B’nai B’rith invites college students to share their experiences of anti-Semitism at their school by entering our 2026 None Shall Be Afraid Essay Contest. Winners will earn scholarships as well as the opportunity to have their essays published.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, and the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, anti-Semitism in the United States has intensified drastically, with universities becoming critical battlegrounds for Jewish students facing unprecedented levels of hate and anti-Israel hostility. This year’s essay prompt invites Jewish students to share their encounters experiencing and confronting anti-Semitism on their campuses and its emotional and social consequences.

B’nai B’rith International created the None Shall Be Afraid initiative to keep a focus on anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in our society today. None Shall Be Afraid was inspired by the 1790 letter from George Washington to the congregants of Touro Synagogue in Rhode Island, where he quoted Micah 4:4, “Everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.”

Now it’s time for the next generation to take its place in combating the world’s oldest hatred.

In an essay of under 750 words, students are asked to answer the following prompt:

How do you assess the current climate of anti-Semitism in the United States, particularly on college campuses or within your own community? Drawing on your personal experiences or observations, reflect on how this reality shapes your sense of responsibility as a student.

In addition to the scholarship, the first-place winner will have their essay featured in the Winter 2026 edition of B’nai B’rith Magazine and published on B’nai B’rith’s website and social media platforms.

Awards:

1st Place: $2,500 scholarship

2nd Place: $1,000 scholarship

3rd Place: $500 scholarship

Essays should be sent to [email protected]. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2026.

For more information about essay requirements and contest rules, please visit our website here.