Jewish Life on Campus: Building Community Amid Antisemitism

Julia Jassey is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jewish on Campus, the leading voice for Jewish students in the United States, combatting antisemitism, engaging in grassroots activism, and advocating for the Jewish community. Working together with students around the country, she has advocated for students at every level—from university administrators, to international news outlets, to the White House as a contributor to the National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism. She was awarded at the Anti-Defamation League’s 2021 Concert Against Hate for her leadership in the Jewish community, and she was considered one of Algemeiner Magazine’s “Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life” in 2021. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 2023, where she studied Political Science and Jewish Studies.

Noah Lederman, originally from Orange County, California, is a sophomore at Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where he is studying Philosophy, Political Science, and Jewish Ethics.

Since October 7, Noah has appeared on-camera on several national news programs on Fox and ABC, in a video alongside Jonathan Greenblatt to promote the ADL’s “Not On My Campus” initiative, and was featured on a Fox Nation special, “Antisemitism on Campus: Students Speak.” He has had op-ed pieces published in JLife Magazine (January 2024) and Ha’aretz (April 2024) and his student activism was featured in a profile in the Jewish Journal (July 2024). Noah has also been quoted in numerous other print and online periodicals and news programs.

In May 2024, Noah was proud to attend a series of events in Washington DC for Jewish American Heritage Month, including a private security briefing and a Rose Garden reception at the White House, where he was able to connect with many other Jewish leaders and social media influencers. In June 2024, Noah was part of a small delegation of Jewish college students flown to Israel to meet with President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu and speak at the Knesset. Noah was presented with AEPi’s Michael Leffler Emerging Leader Award at its national conference in July 2024 and, once classes resumed last fall, Noah created a series of videos published on Instagram as a virtual reporter for Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. In December 2024, Noah was invited to speak at several community events in South Florida and was honored to attend the White House Hannukah Party.

In addition to his activism internationally, Noah is also working on a local level at Columbia University as an Outreach Fellow with Aryeh, as the Israel Engagement Chair for AEPi, and is currently serving in his second year as President of the Meor Student Board. More information and details on Noah’s work can be found on his website at NoahJLederman.com

As the director of the Chabad at Princeton University, Gitty Webb is an inspiration to many and her passion for honesty, truth, and Jewish awareness, is infectious. On campus, Gitty is the founder and director of the JOTS program and the BANOT society. Globally, Gitty is a founder of Met At Chabad, a matchmaking platform for Chabad House singles. She is also a founder of the Ashreinu Society which offers programming for more than 200 women who serve as Chabad House directors. Gitty is married to Rabbi Eitan Webb and is the mother of 6 children.

Alona Shaked is the Director of Advocacy & Partnerships at the Jewish Grad Organization (JGO), the movement for Jewish graduate students, alumni and allies from 155 campuses throughout North America. Alona started her career as a litigator at an AM 100 law firm in Los Angeles before transitioning into non-profit management and executive coaching. She joined JGO this past summer and is responsible for managing the organization’s response to campus antisemitism, creating advocacy programming for Jewish graduate students, and forging beneficial partnerships for the organization. Alona is also a breast cancer survivor and women’s health activist and founded her own non-profit, Thrivacious, a women’s cancer support organization for English speakers living in Israel. Alona received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and  J.D. from UCLA School of Law. She currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her family.

Candice Perilstein is the Associate Director of Jewish Partnerships at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), working to expand ADL’s reach with Jewish communal campus organizations across the country through partnerships and advocacy efforts. Joining ADL in 2019, Candice previously served as the Associate Regional Director for the Florida office. No stranger to the campus space, prior to ADL she held positions with Hillel at Vanderbilt University, as well as on the headquarters staff at Zeta Beta Tau as Director of Growth. She graduated with her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Miami and Master of Education with a focus in College Student Affairs from the University of South Florida.