The Charlotte Jewish News- September 2026- Page 16
From Tel Aviv to Queens: Davies Fellow Mika Katz Takes on Antisemitism
By Rabbi Dr. Judy Schindler
At a time when antisemitism is rising across the country, Queens University of Charlotte junior Mika Katz has been selected as a Davies Fellow to examine how college students understand antisemitism and how education can help counter it.
The Davies Fellowship, housed in Belk Chapel, is one of the university’ s premier student leadership programs. Fellows are selected for their intellectual curiosity, academic achievement, commitment to the common good and ability to build relationships across differences.
Katz brings energy and commitment to every aspect of campus life. As a Hillel leader, NCAA Division I soccer player, finance major and passionate advocate for Israel, she embodies the curiosity, leadership and service the Davies Fellowship seeks to cultivate. We are deeply proud to have her at Queens University.
Raised in Tel Aviv, Katz attended the historic Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium before completing her military service, where she documented and analyzed history. The experience deepened her belief that historical knowledge is essential to understanding the present.
“ I don’ t shy away from confrontation or difficult conversations,” she explained in her fellowship application.“ I believe in approaching such situations with compassion and an understanding of our differences, while also recognizing that issues and feelings must be addressed.”
Katz’ s commitment to building bridges is rooted in her Israeli upbringing. She describes Israel as a country shaped by religious, ethnic and national diversity, where people often live side by side despite their differences. That experience has reinforced her belief that building relationships across different faiths, cultures and worldviews is essential.
“ There is a love and unity in the Middle East that does not make it to the screens abroad,” she wrote,“ but it is carried by the people who experience and nurture it daily.”
A critical component of the Davies Fellowship is research learning. In this capacity, Katz plans to research antisemitism and assess students’ knowledge of its history and contemporary expressions. The subject is deeply personal. As a Jew and an Israeli, she has experienced prejudice and antisemitism firsthand. Those experiences have heightened her concern about the spread of misinformation on social media and its role in fueling hatred.
Her proposed project will bring together six to 10 participants for three“ Dine and Learn” sessions. Katz will develop a curriculum introducing Judaism, the history of antisemitism and the current state of antisemitism in the United States. Each session will encourage honest conversation, thoughtful disagreement and deep listening.
Katz hopes participants will leave with three central lessons: the importance of historical context, the power of knowledge and the need to examine sources critically, including the biases behind them. She also wants students to recognize that admitting what they do not know is not a weakness, it is the beginning of learning.
Participants will complete questionnaires before and after the sessions to help measure whether education and dialogue deepen understanding and change perceptions.
Katz will present her research throughout the academic year, culminating in Queens Day of Scholarship in April 2027, with additional opportunities to share her work with the Charlotte Jewish community. At a moment when antisemitism is rising and conversations about Israel and Jewish identity are increasingly polarized, Katz’ s project embodies the best of the Davies Fellowship: rigorous learning joined with moral courage, authentic dialogue and service to the broader community.
Mika Katz’ s journey from Tel Aviv to Queens has already enriched our campus. Through this fellowship, her leadership and research have the potential to deepen understanding, challenge prejudice and build stronger bridges across Charlotte.
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