Hillel International Partners with Simon Wiesenthal Center to Combat Anti-Semitism on More Than 550 College Campuses

December 11, 2014

Orlando, FL - The Simon Wiesenthal Center announced a partnership today with Hillel International, the largest Jewish student organization in the world, to bring its new CombatHateU app (see photo right) to campuses around the world. The app is designed to enable students to instantaneously report on 

anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incidents as well as serving as a platform to share breaking news relevant to Jewish activists. CombatHateU was developed by the Wiesenthal Center and launched earlier this year and is available for free downloading at the App Store.

"We welcome this special partnership with Hillel International, the preeminent Jewish student organization, which services Jewish students on some 550 campuses across North America and beyond. Hillel’s involvement will help bring awareness of the CombatHateU app to Jewish students throughout the world. Our app provide students with a valuable resource in the current struggle against anti-Semitism and extreme anti-Israel campaigns on campus, and this partnership sends a message that the entire Jewish community stands with and supports our students right to an educational experience free from intimidation," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Associate Dean of the Wiesenthal Center.

Under the terms of partnership, the Wiesenthal Center will confidentially share in real-time any reports it receives from college campuses regarding anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incidents. Hillel International is holding its first Global Assembly this week in Orlando with more than 600 Hillel professionals, including many foreign Hillel leaders, and other Jewish organizations attending.

“Working against anti-Semitism with the Wiesenthal Center is a natural for Hillel International. We’re proud to stand shoulder to shoulder by promoting this important tool to those who most often take the brunt of anti-Semitic attacks – students,” said David Eden, Chief Administrative Officer and chief spokesperson for Hillel International. “This innovative and simple to use app is another resource that we can use to help keep North American college campuses safe for Jewish students.”
Mark Weitzman, the Wiesenthal Center's Director of Government Affairs, also hailed the new agreement. Weitzman said that, "this app, which empowers students, faculty and anyone on campus to immediately report an incident, is made even more effective through this important partnership. We look forward to working closely with Hillel to help students stand up to anti-Semitism and look forward to future cooperation. David Prager, the Wiesenthal Center's Southern Region Representative, is in Orlando to brief Hillel Directors on the app.

About The Simon Wiesenthal Center:
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).

About Hillel International:
Founded in 1923, Hillel has been enriching the lives of Jewish students for 90 years. Today, Hillel International is a global organization that welcomes students of all backgrounds and fosters an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel. Hillel is dedicated to enriching the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. As the largest Jewish student organization in the world, Hillel builds connections with emerging adults at more than 550 colleges and universities, and inspires them to direct their own path. During their formative college years, students are challenged to explore, experience, and create vibrant Jewish lives.