Student Spotlight: Eliyahu Suskind
Meet Eliyahu Suskind, a sophomore at Babson College studying Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Design. As soon as he became the president of SSI at Babson, he personally faced antisemitism.
“I was, unfortunately, the victim of an antisemitic and violent hate crime after becoming the SSI president which caused me to relocate to emergency housing on campus. It was very rough, but nevertheless, I persevered.”
Some may have quit after experiencing antisemitism, but Eliyahu has continued to fight. Although he describes his campus as apathetic towards Israel, he also shares that there is a minority that is very hateful. Eliyahu’s identity is a key factor in his reasons for standing strong on campus and continuing to represent Israel to Babson students. He goes on to say,
“I am an Israeli-American and proud Jew that understands the right and need of the Jewish people’s self-determination to their native land. Additionally, Israel is a beacon of freedom and human rights in the region.”
Eliyahu is correct in his understanding of Jewish self-determination and the need for the Jewish people to have Israel as a home to be free from antisemitism. Jews from all over the world have not been able to escape antisemitism, Eliyahu included as he has shared. His experiences of antisemitism are not limited to himself but throughout Babson’s campus. He further explains the campus climate.
“Antisemitism on campus has been continuously and sharply rising in the past few years and propaganda has proliferated like a plague. These factors have made it much harder for one to defend Israel on campus without being shot down with slander, hatred, and lies. My experience is fully indicative of this.”
Thankfully, Eliyahu decided to join Students Supporting Israel as he saw the value in standing up for his people, his country, and himself.
“My love for my country, my history, and my people made me want to join SSI at my school so I could help defend it.”
After going through the trauma of antisemitism, Eliyahu is currently making plans to pass the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Definition of Antisemitism. According to Eliyahu,
“I am adamant in having Babson pass the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, especially after what I went through and having the perpetrator walk free with no repercussions. And, after laying low last semester, I hope to have an eventful next semester with SSI full of activism, events, and change.”
We look forward to the work Eliyahu Suskind is doing and will do at Babson College, and are honored to have his perseverance and strength in SSI!
