The Global Activist

You might have heard the name Eden Litvin ’23 before. She’s responsible for reviving the Students Supporting Israel (SSI) chapter at Pace. It’s an international student-led movement that supports Israel as a Jewish Democratic nation-state, a very important—and personal—initiative for Eden. “I felt that Pace needed a pro-Israel club on campus,” she explained to us. “I knew it would make a big change in my life and in the Pace Community. The process of getting approved was definitely tricky, and posed a far greater challenge than expected.”

Ultimately, though, this was a rewarding experience for Eden, who went on to present to the Student Government Association (SGA) with a proposition: to officially adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism. And they did.

“When I came up with the idea for the bill, it was in response to the spike in antisemitic attacks across NYC,” Eden explained. “When the SGA chose to adopt the IHRA definition, they took a stand that Pace University will not support hate, and made a clear statement that anti-Semitism will not be tolerated on our campus. It was one of the most meaningful things I did for the Jewish and Pro-Israeli community at my University.”

The IHRA definition for anti-Semitism is as follows:

• A certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

“I would not have been able to pass the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism at Pace without the help of three amazing organizations: SSI, Hillel, and IAC Mishelanu,” Eden told us. “We look forward to having a safe space on our campus and knowing that the university stands behind our community.”

Before Eden even came to Pace, though, she moved to the US from Israel about eight years prior. “Most of my childhood I spent speaking, reading, and writing in Hebrew,” she said, emphasizing the fact that, “Israel will always remain a crucial part of my life.” When she started researching colleges, Eden knew she wanted a unique experience—something that fit exactly what she was looking for in terms of many different factors. “Pace is the perfect school for someone who wants to have access to the world, an immense range of opportunities, and feel that they are truly a part of a school and not just a number,” she told us.

Initially, she chose international management as a major. But after taking a few business classes, she knew what she wanted to switch to. “I realized that I am more interested in marketing than management,” she told us. “I chose global marketing because I know I want to work around the world and I also love learning about different cultures, so this was [the] perfect major for what I wanted.”

Wherever Eden is headed next, we know she will continue her passionate activism and incredible leadership ability. We look forward to hearing what her next initiative will be!