Film screening, 1 hour 40 minutes; English, with closed captioning; followed by discussion
This film is co-sponsored by The Jewish and Israel Advocacy Committee (JIAC)

October 8 explores the explosion of antisemitism on college campuses, social media, and in the streets of America beginning the day after the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas. On a note close to home, national media quoted Gunn High (Palo Alto) graduate and Cornell professor Russell Rickford, declaring he was “exhilarated and energized” by the massacre. We were shocked and confused when non-Jewish friends remained silent, offering not a word of support or sympathy. We watched as posters of the hostages were ripped down. We wondered, what is happening in America?

Antisemitism, it seems, had been “ready to go”. The film reveals how, over decades, Hamas created sophisticated networks in America to permeate U.S. institutions. The tsunami of online antisemitism, propaganda, and disinformation had been waiting to be unleashed. Iran, China, and Russia flooded social media with the sole purpose of dividing American society.

In making their case, executive producers Debra Messing and Wendy Sacks have assembled an impressive array of talking heads, among them Noa Tishby and Sheryl Sandberg, as well as journalists and academics, including Deborah Lipstadt. Included are moving testimonies from survivors of the attacks and from college students who faced hatred on campus when they voiced pro-Israel views.  

"October 8" is co-sponsored by the Jewish Film Series Committee and the Beth Am Jewish and Israel Advocacy Committee (JIAC).