As I was talking to my non-Jewish friend about Judaism and spirituality, I mentioned Oct. 7. In response, my friend asked me what happened that day. While this friend lives in a more rural area, they are typically informed on most topics we discuss, and have a basic understanding of Israel’s current war in Gaza. So I wondered: if she doesn’t know what happened on Oct. 7, how many people, including the people who are protesting for Palestine actually know what is happening?

This reminded me of social media posts I have seen from groups like Let’s Do Something (@letsdsomething), a pro-Israel advocacy group that started after the death of their friend David Newman at the Nova Music Festival massacre. These activists talk to students on college campuses to survey if protestors actually know what they are representing, asking questions such as “Which river and which sea?” and “When was Palestine established?” as well as questions about Jews. Most of the time, the interviewed protestors either do not answer their questions or give incorrect answers. 

In a survey of 250 college students after the war broke out in 2023 that was conducted by UC Berkeley professor Ron Hassner, 86% of students supported the chant “from the river to the sea.” However, only 47% of surveyed students were able to correctly identify which river and which sea the chant referenced. After learning a few basic facts about the Middle East, 67% of the students surveyed rejected the chant. If so many people reevaluated their positions after learning the chant’s meaning, we have an obligation to make sure that everyone is as knowledgeable as possible to give them the greatest possibility to have an informed opinion.

Attending JDS, I believe that we are in a unique position, having been educated about the conflict in our classes so thoroughly. Therefore, when we notice that people are forming opinions against Israel and Jews without fully understanding the facts, we have a responsibility to educate our peers. 

One powerful way that I believe we can do this is by having civil discussions with our non-Jewish friends about our experiences on that day. Another, more common way I see students doing this is by reposting accurate information about the hostages and the war. 

You might be justifiably afraid to have these conversations with your friends because of the reaction you may receive. Whether it be about how you are received or a fear of the conversation turning into a political discussion about the conflict and whether Israel is committing a genocide and who is in the right, or about what it could mean for your friendship  these are legitimate fears. 

While this cannot be 100% avoided, it can be maneuvered by remaining as apolitical as possible in this conversation; simply explaining what happened on the day and your experience with it. 

By educating others about Oct. 7 and what really happened, we can ensure that Israel is getting a legitimate voice in the conversation about the war, and we limit the spread of misinformation. It is often said that Israel’s public relations, especially with the issues on college campuses, are another front of the war. Therefore, by educating our peers, we help take back the narrative.

Groups on social media like Let’s Do Something do exactly this; they flip the script and find ways to educate protestors about Oct. 7 and the ongoing war. While sometimes this is met with resistance, often the people they try to educate are grateful for the knowledge they have gained, because they truly did not know it beforehand. I have even seen people change their opinion about the war after learning more about what happened on Oct. 7. 

One impactful thing I have seen Let’s Do Something do is set up a table and advertise that they will show you what Gazan’s celebrated, or what happened on Oct. 7. They will then show protesters footage to willing passersby from Hamas. In many of these videos, the passersby are rightfully horrified and display a level of support for Israel.  

Let’s Do Something has noted that 50% of Gen Z gets their news through social media. Because of that, they do a lot of social media advocacy. Besides surveying college students and displaying footage, the group also has media recognizing the impact of Oct. 7. I have also seen Instagram reels where the group pretends to be pro-Palestinian and supporters of Hamas in order to show students what Hamas actually supports, often shocking the students. 

From what I’ve experienced, most American Jews know how the war started, but usually only at a basic level. Even though it may be uncomfortable, it is our responsibility to explain Oct. 7 to people who are not educated, to ensure that our peers are creating legitimately formed opinions and to limit the spread of antisemitism.  

I did explain to my friend what happened on Oct. 7. While doing so was a slightly shocking experience for me because I did not realize that most people were unaware of the events of the day, I left the conversation knowing that I had made an impact both in her life and in the lives of people she will encounter in the future.