Guest Speaker: Noa Fay

The Weber School was honored to welcome Noa Fay, a recent Columbia University graduate and proud Jewish and Zionist advocate, as the guest speaker for the kickoff event of this year’s Michael Kay Israel Leadership Fellows (MKILF) program. Noa shared her powerful and deeply personal experiences of standing strong in her Jewish identity amidst the challenges of anti-Israel protests and rising threats on college campuses.

Noa spoke candidly about the bullying and harassment she faced following the events of October 7th, including cyberbullying and vandalism. Despite these difficulties, she found strength in her Jewish community, which came together to support her during this challenging time. A notable presence on the national stage, Noa spoke at the Israel Rally at the Mall in Washington, D.C., on November 4, appeared on television, and was honored in June with the American Jewish Committee's Sharon Greene Award for Campus Advocacy. Noa’s journey as an Israel advocate began in middle school during a trip to Israel. She has since learned how to effectively communicate about Israel and Judaism and how to engage with people from different religious backgrounds who may not fully understand the scope of the challenges faced by the Jewish community.

We thank Noa for sharing her story and inspiring our students to stand proudly in their Jewish identity. Her insights set the tone for what promises to be another impactful year of learning, reflection, and leadership development in the MKILF program.