Jewish students in Chicago share their experiences of being targeted on college campuses.

Max Long was among the Israeli soldiers who reacted to the massacre on October 7, 2023. He stayed in combat until he was part of the team that entered Rafah, located at the southern end of the Gaza Strip.

In March, he left active duty to join the reserves and later traveled to the U.S. to study at DePaul University in Chicago.

Long, who was once a student, observed anti-Israel protests not only at DePaul but also on college campuses nationwide. He recognized that he had left Israel but not the conflict. "This war has another front," Long stated. "It's the battle for the narrative, who is the aggressor and who is defending themselves."

Michael Kaminsky and Long, both Jewish students, started a campus advocacy campaign to support Israel's actions. They stood on the sidewalk near the student union with a sign that read "Come talk about Israel with an IDF Soldier."

Long stated that the objective of these discussions was to de-escalate, not to enrage or fan the flames.

A young man in a white T-shirt and a black mask approached Long and Kaminsky last Wednesday, as shown in their video. They shook hands and had a contentious, yet civil, conversation.

""Out of nowhere, an accomplice appeared behind me and knocked me out during our conversation," Long stated."

Kaminsky stated that he saw the man in the mask pull him into the fight and his body was weak and limp. He added that he tried to lift him up but couldn't. There were initial reports that antisemitic comments were made during the attack, but Kaminsky said he was fending off an attack and couldn't confirm specific comments. He explained that he had tunnel vision during the incident and couldn't recall anything that was said.

Chicago Police are searching for a couple of men in their 20s, one with a beard who is approximately 5 feet, 11 inches tall, and the other who is about 6 feet tall. The camera did not capture a clear image of the second man's face because he was wearing a balaclava.

Long said he suffered a concussion. Kaminsky’s wrist was broken.

Josh Weiner, co-founder of the Chicago Jewish alliance, stated that the recent shooting of a Jewish man in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, as well as the campus protests and attack on Jewish soccer fans in Amsterdam, have not surprised him. He explained that society has framed Jews and Israelis as oppressors, which has created a permission structure for violence against Jews.

Kaminsky and Long have emphasized the significance of their outreach after the attack. They will return to campus but will take security measures when hosting an ad-hoc discussion. "We will definitely go back out there," says Kaminsky. "We are more resilient than ever."