Jewish student group at UF uses bagels, cream cheese to spread message against hate

Brad McClenny, The Gainesville Sun
·2 min read

After the events in which an gunman took four people hostage at a synagogue in Texas over the weekend, giving out free bagels and cream cheese to anyone who would sign a pledge to combat antisemitism and hate seemed fitting for members of UF Hillel.

The pledge reads "I commit to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate. I join with fellow Gators to ensure UF and my community is a welcoming and safe place for all."

University of Florida students line up after signing a pledge to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate, to get a free bagel and cream cheese from UF Hillel, during the Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate event, at Turlington Plaza on the UF campus in Gainesville on Tuesday. UF Hillel was giving out free bagels and cream cheese to anyone who signed the pledge against hate.

University of Florida students lined up at locations across campus to sign the pledge and get a free bagel. But the "Spread the Cream Cheese Not Hate," campaign didn't just start this week in response to the events in Colleyville, Texas. The Jewish student group has been using this pledge and toasty bagels to spread the message against hate for several years.

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Jamie Zinn, a UF graduate and the director of development at UF Hillel, said UF Hillel decided to start this event three years ago to "take a proactive approach to ensure UF remains a safe and welcoming environment for student, faculty and visitors of all backgrounds."

The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about the alarming increase in antisemitic incidents in our community and in particular on college campuses, Zinn said.

A basket of bagels is ready for University of Florida students who lined up Tuesday after signing a pledge to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate.
A basket of bagels is ready for University of Florida students who lined up Tuesday after signing a pledge to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate.

Last year more than 800 people signed the pledge and this year the goal is 2,000.

Zinn said, this event is a way to build a coalition of people that can come together and address the issues surrounding hate.

UF Hillel has been working with UF leadership to get their support. Linda Fuchs, the wife of UF President Kent Fuchs, has signed the pledge.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: UF Hillel gives out free bagels, with a pledge to oppose antisemitism