{"id":137091,"date":"2023-11-10T00:05:27","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T05:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=137091"},"modified":"2023-11-09T11:55:45","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T16:55:45","slug":"two-catholic-universities-in-ohio-offer-refuge-to-jewish-students-amid-antisemitism-spikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/two-catholic-universities-in-ohio-offer-refuge-to-jewish-students-amid-antisemitism-spikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Catholic universities in Ohio offer refuge to Jewish students amid antisemitism spikes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Our Jewish brethren need a friend. We wanted them to know that they\u2019re not alone.\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Two Catholic universities in Ohio are offering direct admittance to Jewish students this fall while condemning the rise in antisemitism on U.S. campuses.<\/p>\n

Franciscan University of Steubenville and Walsh University in North Canton welcomed Jewish students to transfer to their campuses in recent announcements, noting<\/a> many are \u201cin danger of antisemitic discrimination and violence on campuses across the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walsh Director of University Relations Kim Graves told The College Fix<\/em> their eight-week term will allow Jewish students to transfer quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWalsh University is known locally to be welcoming to the Jewish community, and we extend our campus to Jewish students nationally during these times that shock the conscious,\u201d Graves said in an Oct. 30 email to The Fix<\/em>.<\/p>\n

To be admitted, students must complete an application and send their transcripts. Graves said the admissions staff will work with transferring students as much as possible to match previous financial packages, fulfill living requests and make the transition as easy.<\/p>\n

Franciscan Vice President for Academic Affairs Stephen Hildebrand told The Fix<\/em> in an Oct. 27 email that the university will use a mix of already existing courses, specially created courses or directed studies, and the university\u2019s seven-week online courses to accommodate transferring students.<\/p>\n

Franciscan also is working to make religious and living accommodations for Jewish students.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome very generous Jewish scholars have offered to help us with the teaching of seminars and the like,\u201d Hildebrand said. \u201cIn terms of housing, we have some solutions ready to go. For kosher diet and worship needs, we would work with nearby local Jewish communities to address these needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the case of mental health needs, the University has existing resources to deploy,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

Hildebrand told The Fix<\/em> that Franciscan wants to offer friendship to Jewish students.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, this is very simple,\u201d Hildebrand said. \u201cOur Jewish brethren need a friend. We wanted them to know that they\u2019re not alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catholic universities respond to antisemitism on U.S. campuses<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Franciscan was the first of the two universities to announce its plan to admit Jewish students on Oct. 18.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the logistical challenges that have come with this year\u2019s record-breaking enrollment, Franciscan University administrators believe creating a safe haven for these students is the right thing to do,\u201d its announcement states<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Franciscan University President the Rev. Dave Pivonka said they felt compelled to take action in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith our fellow Christians around the world, we are praying for justice and peace,\u201d Pivonka said in the statement. \u201cBut with too many universities preaching tolerance but practicing prejudice, we feel compelled to do more. We are witnessing a very troubling spike in antisemitism and serious threats against Jewish students. We want to offer them the chance to transfer immediately to Franciscan.\u201d<\/p>\n

About a week after Franciscan’s announcement, Walsh introduced similar plans to admit Jewish transfer students, effective immediately.<\/p>\n

The university wants to provide \u201ca safe place of refuge for any Jewish college student experiencing anti-Semitism by providing direct admittance,\u201d its Oct. 23 announcement states<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Franciscan, Walsh participate in symposium on antisemitism<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Leaders of both universities took part in a symposium Oct. 24 at Franciscan where they joined others in signing a joint statement opposing antisemitism.<\/p>\n

Walsh University President Tim Collins said it’s important for Catholics to take a strong stance against all forms of “hatred, bigotry and racism,” according<\/a> to a university press release.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sacredness of life and the equal intrinsic transcendent dignity of all human persons is under attack today, globally and in Ohio. We hold a deeply rooted Catholic conviction that citizens have an ethical responsibility to speak out against grave injustices. At this inflection point in our world, we encourage men and women of good will to stand with us alongside the Jewish community in this time of calamity and denounce anti-Semitism and racism in all forms,\u201d Collins said\u00a0in an Oct. 16 statement ahead of the event.<\/p>\n

The statement<\/a>, \u201cCoalition of Catholics against Antisemitism: Statement of Solidarity and Action,\u201d emphasizes the importance of Catholics and other Christians taking action to oppose antisemitism.<\/p>\n

\u201cAntisemitism in our community, even when it is not the action of Catholics or other Christians, demands condemnation,\u201d it states. \u201cWe reject hatred, bigotry, and racism in all their forms. As Catholics and Christians, we believe that antisemitism is at its heart a spiritual evil.\u201d<\/p>\n

It urges Catholics in leadership roles, including parents, and teachers, professors, “to fearlessly confront antisemitism, and to take steps to combat all forms of hatred against the Jewish people.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement also condemns the \u201cpopular ideological movements that seek to use anti-Zionism as a pretext for hatred of the Jewish people\u201d and encourages the development of \u201cCatholic-Jewish studies programs and institutes” and “deeper ties with Jewish scholars on these subjects.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, it asks Catholic lawmakers to take action to protect Jewish communities and their houses of worship, and calls on Catholics to encourage others to repent from the sin of antisemitism.<\/p>\n

The symposium, \u201cNostra Aetate and the Future of Catholic-Jewish Relations at a Time of Rising Antisemitism,\u201d was cosponsored by Franciscan and The Philos Project, a nonprofit focused on promoting Christian engagement with the Near East.<\/p>\n

MORE: Jewish student\u2019s door set on fire in wake of Hamas attack<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGE: Franciscan University of Steubenville\/Facebook<\/p>\n

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