Nearly 80% of Canadian Jewish professors changed behavior to stay safe after Oct. 7, study suggests

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Higher Education indicates that nearly 80% of Canadian Jewish professors altered their behavior for safety reasons following October 7, 2023. Researchers Lilach Marom, Leor Elizur, and Cary Kogan surveyed 120 Jewish professors, finding that only 40% felt physically safe and a mere 14.2% felt emotionally safe on campus post-October 7. This represents a significant decline from pre-October 7 levels, with 87.5% reporting distress on campus. One professor described declaring an "unsafe work environment" after finding Hamas symbols and a sniper rifle painted on windows, stating, "I stayed off campus for two months." The study highlights a "profound sense of institutional abandonment" among Jewish faculty, with many feeling unwelcome and experiencing indifference from colleagues.