Some of the attendees at the relaunch of the Women's Network

Sunday 7 January saw the relaunch of the UJS Women’s Network.

Attendees heard from Luciana Berger MP and Louise Jacobs, the first woman Chair of UJIA. They spoke about the unique challenges and opportunities they have faced as Jewish women working within the Jewish community and wider society, and encouraged the students gathered to make change within in their communities.

For Josephine Davidoff, from Coventry J-Soc, the relaunch was ‘a fantastic opportunity to come together with like-minded women students in leadership roles’, whilst Rivky Posner of Birmingham J-Soc is ‘looking forward to working together to maintain a strong network, and paving the way for ourselves as well as our future female leaders.’

Sally Patterson, from Bristol J-Soc and Women’s Network Chair at Bristol Students’ Union, agreed: ‘The Women’s Network relaunch could not have come at a better time. With the #metoo campaign exposing the scope of sexual assault within the media industry, and the disgusting gendered antisemitism that women MPs continue to face in parliament, it is so important that Jewish women unite together. We are all too frequently excluded from Jewish spaces, and often feel that our voices are not heard within wider feminist rhetoric. The Women’s Network relaunch created a space in which Jewish women came together, shared experiences and supported one another. The potential of this group is unbounded, and together we have the power to make meaningful and long overdue changes to the community around us.’

After the event, Louise Jacobs said: ‘I have no doubt many of those I met are going to go on to become leaders in our community. Through this network, UJS is playing a vital role in developing these leaders.’

Louise Jacobs in conversation with UJS Campaigns Officer Rebecca Filer

The UJS Women’s Network aims to promote the empowerment of Jewish women students and Jewish students for whom woman makes up part of their identity. It provides a platform for its members to come together and discuss the issues that affect them on and off campus, and also seeks to create campaigns on key issues, driving change within our Jewish and student communities as well as within wider society.

Please feel free to join the Facebook group here and contact Rebecca if you’d like further information.