I was scrolling through social media and noticed that 
a few classmates of mine posted insensitive and hateful 
things about Israel and Zionism. Speaking with a few of 
my Jewish classmates, I learned of similar experiences and 
even of some insensitive comments made to them directly. 
I felt uncomfortable knowing that some students could be so 
open to hate as future medical professionals that will be taking 
care of a diverse patient population. 
Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Oakland 
University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) and 
president of the Jewish Medical Student Association (JeMSA). During 
my time as president, I wanted to make sure that no other students feel 
like they must hide a part of themselves to connect with others at school, 
especially if they are Jewish. I also wanted to ensure that my fellow future 
physicians were going to treat all patients without bias no matter who they are, 
where they come from or what they believe in. 
I contacted Hillel of Metro Detroit to help the Jewish Medical Student 
Association (JeMSA) construct a plan. We decided that antisemitism training 
led by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) would be appropriate to offer the 
OUWB student body. All students and faculty from the OUWB medical school 
were invited and encouraged to attend the session. There were about 30 partici-
pants on the Zoom call, with a majority being non-Jewish students who wanted 
to learn more about antisemitism and antibias. 
I was also pleasantly surprised to see multiple OUWB faculty members 
present and was thrilled to witness their commitment to their students. The 
training, led by Emily Snider of the ADL, lasted an hour and a half, and was 
concluded with a Q+A. 
OUWB students were shocked at how much they did not know about 
antisemitism and other forms of hate in the community. The students were 
thankful for the training and thought it was helpful to them as they transition 
from students to medical professionals. I am now more equipped to recognize 
bias-related incidents and how to report them and more comfortable knowing 
that my classmates understand antisemitism and know what to look for. 
This opportunity was important to provide to my fellow students and the 
10 faculty members in attendance. It was a fantastic first step, and I hope 
that JeMSA will continue to educate and support their peers to benefit 
the OUWB community as well as everyone our medical students will 
encounter in the future. @

Antisemitism Training

Leah Rotenbakh } Jewish@edu writer

Leah Rotenbakh

I

n the world of COVID, the 
atmosphere of school has 
changed completely. 
While virtual learning has 
increased, so has the 
availability to hide 
behind your screen; 
and connecting 
with classmates 
has become 
harder 
than ever 
before. 

Leah Rotenbakh 

is currently a 

second-year med-

ical student at the 

Oakland University 

William Beaumont School 

of Medicine and served as 

the 2021-2022 President of the 

Jewish Medical Student Association.

for college students by college students
May 19, 2022 / 18 Iyar 5782

(Jewish Medical Student Association)
JeMSA

100 | MAY 19 • 2022 

