Published on July 25, 2024, 12:32 am

Amid a troubling surge in pro-Hamas demonstrations and the subsequent anti-Semitic threats that have been targeted towards Jewish individuals at multiple universities nationwide, two eminent Christian colleges have responded with a heartening open letter. This empathetic communication reached out to all Jewish students, expressing solidarity and denouncing the widespread hostility and aggression they are currently being subjected to.

On Wednesday—the very day when Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, was scheduled to give his speech to the United States Congress—Indiana Wesleyan University (boasting 14,000 students) and Colorado Christian University (home to 10,000 students) published this bold statement.

The missive started with endearing words addressed “To our Beloved Jewish Brothers and Sisters,” penned by Jon S. Kulaga, President of IWU, and Eric K. Hogue, President at CCU. They aired their disbelief and anger at the recent wave of anti-Semitic attacks directed toward Jewish students across numerous educational institutions within the United States.

In no uncertain terms, they stressed how detestable these violent acts were to their respective Christian academic establishments. They voiced deep-seated worry that such critical events from the 2023-2024 academic year might soon fade from collective memory—a smokescreen for deeper cultural issues within various higher education establishments that desperately need remediation.

For eons, universities have been hailed as enlightened bastions promoting Judeo-Christian principles of tolerance, freedom, and respect for human dignity. Alarmingly, however, these chronicles tell a different story—an insidious darkness infiltrating educational centers not unlike grim chapters from bygone eras—one we must heed now.

The presidents then focused on highlighting the overt expression of hate towards Jews manifested on other campuses: revered universities claimed allegiance to pluralism while allowing clubs like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). These organizations openly proliferate anti-Semitic sentiments without condemning October 7th’s horrific events from 2023; rather, they marked them as rightful defiance from October 8th. The consequential violent eruptions fueled by SJP-like organizations on numerous campuses beg reflection whether any student club should be permitted to justify such hostility.

The presidents ended with a potent appeal to all university administrations: It is incumbent upon every academic institution to actively eliminate the underpinnings of hate growing within their grounds. They urged all universities and seminaries to reboot their Biblical principles of inclusivity and diversity, thereby fostering a nurturing learning environ. Through this effort, they can showcase these core values to broader higher education communities.

In conclusion, Jewish and Israeli students received an earnest invitation to the campuses overseen by these presidents. They reassured these students about a warm welcome and safety guarantee upon arrival. Pledging unreserved support, they thanked the Jewish community for safeguarding centuries-old values that buttress these institutional foundations in today’s society—exemplifying real news indicative of hope amidst adversity, grounded in trusted news sources from a Christian worldview.