Truth Will Always Win—Unafraid to Speak in the Face of Antisemitism

In these times of rampant antisemitism on college campuses we should stand united, draw from the strength of our community, and not be afraid to speak the truth about Jews, Zionism, and Israel. This was the powerful message delivered by participants at a dinner at Hillel on March 30 organized by the student group Trojans for Israel.

The theme of the event was Ahavat Yisrael—the love of Israel. Among the distinguished guests were Israel's Consul General Israel Bachar, Los Angeles-based music and pop culture journalist Eve Barlow, and Iraqi-American activist Sara Idan.

The speakers painted a vivid picture of the current campus climate and highlighted the critical role Hillel plays in supporting and protecting Jewish students. Through education and advocacy, Hillel works to raise awareness of antisemitism among college students and the broader academic community. Below, I report on the highlights of the event.

In his opening remarks, Hillel Executive Director Dave Cohn underscored the organization's unwavering support for the State of Israel and its people.

Israel's Consul General, Israel Bachar, delivered a powerful address on the resilience required to live proudly as a Jew. He emphasized that anti-Zionism is unequivocally a form of antisemitism. “No one can win against the truth,” he said. “Truth does not depend on context—it rests on historical facts. We must fight for truth when facts are twisted into fiction and fiction is accepted as fact.” He expressed gratitude to allies who have remained steadfast in upholding the truth and combating falsehoods. Bachar concluded with a powerful message: “Not on my watch. Truth is our ultimate weapon.”

Eve Barlow, a Los Angeles-based music and pop culture journalist, was formerly the deputy editor of New Musical Express. She contributes to leading publications such as New York Magazine, The Guardian, Billboard, the L.A. Times, Pitchfork, and GQ, among others.

Beyond her journalism, Barlow is a passionate and outspoken advocate for Jewish identity, Zionism, and the fight against antisemitism—particularly through social media. Her perspectives have also been featured in publications like Tablet Magazine. In recognition of her impact, she was named one of The Algemeiner’s Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life in both 2020 and 2021.

In her remarks, Barlow addressed the current rise in antisemitism, which she likened to a dormant volcano: “It may sleep for a century or two, but then it erupts and splashes everywhere.” She emphasized that we are living through a historical resurgence of an ancient hatred—one that has never truly vanished.

“Three thousand years of history is our legacy as Jews,” she said, urging the community to speak the truth and unapologetically affirm the Jewish right to their ancestral homeland.

Referring to the controversial film No Other Land, Barlow asked a provocative question: “Where is the land of the Jewish people?” She challenged the narrative—the main theme in the film—that Jewish existence and legitimacy are conditional upon the Palestinian search for peoplehood. “Are 3,000 years of Jewish history to be erased and dismissed?” she asked.

Barlow also criticized the current state of journalism, noting that it has shifted away from objective reporting. “Today, journalism often acts as activism,” she said, pointing to media channels that are funded by foreign governments and tailored to promote selective information—or misinformation—based on a particular agenda.

Sara Idan is an Iraqi-American activist, beauty queen, and political figure. She is the founder and CEO of Humanity Forward and was crowned Miss Universe Iraq in 2017, representing her country at the international Miss Universe pageant that same year. Idan relocated to the United States in 2017.

In 2008, at the age of 18 and living as a refugee in Syria due to the war in Iraq, Idan taught herself English. Driven by a desire to help, she later volunteered as a translator for U.S. forces in Iraq. During her service, she assisted American troops in operations against Hamas of Iraq (a local extremist group not affiliated with the Palestinian organization, Hamas). In a recent post on X, she wrote that activism is now her full-time commitment.

When she was a candidate in the 2024 U.S. Congressional elections, Idan—whose Iraqi citizenship was revoked in 2019—visited communities devastated by the October 7th Hamas attacks near Israel’s Gaza border, demonstrating her solidarity with the Jewish state.

Her message to students was clear and compelling: “Research and study history—truth will always prevail.” She emphasized the need for critical thinking and historical understanding as tools to combat misinformation and develop well-informed perspectives.

Idan and Barlow are passionate women activists who have made advocacy for Jewish people their full-time mission. Their personal stories are both sobering and inspiring. Despite adversities, they found strength and courage to stand up for what is true.

Reflecting on her journey, Idan expressed deep doubt about the prospect of peace after witnessing the atrocities of October 7th. The experience profoundly impacted her worldview and reaffirmed her commitment to speaking out and standing with the Jewish people.

Barlow's spectacular journalistic career was abruptly disrupted because of her unapologetic Zionist stance. Despite being “blacklisted,” she has continued her work through her Substack, aptly named BlackListed, where she writes freely and fearlessly. Her message to students was bold and clear: “Be honest. Pursue the truth, and you will find your audience—because truth lasts, not political correctness.”

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