Jewish university students are coming back prepared for a fight—at Concordia and beyond

Vigil for hostages in Montreal
Concordia students join members of Montreal's Jewish community on Sept. 3, 2024, outside the university's Hall student centre building for a vigil in memory of six executed Israel hostages. (Photo courtesy of Lawrence Muscant)

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Dozens of Jewish students at Concordia University joined the Montreal Jewish community Tuesday night Sept. 3, 2024, for a vigil in memory of the six Israeli hostages whose bodies were discovered after they had been executed. The event—held on campus right outside the Concordia student centre—came just a few days after four Jewish students and two pro-Israel clubs officially sued Concordia and its president, demanding better protection as the new academic year gets underway.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 30 in Quebec’s Superior Court, details 10 months of antisemitic and anti-Israel harassment, intimidation and both physical and psychological violence, which the students have been subjected to on campus ever since Oct. 7. They are demanding the school enforce its own codes of conduct policies fairly, kick out the protesters who violate them, and stop ignoring the toxic situation for Jews on campus.

On today’s episode of The CJN Daily, we’re joined by two guests. Neil Oberman is a Montreal-based lawyer (and federal Conservative candidate) who is representing the four Concordia students, and Mitch Consky is The CJN’s new campus reporter; the two share their views on how Jewish university students are better prepared this fall to face a rough reception.

  • Read the new lawsuit filed by four Jewish students and two Jewish clubs against Concordia University and its president
  • Learn more about the original letter sent to Concordia nine months ago, the riot in November 2023, and the blockade outside Federation CJA HQ in March, in The CJN archives
  • Read Mitch Consky’s stories about how Jewish students are prepared for the new year, and about McGill’s president’s recent webinar with Anthony Housefather, special advisor to the Prime Minister on Jewish issues and antisemitism, in The CJN

Credits

  • Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner)
  • Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
  • Music: Dov Beck-Levine

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