Jewish students: Unprotected at universities

On the occasion of the education and action weeks against anti-Semitism, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation (AAS) presents new figures on anti-Semitic incidents at German universities in its current civil society situation report on anti-Semitism. The central message of the report is: The situation remains uncertain for Jewish people at universities. The situation has not calmed down since October 7, 2023. Rather, anti-Semitic incidents are accepted as normal.

For the AAS situation report, the Federal Association for Research and Information Center Anti-Semitism (Rias) specifically analyzed the anti-Semitic incidents reported at universities from 2022 to 2025. In 2022, 23 cases were reported, after October 7, 2023 the numbers rose sharply: in 2024 the statistics reached the highest value of 458. In 2025 the number of cases fell slightly to 424.

Rias also sorts the total of 1,056 reported cases according to forms of discrimination. Israel-related anti-Semitism occurred most frequently, with 901 incidents. As an example, the report cites an action at the University of Bonn on June 12, 2024. A red Hamas triangle was hung out of the windows.

The report also documented openly anti-Semitic incidents. For example, anti-Jewish graffiti: For example, at the University of the Arts in Berlin in October 2024, “Free Jews from being” was written on a wall. In July 2025, a toilet at Dresden University read: “Every flush, 1 dead Jew!”

It doesn't stop with verbal attacks. The report mentions the case of Lahav Shapira, who was beaten up by fellow students in February 2024. This is not an isolated case. There were further physical attacks, for example in Cologne and Oldenburg.

The AAS also spoke to those affected for the report: “Jews are not protected in universities,” the situation report quotes Frankfurt professor Julia Bernstein, who represents the network of Jewish university lecturers. A Jewish activist, who remains anonymous in the report, reports something similar. She feels “in a hostile environment” at university. That is why the AAS calls for binding protection concepts at all universities.

Ron Dekel from the Jewish Student Union of Germany also sees the situation as dramatic. When presenting the AAS management report, he tells us from his perspective. For example, the “automatic grip on the chest”, groping for the necklace with the Star of David to ensure that it is hidden under the sweater and does not slip out and become visible. Nikolas Lelle, head of the Action Weeks against Anti-Semitism, says: "It is no longer a given to show oneself as Jewish. For example, to wear a yarmulke or the Star of David."

The report is supplemented by a survey in which Jewish students and university employees worldwide were interviewed in the academic year 2024/2025. It has now been evaluated specifically for Germany for the AAS situation report. A total of almost 2,000 people took part, including 205 from German universities. The results are therefore not representative.

85 percent of German respondents have already hidden their Jewish identity at least once; worldwide the number is 78 percent. About a third know Jewish fellow students who have been physically threatened. 20 percent know Jewish fellow students who were physically attacked because of it.

The survey is a collaboration between the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the World Union of Jewish Students. The ADL is viewed critically partly because of its equation of criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. Action Week leader Lelle says that the analysis that has now been published deals with very specific questions: “Whether someone is physically attacked because of their Jewish identity has nothing to do with a definition of anti-Semitism.”

The education and action weeks against anti-Semitism, which the AAS organizes together with the Anne Frank Center, will take place from October 6th to November 9th in more than 50 cities with over 250 events. The organizations are calling on universities in particular to take active action against anti-Semitism: In addition to protection concepts, there is a need for low-threshold reporting options, qualified anti-Semitism officers at universities and clear consequences for incidents.