New Reseach on Antisemitism in Journal of Jewish Education
As part of the “Confronting Hate and Antisemitism” research initative at the Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research, our research team led by Co-PI Dr. Jenny Small (Brandeis University) has begun to disseminate our findings related to the exerperiences of members of Jewish sororities and fraternities. We are examining experiences related to Jewish identity development and sense of belonging. In a new article in the Journal of Jewish Education, we provide insight into Jewish student participation in fraternities and sororities. We focus on traditionally Jewish organizations as spaces of community and connection supplement this through the use of Critical Religious Pluralism Theory to interrogate the findings. Through interviews with fraternity and sorority life (FSL) educators, the research highlights important findings:
Highly Gendered Experiences: Jewish students encounter different expectations and pressures related to heritage and continuity, with these burdens often falling along gender lines.
Gaps in Educator Knowledge: Many FSL educators acknowledged a limited understanding of Jewish identity and how students express those identities within the fraternity and sorority context.
The Power of Pluralism & Belonging. The study underscores the need for inclusive, informed environments where Jewish students can fully engage with their identities
This is the first published article from the research team and will surely include more research dissemination across academic journals in 2025 and 2026!
This first article is available as open-access (see link).
