‘For Dummies’-style manual aims to equip college-bound Jews for campus life
’10 Things Every Jew Should Know’ offers bird’s eye view of Jewish campus life after October 7, including historical primer, campus landscape assessment, practical advice
Reporter at The Times of Israel
Targeting college-bound Jewish students and their parents, two American immigrants to Israel penned a “For Dummies”-style primer on being a Jewish collegiate during times of surging antisemitism.
The authors of “10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College” — Emily Schrader and Blake Flayton — were each at the center of antisemitism scandals on their respective college campuses. Although they now live in Israel, Schrader and Flayton remain closely connected to the scene on American campuses.
In an interview with The Times of Israel, Schrader said the antisemitism at her former campus — University of Southern California — spurred her to move to Israel in 2015.
Incidents ranged from antisemitic Tweets to chants of “Death to Israel” on the USC campus quad, said Schrader. The journalist quickly became an outspoken opponent of Students for Justice in Palestine, the anti-Israel network that has been banned on several campuses in recent months.
“The administration did nothing,” said Schrader. “I knew the trajectory was going the wrong way even at schools like USC.”
Although “10 Things” is most relevant for North American Jews, the book makes note of campus developments around the world. Anti-Israel university activities often migrate from Europe to North American campuses, said Schrader.
“It’s worse in Europe. What happens in the UK is sort of a precursor to what happens in North America,” said Schrader.
The book is divided into 10 chapters based on topics including the media, the West Bank and the United Nations. There is content regarding campus support networks — including Hillel and Chabad — as well as warnings about Israel’s campus opponents and their activities.
Schrader had already been working on the book when thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023. Some 1,200 Israelis were murdered and 251 people kidnapped back to Gaza.
“After that day, I wanted everyone to know what’s going to be placed on an individual simply because they’re a Jew,” said Schrader.
Not long after the Hamas massacre, Schrader met Flayton and invited him to co-author the book with her. Kimberly Brooks provided pithy illustrations to help break up text on difficult subjects.
Flayton, 24, was recently drafted into the IDF. In an interview with The Times of Israel, he said he hoped to be assigned to the spokesperson’s unit.
“I believe that education and expanded knowledge among Jewish young people are what enable them to fight back,” said Flayton. A writer and content creator, Flayton moved to Israel in 2022 and put in his papers for the army after October 7.
“After the attacks, I was completely frozen. I was unable to create or say or do anything,” said Flayton.
Flayton’s encounters with campus antisemitism took place at George Washington University, across the country from Schrader’s experience at USC.
In 2019, Flayton published a New York Times article that placed him on the frontlines of fighting progressive antisemitism.
“That was the first time I discovered myself having a Jewish identity,” said Flayton. The advocate grew up in a Reform Jewish community in Arizona.
“The book is really for everybody. Everybody can learn something that they didn’t know prior to reading it,” said Flayton.
‘As universal as possible’
“10 Things” offers several viewpoints on hot-button issues, including Jewish settlements in the West Bank. For example, two facing pages bear companion essays on the case for — and against — settlements, without drawing conclusions.
“We want to empower students as much as possible to have a much broader perspective on this issue,” said Schrader.
The book is critical of J Street, a national organization that cultivated many campus chapters over the past two decades.
“J Street lobbies the US government to pressure Israel, a sovereign country, to carry out a specific policy,” wrote the authors. In contrast to J Street, the authors said AIPAC helps “create US jobs and spur US innovation.”
On a page with a drawing of Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister’s leadership is called “controversial and critical.” The Abraham Accords of 2020 are contrasted with “indictments on corruption and bribery charges from the attorney-general” facing Netanyahu.
Toward the end of the book, the authors make recommendations for Jewish students, including taking a trip to the Jewish state with Birthright Israel. Students are urged to educate themselves, learn Hebrew, and connect with Jewish communities.
“We wanted the book to be as universal as possible, which is a tall order,” said Schrader.
When asked if there was a particularly salient aspect of the book she wanted to elevate, Schrader pointed to ways in which Jewish ties to Israel are strenuously denied by the Palestinian Authority.
“Students need to understand these efforts to undermine their Jewish identities and the Jewish connection to Israel,” said Schrader.
10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College: An Illustrated Guide by Emily Schrader and Blake Flayton with Kimberly Brooks (Illustrator)
This article contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, The Times of Israel may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
The Times of Israel Community.