Normally, universities are hierarchical places where faculty, staff, graduates and undergraduates each have their own social circles. On October 7th, we realized we needed a different approach. Many students were terrified, and some felt a need to hide their Jewish identities. Hillel and Chabad provided “safe spaces” that helped some. Yet many students still felt alone, and in need of support and mentoring. Some staff feared their careers would be impacted as people’s perceptions of them changed simply because they were Jewish. To address these concerns, Kalaniyot faculty at MIT worked with administrators, Hillel and Chabad to create weekly lunches where all segments of the university’s Jewish community and their allies were welcome. These spaces created a support network and a site for communal reflection and planning. Alumni from Israel visited with messages of encouragement and families of hostages came and shared their anguishing stories. New leaders and new initiatives emerged as well. One group of students organized a successful effort leading the federal equal employment opportunity commission to determine that pro-Israel students do not have to pay for the graduate student union’s Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) activities. Another teamed up with students around the region to hold “We Will Dance Again,” a concert that drew hundreds of people to honor those who were lost in Israel and unite the community. Similarly, faculty organized lectures by Linor Abargil, Tzipi Livni and others, addressing women’s rights and the weaponization of sexual assault, and the prospects for a better future in the Middle East.