Ahead of Oct. 7 anniversary of Hamas attack, Texas campuses addressing antisemitism

In 2021, the legislature created the commission and Gov. Greg Abbott appointed its members. Since then, they’ve produced biennial studies of antisemitism in Texas, worked with K-12 public schools and higher education institutions, and implemented Holocaust and genocide courses and awareness programs.

The THGAAC Texas Campus Outreach Initiative was developed to support students, educators and surrounding communities through antisemitism awareness, Holocaust education, dialogue, and cross-cultural engagement. It falls under the oversight of the Texas Historical Commission. 

Of the many programs commemorating the Oct. 7 attacks that are also addressing antisemitism, the commission highlighted several.

In the Big Bend region of Texas in Alpine, Sul Ross University is hosting an event with representatives from Sharaka on Oct. 7. The non-profit organization was established in 2020 by Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain after signing the Abraham Accords. 

Also on Oct. 7, Texas A&M University in College Station is hosting an event at which Shabbos Kestenbaum, an advocate confronting campus antisemitism, is speaking. 

At Southern Methodist University in Dallas, a semester-long L'Dor VaDor program is underway. The eight-week Jewish Memory Project focuses on Holocaust education and remembrance. It began Sept. 30. 

“October 7 changed the conversation about antisemitism on college campuses. Understanding that moment requires more than focusing on a single day or a single conflict,” THGAAC Chair Ken Goldberg said. “Our goal is to create opportunities for students to learn, ask difficult questions and better understand antisemitism in its historical and contemporary contexts.”

The Texas Education Agency has also provided resources to public schools “to increase awareness and understanding” about the Israel-Hamas conflict. They include Support for Classroom Discussion on the Hamas-Israel War, (grades 6-12); 10 Ways to Have Conscientious Conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict; What Is U.S. Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict? (grades 9-12); and How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War, among others, The Center Square reported.

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists attacked and killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Among them were 61 Americans; 49 were killed in the attack. Another 12 Americans were taken hostage who were either returned alive or their remains were returned for burial, according to the American Jewish Committee.

Prior to the Oct. 7 attack, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. were already at historic levels with an 87% increase in the southwest, The Center Square reported. After Oct. 7, antisemitic incidents surged by 360%, and multiple reports documented violence being committed against Jewish students on U.S. college campuses.

Violence, especially at Ivy League schools, led to congressional investigations resulting in some deans being forced to resign and the Trump administration suing the schools threatening to halt federal funding. 

In Texas, Abbott advanced multiple efforts to combat antisemitism, including directing Texas DPS to crack down on antisemitism rioters and directing state-funded colleges to implement antisemitism policies. Students from Houston and Dallas colleges sued, arguing cracking down on students calling for the death of Jews violated their free speech rights.

By 2024, antisemitic attacks were the greatest on record since the Anti-Defamation League began tracking them in the U.S. since 1979, The Center Square reported. After a group of Muslims who targeted and vandalized a Texas church, Abbott surged law enforcement resources to protect houses of worship, The Center Square reported. 

By last November, Abbott designated the Council on American Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. He also directed a criminal investigation into the groups. CAIR sued, arguing it isn’t a terrorist organization and doesn’t support terrorism. CAIR also sued Abbott, arguing his crackdown on college campuses was unconstitutional.

Last year was the third most violent year on record for American Jews, with the most violence and antisemitic attacks reported in New York, The Center Square reported. 

In Texas, 65% of antisemitic incidents have occurred in Harris, Dallas and Travis counties, according to the most recent data. This was as a Houston teen was arrested earlier this year accused of planning a mass casualty event at a Houston synagogue and day school.