longer confined to the fringes.
“We’re seeing it appear on campuses, on social media, in public demonstrations and increasingly in mainstream discourse,” he explains.
Jews make up about 2% of the U.S. population, yet newly released FBI data has found that 69% of religion-based hate crimes targeted Jews.
“What’s especially concerning is that antisemitic rhetoric is surfacing across ideological lines,” Erez says. “When hostility toward Jews emerges from multiple directions at once, it signals a broader societal problem, not an isolated one.”
In the past year, ZOA Michigan has heard increasing concern from parents, students and community leaders. Conversations that were once theoretical have now become personal.
“Families are asking about safety, campus climate and whether their children should conceal Jewish identity symbols,” Erez says. “That shift from abstract concern to lived reality is significant.”
Collaborating to Combat Hate
The timely program will examine the ideological and cultural forces behind the crisis, why many universities fail to confront it and what Jewish communities must do to respond.
Erez says the numerous and diverse organizations helping organize the event bring together expertise in research, community support, education and grassroots engagement.
“Collaboration signals unity and shows the community that we are stronger and more effective when we work together,” he explains.
Concerns from parents and students, including classroom hostility, social exclusion and fear of speaking openly, remain a key focus.
“Students tell us they sometimes feel pressured to stay silent about their identity or beliefs,” Erez says. “Some also worry that expressing pro-Israel views could affect how they’re treated academically if a professor holds strong opposing views. Parents are concerned not just about safety, but about whether universities are responding adequately.”
Academic Perspectives on Campus Antisemitism
Speaking on this topic and more are professors Amy Elman of Kalamazoo College, Victor B. Lieberman of the University of Michigan and Michael Weingard of Portland State University.
Weingard, for instance, plans to speak about what he sees as “political lopsidedness in higher education” that created the conditions for rising antisemitism on college campuses nationwide.
“Many people were shocked and surprised by the widespread antisemitism seen on college campuses since Oct. 7,” he says. “But the virulent anti-Jewish and anti-Israel activism inside and outside the classroom is to a great extent the result of how politically lopsided higher education has become.”
Over the last few decades, he explains, “conservatives have been almost completely eliminated from universities.”
“This means that there are no brakes on the ideological car, no healthy, full-spectrum intellectual discourse that can steer people back from extremism and get them out of their bubbles. It’s not a matter of left or right; it’s a matter of having only one narrow segment of any conversation.”
What Attendees Can Expect
Guests attending the April 12 program can expect a thought-provoking evening.
The event is intended for the community at large and is especially relevant for students and parents, particularly those preparing to head to college who want a clearer understanding of the current climate and how to navigate it.
Experts say this moment differs from previous cycles of antisemitism, which makes it more important than ever to address as a community.
“What’s different now is the speed and scale,” Erez says. “Social media amplifies narratives instantly, and rhetoric that once took years to spread can now reach millions overnight.”
Most alarming, he concludes, is that antisemitic messages are beginning to be accepted or normalized in parts of mainstream discourse, making prompt action all the more vital.
“When ideas like that enter the mainstream,” Erez says, “their impact becomes far more serious.”
For more information or to register for the event, visit mizoa.org or contact Kobi Erez at [email protected].
This article was originally published in the Detroit Jewish News and can be viewed here.