UCLA’s $6.45 Million Wake-Up Call: Protecting Our Kids Amid Antisemitic Shadows

Alright, folks, let’s talk about something that hits close to home for our LA parents and families. UCLA just agreed to a $6.45 million settlement with three Jewish students who sued over what they call a mishandling of antisemitic incidents, incidents that turned a 2024 protest encampment into what some dubbed a “Jew Exclusion Zone.” The U.S. Department of Justice isn’t mincing words either, finding UCLA in violation of federal civil rights law due to “systemic” antisemitism. This isn’t just a campus spat; it’s a wake-up call for our community, and we’re diving in with a Torah lens.

The settlement, announced yesterday, includes a $2.33 million donation to eight organizations combating antisemitism, like Hillel and the Anti-Defamation League, plus $320,000 for a UCLA initiative to fight this hate. The students, including recent law grad Yitzchok Frankel, say the university let protesters block access to campus areas, leaving Jewish kids feeling unsafe since Hamas’ October 2023 attack sparked nationwide protests.

Frankel’s words sting: “It is sad that my own school defended those actions for over a year.” The DOJ’s investigation, part of a broader probe into over 50 antisemitic incidents at UCLA since 2023, points to a glaring gap—UCLA’s anti-intolerance policies sound good on paper, but enforcement? That’s where the rubber meets the road, and it’s been a bumpy ride.

Let’s be real: this isn’t just about UCLA. Our yeshivas in Tarzana and Valley Village face similar pressures as hate rises, 167 incidents in LA last year alone, per recent counts. The Gemara (Shabbat 119b) teaches that educating our kids in Torah is our shield, but what happens when that shield gets dented by exclusion? A Beverlywood parent I spoke with put it bluntly: “My son’s safety trumps everything, but his Torah learning can’t stop.” UCLA’s settlement, $50,000 per plaintiff, plus funds for anti-hate groups, shows accountability, but it’s on us to ensure our schools don’t repeat this pattern.

So, what’s the Torah take? The pasuk in Devarim (16:20) commands, “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” This isn’t just about lawsuits; it’s about action. UCLA’s new chancellor, Julio Frenk, who’s Jewish and launched an antisemitism initiative, banned Students for Justice in Palestine after a protest gone wrong, steps forward, sure, but sporadic enforcement raises eyebrows. Critics might argue the university’s initial de-escalation tactics with bike racks were safety-driven, not discriminatory. Fair point, but when Jewish students report harassment and feel barred from campus, intent matters less than impact. The DOJ’s “deliberate indifference” ruling suggests UCLA dropped the ball, and the $6.45 million price tag backs that up.

For our community, this is personal. Young families, let’s organize safety drills with a dvar Torah on courage, teach your kids that our resilience is our strength. Retirees in Hancock Park, share Holocaust survival stories at a shul shiur to inspire the next generation. Young professionals, consider fundraising for yeshiva security tech, silent alarms or halacha-compliant guards. A Valley Village mashgiach suggested training programs, blending practicality with faith. Maybe it’s time for a community task force, mirroring UCLA’s initiative but rooted in Torah values, because our DNA, unique and holy, demands we protect our neshamas.

Some might say this settlement’s just political posturing under the Trump administration’s crackdown on universities. True, the feds are flexing muscle, targeting schools with funding threats, Columbia’s $200 million deal last week set the tone. But let’s not get lost in the noise. The 50+ incidents since 2023, from swastikas to threats, aren’t imaginary, they’re a call to action. UCLA’s admission that it “fell short” (their words) echoes our own need to stay vigilant. Let’s turn this moment into a mitzvah, ensuring our kids learn Torah in safety, not shadows. Who’s with me?