You're Not Alone
At Jewish Niagara, we’re here to support you, not only as a Jewish student, but as a whole person.
Whether you're navigating a Jewish-related issue or not, we're here to listen and help you feel less alone.
We also offer referrals to campus and community services for:
- Mental health support
- Medical concerns
- Academic accommodations or conflicts
You don’t need to go through anything alone. We’ve got your back.
Important Contacts
Brock's Jewish Chaplain
To connect with Brock's Jewish chaplain, you can reach Rabbi Zaltzman directly at rabbi@brocku.ca.
Office Drop In
Perla’s office is located on campus at MCB 226 — feel free to drop by for coffee, support, or just to say hello. Perla can also be reached at pmatusof@brocku.ca.
Mental Health Support
Brock offers many services and programs for students (included in ancillary fees paid annually). For personal counselling and other services, visit this site.
Human Rights & Equity
You can request a Jewish mental health counselor though the Human Rights and Equity office's Counsellor of Choice program.
Jewish Accommodations
Your ability to observe Jewish holidays, rituals, and practices is protected by provincial law and university policy.
Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, “creed” is a protected ground. That means Brock University has a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodation for religious observance, including holidays, dietary requirements, and religious practices, unless doing so would cause undue hardship.
Brock’s own policy reflects this.
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According to the Faculty Handbook, Section 3: Religious Obligations
“Students requesting academic accommodation on the basis of religious obligation should make a formal, written request to their instructor(s) during the first two weeks of any given academic term, or as soon as possible once a need for accommodation is known to exist. Accommodation is to be worked out directly and on an individual basis between the student and the instructor(s)... in a way that avoids academic disadvantage.”
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Similarly, the Undergraduate Academic Regulations
“Brock University acknowledges the pluralistic nature of the student body and will accommodate students who, by reason of religious obligation, must miss an examination, test, assignment deadline, laboratory or other compulsory academic event."
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What You Can Ask For
- Time off for Jewish holidays (e.g. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover)
- Alternate exam or test dates that fall on Shabbat or holidays
- Kosher food accommodations in residence, catered campus events and mandatory events.
- Housing arrangements or schedule flexibility to support religious observance (e.g. Kosher kitchen, Shabbat)
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Sample Email to Professors
Subject: Request for Religious Accommodation
Dear Professor [Name],
I’m writing to request accommodation for the upcoming Jewish holiday [Insert Date]. As part of my religious observance, I will not be able to attend class or complete coursework that day.
Thank you for your support.
[Your Name]
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2026 Holiday Calendar
- Rosh Hashanah – Sept 11–13, 2026 (No work permitted)
- Yom Kippur – Sept 20–21, 2026 (No work permitted)
- Sukkot – Sept 25–Oct 4, 2026 (Work restrictions Sept 26–27 & Oct 3–4)
- Passover – Apr 1–9, 2026 (Work restrictions Apr 2–3 & Apr 8–9)
Faculty & Staff
Our faculty is an integral part of the Jewish Brock community.
We recognize the need for connection, belonging, and visibility across campus, not just for students. If you’re a Jewish faculty or staff member and want to get involved, join a holiday event, or simply connect, we welcome you. We are also working to create stronger bridges between Jewish faculty and students.
Jewish Faculty Allies
Brock is a welcoming place for Jewish students, yet a global climate of increasing antisemitism has contributed to moments of isolation, stigmatization and hesitation about expressing Jewish identity for many students. Research shows that Jewish students across North America report heightened fear and anxiety, which directly impacts their sense of belonging on campus (Waldman-Levi et al, 2025; Wright et al., 2024; Morstead & DeLongis, 2025).
Studies in higher education also demonstrate that minority students are more successful and feel a stronger sense of belonging when they see representation at the faculty level (Busch et al, 2022).
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Points of Contact & Support for Jewish Students
- Fanny Dolansky - Associate Professor, Department of Classics and Archaeology, fdolansky@brocku.ca, GLB 317
- Bareket Falk - Distinguished Professor, Department of Kinesiology, bfalk@brocku.ca, WC 293
- Elizabeth Neswald - Associate Professor, Department of History, eneswald@brock.ca
- Danny Rosenberg - Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, drosenberg@brocku.ca, WC276
If you're a Jewish faculty member and would like to be added to this list, please contact us.
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References
Busch, C. A., Supriya, K., Cooper, K. M., & Brownell, S. E. (2022). Unveiling concealable stigmatized identities in class: The impact of an instructor revealing her LGBTQ+ identity to students in a large-enrollment biology course. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 21(2), ar37.
Morstead, T., & DeLongis, A. (2025). Antisemitism on Campus in the Wake of October 7: Examining Stress, Coping, and Depressive Symptoms Among Jewish Students. Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, 41(1), e3529. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3529
Waldman-Levi, A., Friedman, Z., Falk-Kessler, J., Halperin, L., Gordon-Handler, L., Akselrud, R., & Molinsky, R. (2025). Jewish Students’ Experiences of Antisemitism in Higher Education Settings and Daily Occupations. OTJR (Thorofare, N.J.), 15394492251344525. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492251344525
Antisemitism Support
We recognize that being Jewish on campus is not only a source of pride, but it can also make students vulnerable.
Antisemitism today often shows up in subtle, coded ways that are harder to recognize and easier to dismiss (Silverstein & Block, 2024). It may appear as exclusion, assumptions, or bias based on perceived connections to Israel. We understand antisemitism as hostility, bias, or discrimination targeting Jews, whether religious, cultural, or ethnic, or their real or perceived association with Israel.
While antisemitism is one of the oldest forms of hatred, it is not always treated with the same seriousness as other types of racism (Brym, 2025). Research has found that Jewish students are reporting not only a rise in incidents but also a deep sense of alienation and traumatic invalidation, the pain of having their experiences denied, minimized, or ignored (Bar-Halpern & Wolfman, 2025).
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What Antisemitism Can Look Like
- Overt (slurs, graffiti, hate speech)
- Covert (exclusion, coded language)
- Microaggressions ("You don’t look Jewish", "You’re rich, right?")
- Anti-Israel rhetoric that crosses into Jew-hatred (e.g., “Zionists not welcome here” excluding Jewish students based on their connection to Israel)
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What to Do
Talk to us confidentially: whether you’re not sure what you experienced or need help responding.
We can support you emotionally, help you navigate next steps, or accompany you through formal reporting if you choose.
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Israel, Identity, & Support
For many Jewish students, Israel is deeply personal, a part of their heritage, identity, and lived experience. We support every student’s right to be proud of who they are, to speak openly, and to feel safe doing so. If you're facing hostility or bias related to Israel, you are not alone, and you deserve support.
What to Do:
- Talk to us confidentially: We can help you reflect, respond, or report
- Reach out to a faculty member, the BCAA or ACT
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References
Bar-Halpern, R., & Wolfman, L. (2025). Traumatic invalidation in the Jewish community after October 7. [Unpublished manuscript].
Brym, R. J. (2025). Antisemitism in Ontario’s K-12 Schools. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/canada-holocaust/antisemitism/antisemitism-ontario-schools.html
Silverstein, Y., & Block, C. (2024). Making the invisible visible: A taxonomy of contemporary antisemitic experiences on college campuses. Contemporary Jewry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12397-024-09458-
Additional Contacts
Chabad On Campus International Act (Action & Crisis Team):
If the situation is complex or urgent, we can connect you with Chabad on Campus for additional support and legal consultation.
You can also reach out directly to Adina at adina@chabadoncampus.edu
Brock Coalition Against Antisemitism (BCAA):
BCAA, uniting Jewish and non-Jewish faculty, staff, and graduate students at Brock University, is dedicated to combating antisemitism and its manifestations, including anti-Zionism, through education, advocacy, solidarity, and accountability.
If you would like support in processing or navigating an antisemitic incident on campus, you can email bcaa@brocku.ca.
