I am thrilled to share that after a multi-year absence, J Street U Oberlin is back. J Street U functions like any other chapter of a national college group on campus, such as Hillel, OC Dems, or Oberlin ACLU. J Street, our parent organization, defines itself as a policy group, but J Street U’s main function is campus organizing. The organization offers a new avenue for progressive activism, fighting for peace and democracy in Israel and Palestine. Across the country, J Street U students have been working for years to push our lawmakers to reflect the real views of many liberal Zionist Americans and uphold the values our country says we believe in. J Street’s advocacy is shaping the future —  it has already shifted the American political landscape in meaningful ways. As the student organizing wing of J Street, we are building the mainstream progressive movement committed to justice in Israel and Palestine.

This summer, I had the distinct privilege of being a Dounn Congressional Fellow with J Street. In the House of Representatives, I got a firsthand look at the impact J Street has had: pushing politicians away from right-wing extremist views and advancing some of the most progressive legislation to gain momentum in Congress. Working for an office that was more right-leaning than I, my colleagues remained incredibly supportive of J Street’s mission and saw the importance in an organization speaking out against the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. Five to ten years ago, an office like mine would not have hypothetically been able to vote against retaliation against Iran or in support of restricting aid to Israel, but J Street is making these votes possible in the Democratic party. Bringing this movement back to campus, we at J Street U Oberlin hope to foster healthier discourse on the conflict and to organize to ensure our government better works toward policies that reflect the future we want to build. 

We are living through a political moment unlike anything in recent memory. The threat to world peace and democracy is urgent, and our attachment to buzzwords and identity politics divides us in ways that only deepen the cracks in the foundation of this country. Our campus deserves better than posters plastered across campus with the word “anti-Zionism” on them. I know personally the judgement and scrutiny that comes with publicly calling oneself a Zionist. Getting hung up over labels does not bring us closer to peace and democracy; being united against violence and authoritarianism does. I can think of no greater way to continue the progressive pedigree of Oberlin College than coming together around the shared goals of peace and democracy. 

If this community speaks to you, join us and learn how you can make a real impact with J Street U. And if it doesn’t, we at J Street U still hope to work alongside you in any way that brings Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans closer to a just and democratic future. If you’d like to lead in this movement, find us on Instagram   @jstreetuoberlin and fill out our interest form, and together we can build a stronger movement for peace and safety for Israelis and Palestinians now and into the future.