As antisemitic incidents surge across the United States—from the vandalism of synagogues in Los Angeles to violent assaults in Brooklyn—one school in the heart of New York City has decided to fight back with light, education and pride.
Beth Rivkah, the flagship Chabad girls’ school based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, is taking an audacious step forward in the global fight against antisemitism. In a time of growing fear and rising hate, they are launching a historic initiative: a $50 million state-of-the-art campus that will serve as a hub for Jewish education, empowerment and identity. But this is not just a school expansion—it’s a declaration of Jewish resilience.
In the heart of New York, a Jewish girls' school launches $50M battlefront against antisemitism
“We’re building a center to raise a generation of fearless Jewish girls,” says Yerachmiel Jacobson, a member of the school’s board. “A place where they can become leaders, educators and unapologetic voices of light in a world that sometimes seems to grow darker by the day.”
Since the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, a date that shook the Jewish world to its core, the students of Beth Rivkah have not remained silent. They’ve become activists in their own right. Within days of the attack, they launched a campaign to distribute 10,000 sets of Shabbat candles throughout New York City—an act of spiritual resistance and unity that caught on like wildfire.
“Everybody wanted candles,” recalls Sara Blau, director of Bais Rivkah Alumnae International. “We didn’t expect it to spread so fast. But it reminded us that even small flames can light up great darkness.”
For Miryam Swerdlov, a veteran educator and one of the school’s most passionate voices, October 7 was more than a tragedy—it was a wake-up call.
“We tried to help our girls understand just how evil the world outside can be,” she says. “We wanted them to cherish the pride of being a Jew, to wear it not as a burden but as a crown.”
And that pride is what Beth Rivkah is determined to instill. Through classes steeped in tradition and activism rooted in joy, the school is teaching its students that the answer to hate isn’t fear or assimilation—it’s authenticity and action.
“Antisemitism can’t survive when we shine with joy, with emunah (faith), with strength,” Swerdlov adds. “We don’t fight by hiding. We fight by standing tall. I will be proud of my Judaism. I will act Jewish. I will look Jewish. I will teach Jewish.”
That philosophy is not just spoken—it is lived. Shayna Krasnianski, a teacher who grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, recalls how often her community was shocked by antisemitic incidents.
“We thought we were safe, accepted. But these attacks reminded us—we’re never immune. And that’s why Beth Rivkah’s message is so powerful. It tells girls: don’t disappear. Stand brighter.”
This call for light feels especially urgent in the shadow of one of the most horrifying recent attacks on Jews in America.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
Just days ago, a deadly shooting took place in Washington, DC, where two Israeli embassy personnel were murdered in cold blood in what authorities have confirmed was a targeted antisemitic assault. The suspect, now in custody, was reportedly motivated by hatred of Jews and Israel, further fueling concerns that the war against antisemitism is escalating beyond rhetoric into open violence.
In response, Jewish communities across the U.S. are increasing security, but they are also looking inward—toward education, identity and empowerment—as the most lasting defense.
With hundreds of alumnae now spreading across the globe—teaching, leading and proudly embracing their faith—Beth Rivkah’s impact is already immeasurable. And with the launch of this monumental new campus, its reach is about to grow exponentially
In an America where mezuzahs are being ripped off doors and Jewish students are afraid to wear kippahs on college campuses, Beth Rivkah is building something revolutionary: a generation that refuses to be afraid.