The atrocities that occurred on October 7, 2023, have proven to be part of a much larger chain of traumatic, globe-shaking events that are still unfolding, and it will take years to unpack their significance and consequences. At the same time, the effort to make sense of their impact is already underway. This forum, convened by Rebecca Kobrin, shares preliminary reflections on October 7 as a historical turning point by five Jewish studies scholars:

The integration of Jews into the university is one of the great success stories of modern American culture and Jewish life. Penn was at the forefront of this success story, with the first Jewish Students’ Association formed here in 1924. But recent events at Penn and at other campuses have led to accusations that the university has been too tolerant of antisemitism and become less welcoming to Jews.

In the current issue of JQR (113.2), Adam Ferziger makes exciting use of archival audio footage of David Ben-Gurion speaking live on university campuses in the United States in 1960. He uses the footage alongside contemporaneous first-hand accounts to offer new insight into the way the legendary prime minister approached the relationship between American Jews and Israel at a late stage in his career.