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Governor Josh Shapiro at 2025 Eradicate Hate Global Summit

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#  A Jewish Student’s Call for Moral Clarity – What Our Leaders Owe Students This Year

January 12 2026

Written by Shoshannah Kalaydjian.

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A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE - As a young Jewish student, I was raised to believe that words matter, that silence carries consequences, and that leadership is measured not by applause but by courage. My wish for this year is simple, yet urgent: that our politicians choose moral clarity over convenience, truth over talking points, and unity over division.

This past year has been deeply painful for many Jewish students across the country. Campuses that once promised open inquiry and respectful debate have too often become places of intimidation, hostility, and fear. Jewish students have been forced to explain our humanity, defend our right to exist without qualification, and navigate an environment where antisemitism is frequently minimized, excused, or ignored.

This is not a partisan issue. Antisemitism does not belong to the left or the right—it thrives wherever leaders fail to confront it clearly and consistently. My wish is that our elected officials stop treating antisemitism as an inconvenience to manage rather than a moral crisis to confront.

We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for equal protection, equal dignity, and equal accountability.

When Jewish students are harassed, threatened, or silenced, the response should not depend on polling data, donor pressure, or ideological alignment. It should be immediate, unequivocal, and grounded in the same values our leaders claim to defend for every other community.

Words matter—but only when they are followed by action.

I want to see politicians who understand that condemning hate means more than issuing carefully worded statements after the damage is done. It means holding institutions accountable when they fail to protect students. It means enforcing laws consistently. It means drawing clear lines between legitimate political debate and hate speech that targets people for who they are.

As a Jewish student, I carry a history that teaches me what happens when leaders hesitate, when hatred is normalized, and when good people look away. That history is not abstract—it is personal, inherited, and ever-present. It informs how I see the world and why I believe leadership requires moral courage, especially when it is uncomfortable.

My wish for this year is that our politicians listen—not just to the loudest voices in the room, but to those of us who are afraid to speak because we fear retaliation, isolation, or dismissal. Listen to students who want to learn, not protest their way through fear. Listen to those who believe campuses should be places of dialogue, not dogma.

This is also a call for balance and humanity. Jewish students are not asking leaders to abandon nuance or suppress free speech. We are asking them to recognize that free speech does not mean free intimidation, and that activism loses its moral force when it dehumanizes others.

Leadership is not about choosing sides—it is about choosing principles.

This year, I hope our politicians remember that protecting Jewish students does not come at the expense of protecting anyone else. Standing against antisemitism strengthens democracy; it does not weaken it. Moral consistency is not a liability—it is the foundation of trust.

My wish is that our leaders act not out of fear of backlash, but out of commitment to justice. That they speak clearly when hatred surfaces. That they lead with integrity when it would be easier to stay silent.

Because students are watching. History is watching. And the choices made this year will echo far beyond our campuses.

As a young Jewish student, I still believe leadership can rise to the moment. I still believe in courage. I still believe that doing the right thing—clearly, consistently, and without hesitation—can change the course of our shared future.

That is my call for moral clarity.

*(Shoshannah Kalaydjian is a young Jewish student who writes about education, identity, and the challenges facing the next generation. Growing up in today’s climate, she has witnessed firsthand how rising antisemitism affects young people in classrooms and on college campuses. She is committed to sharing the perspectives of Jewish youth, amplifying student voices, and encouraging leaders to create safer, more inclusive environments for all students.)*

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