This past week I attended our JGO Connect mixer in New York City. We welcomed over 200 law students and attorneys, many of whom were brand new to us. I met students who told me that it was their very first Jewish event since undergrad, and for some since their bar or bat mitzvah, and for some, ever in their life. A number of attorneys told me that they usually ignore my invitations (not insulted!) but this time decided to come because the Jewish community needs unity right now.

In the last few weeks the world has really changed for young Jews, and we at JGO feel blessed with the opportunity to be one of the few Jewish organizations actually on the front lines on campus. We have been there constantly for our students to assure them that we have their back in their moment of need. Even our most secular and uninvolved students are facing an onslaught of antisemitism and we are hearing about tough workplace dynamics from our young alumni as well. For the first time in their lives, they are being forced to take ownership of their Jewishness and they are seeking us out to guide them through it.

It’s been a huge reset for all of us. And in a strange way, it has brought together the vision JGO has had for the 12 years of our existence.

Years ago, I took a lot of flak from a potential funder for not switching the focus of our organization to Israel advocacy. My response was that if students don’t even care that they are Jewish, then why would they care about Israel advocacy? Our laser focus has always been on the basics: Shabbat dinners, Jewish holidays, inspiring speakers to talk career and Judaism. Our goal has always been to make being Jewish fun and relevant again. Remind them about who they are during this time in life, so they don’t drop out of our community for good like so many others. 

Over the last 12 years we have built this organization with that mission, understanding that we are really the only ones in the Jewish community whose sole purpose is to provide that identity and support for graduate students.

Today we see our strategy has paid off – for this very moment. Because JGO first built 132 grad campus clubs who care about being Jewish, we now in the current crisis have 132 grad campus clubs who care about Israel advocacy and Jewish activism. Today, they are all advocates – and it’s only because of that shot in the arm of Jewish pride we previously gave them.

The theory behind the founding of our organization was that grad students are at that point in their life where they make big decisions, including whether or not they are going to identify with being Jewish. If we could just provide that on-ramp to Jewish life at this critical stage, the rest would follow.

The importance of our work has become crystal clear in the last month. Students are reaching out to us from every direction, including the ones who have never been involved before. For all the antisemites out there: the joke’s on them; they have made young people prouder and more interested in being Jewish than ever. And for all the old kvetchers out there worried about Jewish continuity: this is a golden moment for us all – and we at JGO don’t intend to drop the ball.

Our vision has come together: JGO is the on-ramp for grad students to stay involved in being Jewish. Now more than ever.