Today’s Jewish college students are navigating hostility, anxiety and isolation. Yet through these challenges, there are signs that something new is emerging.
‘Students are definitely more open, as we can observe from their willingness to step into a Jews for Jesus café,’ missionary Rachel Stepakoff says. ‘They are open to having conversations about religion and philosophy and even tend to respond well to hearing that we’re Jewish and Christian.’
Rachel knows firsthand how formative those college years can be. During her senior year of university, Rachel began taking her faith more seriously following a Massah mission trip to Israel with Jews for Jesus in June 2024. It was there that she became passionate about sharing Yeshua (Jesus) with Jewish people. Now as a missionary, Rachel’s main focus is reaching students. She works out of our café and ministry space, Upside Down, near the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus.
Rachel says, ‘Last year was my first year working at the LA branch. I quickly began to make friends with the students at UCLA and started getting invited to Jewish organisations on campus such as Hillel, Chabad and Olami. My first time going to Chabad, I was the only believer in Jesus. I am always very open about my faith and where I work. This often leads to reactions but also questions.’
The surge in antisemitism following the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel has had a galvanising effect on the Jewish community on campus. Three years later, while antisemitic rhetoric and security concerns are still a constant reality, many Jewish students are proud and open about their identity. On campus, the Jewish community has become more close-knit and supportive of one another. In fact, lately this inclusion has also extended to Jewish believers in Jesus.
This growing openness has created opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith, like with Ella*:
‘I first met Ella, a secular Jewish student at UCLA, through a campus initiative against antisemitism. I told her I worked for Jews for Jesus and unexpectedly, the conversation quickly turned personal. She shared her struggles, and I offered to pray for her, which she gladly accepted. She told me that she felt so blessed by my prayer and that she experienced a beautiful holy moment. Since then, our friendship has grown; we’ve had many more deep conversations, and I’ve had more opportunities to pray for her. Ella has even attended one of our Shabbat dinners where the gospel was presented. Please pray that Ella’s spiritual eyes are opened and that she will receive Yeshua as Messiah.’
According to the Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape study, 65% of Jewish people in America have a bachelor’s degree or more education compared to 35% of the general population[1]. That means that if we want to reach Jewish young adults, having a gospel presence for Jewish people on university campuses is vital.
In addition to missionary teams serving on strategic campuses, we also have a Student Fellowship Program which equips Jewish students across the United States who want to take a stand for Yeshua at their university. Throughout the year, they receive mentorship, biblical grounding and practical evangelism training from our missionaries. We have had participants at Yale, Brandeis, Penn State, Baylor, Wheaton and Moody, just to name a few.
Rachel, who also helps lead our Student Fellowship Program, says, ‘I have seen students become more confident in going into Jewish campus groups like Chabad and Hillel and be bold in these spaces, sharing their faith in Jesus.’
Eden* grew up in a Messianic family and is in her sophomore year at an Ivy League university. The Student Fellowship Program has equipped her to engage thoughtfully in conversations about faith and identity.
‘God has really been working in my own heart to not be afraid of those that I disagree with. I have had many opportunities to have conversations with and develop friendships with students who hold vastly different views,’ Eden says.
Please pray for Ella and all those we are ministering to on campuses around the world, that their hearts would open to receive the gospel. Pray for our missionaries who engage with students, that the Holy Spirit would guide their conversations. And also pray for our Student Fellows that they would grow in boldness, wisdom and love as they represent Yeshua on their campuses.
*Name has been changed to protect identity.