Ruderman Family Foundation Partners with Project Shema to Address the Mental Health Impact of Antisemitism on College Campuses

August 18, 2026

New partnership brings together mental health expertise and contemporary antisemitism education to help colleges and universities better support Jewish students and strengthen campus communities.

BOSTON, MA, August 17, 2026 — As antisemitism continues to rise across the United States and increasingly affects college campuses, the Ruderman Family Foundation and Project Shema have announced a new partnership to address the mental health impacts of antisemitism on Jewish students and the broader campus community. Throughout the 2026–27 academic year, the initiative will engage up to 25 colleges and universities across the country, strengthening institutional understanding of antisemitism, improving cultural competency, and fostering more inclusive campus environments.

The Clark University Psychology Department is among the first programs participating in the initiative, which will work with institutions that train future psychologists, social workers, and counselors. Through partnerships with administrators, counseling center staff, and program leaders, the initiative will integrate contemporary antisemitism education into programs that prepare future mental health professionals. By combining Project Shema’s expertise in antisemitism education with the Ruderman Family Foundation’s longstanding leadership in mental health, the partnership aims to help institutions better understand the mental health impacts of antisemitism across the campus community, strengthen cultural competency, and better support Jewish students.

The partnership comes amid a sustained rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses throughout the United States. A 2026 study from Brandeis University found that nearly half (47%) of Jewish college students surveyed had experienced some form of prejudice on campus because of their Jewish identity, while 37% felt their campus was hostile to Jews. The study drew on a national sample representing more than 300 colleges and universities. Against this backdrop, the partnership seeks to help colleges and universities better recognize contemporary forms of antisemitism and understand the mental health impacts of antisemitism across the campus community.

“Antisemitism doesn’t just affect Jewish students’ sense of belonging. It can have a profound impact on their mental health and well-being,” said Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation. “Addressing that impact requires collaboration, education, and a commitment to building more inclusive campus communities. This partnership brings together unique expertise to help colleges better support Jewish students and foster environments where every student feels safe, included, and understood.”

Through the initiative, Project Shema is working with participating colleges to deliver educational programming tailored to the institutions and programs that prepare future mental health professionals. The training incorporates mental health content developed in collaboration with Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern, alongside additional educational resources that institutions can use to reinforce the training. Together, the organizations will integrate mental health expertise into Project Shema’s contemporary antisemitism training, helping colleges strengthen cultural competency, better understand the mental health impacts of antisemitism, and foster more inclusive campus environments.

“Jewish students are navigating complex identities and forms of harm that are often misunderstood, particularly in conversations around Israel and Palestine,” said Kara A. Wilson, Chief Strategy Officer at Project Shema. “This partnership will equip future mental health professionals, and the learning institutions that prepare them, to recognize antisemitism with greater nuance and respond with care. Ultimately, it’s about fostering learning environments where Jewish students can fully engage and thrive without having to flatten or defend their identities.”

Central to the initiative is Project Shema’s research-based approach to contemporary antisemitism education. Through facilitated dialogue and educational programming, the organization helps participants better understand Jewish identity, recognize anti-Jewish bias, challenge harmful narratives, and develop the skills needed to foster Jewish inclusion within pluralistic institutions and communities.

That expertise will be paired with the Ruderman Family Foundation’s extensive work to end the stigma associated with mental health, including identifying gaps in mental health resources and programming within high school and higher education communities. Together with the Foundation’s longstanding leadership within the American Jewish community, the organizations bring complementary expertise to an initiative at the intersection of mental health, antisemitism, and Jewish inclusion.

About the Ruderman Family Foundation

The Ruderman Family Foundation is an internationally recognized private foundation that works to advance inclusion and understanding across society. Established in 2002 and operating in the United States and Israel, the Foundation supports a range of initiatives focused on creating more inclusive communities.

As part of its mental health work, the Foundation identifies gaps in resources and programming within high school and higher education communities and supports local and national initiatives that raise awareness and combat stigma. The Foundation also has longstanding experience strengthening the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish community and fostering greater understanding of issues affecting Jewish communities in the United States and Israel.

The Ruderman Family Foundation believes that inclusion and understanding of all people are essential to a fair and flourishing community and advances these values through its leadership and funding. For more information, please visit: rudermanfoundation.org

About Project Shema

Project Shema is a leading education, training, and support organization focused on helping institutions understand and address contemporary antisemitism, with an emphasis on how discourse around Israel and Palestine can undermine Jewish inclusion and safety while also weakening institutional culture and mission driven work.

Rooted in the Hebrew word shema, meaning “to listen,” we believe that true transformation, and a better future, begins when we slow down to actually hear one another’s stories, concerns, and aspirations. Founded by progressive Jews, we partner with organizations and educational institutions seeking to nurture more pluralistic and healthy institutions by creating space for learning, reflection, and repair.

Our work includes educational programs and workshops that equip participants to understand Jewish identity, what antisemitism is, and how it operates. We help people build the skills to navigate and depolarize difficult conversations, expanding the possibility for more constructive dialogue and collective growth. In doing so, we support institutions in strengthening their culture and advancing their shared aspirations. Visit projectshema.org