Alexander Ben-Esraili (fourth from the left) with other OU Advocacy LIAT Fellows inside the US Capitol. Credit: OU Advocacy Center

WASHINGTON D.C. — When Alexander Ben-Esraili, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, walked the halls of Congress in May, it wasn’t just a tour; it was the next step in his mission to confront antisemitism and anti-Israel hostility head-on, on campus and beyond.

As a fellow in the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center’s Leadership in Advocacy Training (LIAT) Fellowship (in partnership with the OU’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus), Ben-Esraili joined a cohort of Jewish student leaders from across the country for an intensive week in Washington, D.C., equipped with the strategy, tools, and moral clarity to take their campus activism to the national level. For Ben-Esraili, it was more than a leadership program; it was a launchpad for the next chapter in his fight for truth, safety, and justice for Jewish students in Texas and across America.

In response to the dramatic spike in campus antisemitism following October 7, the Orthodox Union Advocacy launched the LIAT Fellowship to build a new generation of fearless Jewish advocates, students equipped not only to react, but to dismantle hate with confidence, innovation, and unwavering courage.

The urgency of that mission struck close to home in Washington, when just blocks from where the fellows were gathered, a radical antisemite murdered two Israeli Embassy employees, a chilling echo of the threats Jewish students face on college campuses today.

But the students in this fellowship are rewriting the playbook. They’re forging unlikely alliances, working with university leadership to enforce federal civil rights protections, and launching creative campaigns to combat the lies of BDS and anti-Israel propaganda. At UT Austin, Ben-Esraili is at the forefront. As a member of the Chabad on Campus executive board, he plays a central role in organizing Shabbat dinners, promoting guest speakers, and building Jewish life on campus.

In this role, he organized powerful on-campus events featuring prominent Jewish speakers and survivors of the October 7th Hamas attack, bringing their firsthand accounts to students and giving a human face to the atrocities. The event didn’t just raise awareness, it changed minds. Looking ahead, Ben-Esraili is spearheading even more efforts to mobilize his campus. He has successfully worked with UT’s diversity board to establish an official information table on campus to raise awareness about issues affecting the Jewish community, ensuring visibility, accuracy, and support where it’s most needed.

As part of the LIAT capstone project, Ben-Esraili’s work joins the efforts of student leaders across the country. At Binghamton University, fellows helped appoint a Title VI coordinator and launch mandatory civil rights training for faculty and staff. At Cornell, a fellow led a petition with over 5,000 signatures that pressured the university to cancel a concert by Kehlani, an artist with antisemitic ties.

In Washington, the fellows brought that same energy to Capitol Hill. Ben-Esraili and his peers met with former White House officials, State Department leaders, and legal champions like Judge Matthew Solomson, the first Orthodox Jewish Chief Federal Judge. They engaged with Israeli Deputy Chief of Mission Eliav Benjamin, heard speeches from Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Fetterman (D-PA), built bridges with interfaith allies, and spoke with lawmakers, including Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) about vital legislation like the Antisemitism Awareness Act and efforts to counter Iran’s threat.

“These students are among the most visionary and courageous advocates we’ve ever encountered,” said Nathan Diament, Executive Director of the OU Advocacy Center. “Their moral clarity and strategic leadership are urgently needed to protect the Jewish community and strengthen our country.”

That sentiment was echoed by policymakers.

“If these students go into government, the country will be in good hands,” said Daniel Marrow, Legislative Director for Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04), following a meeting with the students.

For Ben-Esraili, the work is only beginning. As he returns to UT Austin this fall, he carries with him the relationships, strategies, and conviction to elevate Jewish student life and stand firm against hate, with bold leadership and a Longhorn-sized commitment to justice.