eJewish Philanthropy recently published a column by Director of Jewish Life Betsy Polk and Joyce Gordon, director of Jewish Life at Duke University, offering guidance for the families of Jewish students during tense times.
Director of Jewish Life Betsy Polk and Joyce Gordon, director of Jewish Life at Duke University, had an epiphany this summer while waiting to board an airplane on the way back from a Hillel International meeting. What if the guidance you receive for having a safe and enjoyable flight could be applied to Jewish students and parents as they prepare for a new academic year that could be marked by continued tensions in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel?
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To help address that anxiety, Polk and Gordon compiled a list of instructions for the families of Jewish students that was recently published by Jewish Philanthropy. Familiar instructions such as keeping your seatbelt fastened, keeping your phone in airplane mode and following all lighted signs were adapted to help provide a supportive environment for Jewish students and their families.
“In these anxious times, more anxiety is the last thing anyone needs. As both parents and campus professionals, we know how easily worry can fester and grow, fueled by distant and uncontrollable events. We asked each other: What could we do to help alleviate these fears? How could we use our experience to support families during these challenging times? Hillel International, along with other Jewish organizations, has published recommendations for campus administrators and students for the upcoming academic year — what might we recommend to parents?”
Read the entire column to learn more about the guidance Polk and Gordon offer for students and their families during tense times.