Acclaimed actor Michael Douglas and Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky will appear on three college campuses in the US to speak to students about Israel and anti-Semitism, the Genesis Prize Foundation announced Wednesday. 

The program, called “Jewish Journeys: A Conversation with Michael Douglas and Natan Sharansky,” is co-hosted by the Genesis Prize Foundation, Hillel International, and The Jewish Agency for Israel.

The pair will visit Brown University in Rhode Island on January 28, Stanford University in California on February 2, and the University of California at Santa Barbara on February 3.

“This is the first time, in this current period of heightened anti-Israel activity on campus, that a Hollywood celebrity has offered to join with a world Jewish leader to visit US college campuses and speak with students about Israel and the Jewish people,” said Genesis Prize Foundation Co-Founder and Chairman Stan Polovets. 

“At a time when the academic community and other forces are making sustained efforts to delegitimize Israel, these visits are particularly important and timely,” he added. 

Hillel International President and CEO Eric Fingerhunt agreed, saying, “Michael Douglas and Natan Sharansky will help students recognize that no matter where they came from, they are part of the Jewish community and have a role to play to ensure its future.”

Sharansky stressed that “at a time when the new and old forms of anti-Semitism are coming together to undermine Israel’s legitimacy and drive Jews apart from their Jewish identities and from one another, it is crucial that we emphasize the connection between our devotion to human rights, our commitment to peace, and our dedication to strengthening the unity of the Jewish people.”

“Having had many opportunities to speak to students about these fundamental issues, I am pleased to be sharing the stage with such an outstanding individual as Michael Douglas and I look forward to our conversations with young people on campuses across America.”

A gracious Douglas said he was happy at the opportunity for him and Sharansky to “​speak directly with young people about the challenges they encounter, and share insight about how we have dealt with these situations throughout our life.”