Having just completed a month of training, the UJS team are back in the office and preparing to meet everyone on campus in September. Whilst we get ready for that, here’s a look back at what we did during our month of preparation…

We focused on inclusivity

We spent time with Keshet UK, the Jewish charity focused on inclusivity for LGBT people in the Jewish and wider community, and discussed ways to make UJS and J-Soc activities welcoming for everyone. We also trained with JAMI (the Jewish Association for Mental Illness), which gave us a thorough understanding of the issues surrounding mental health that students may face and equipped us with knowledge and practical tools to offer support to anyone who may need it.

We met with key figures

Throughout Chazon, we met with religious leaders across the spectrum: Chief Rabbi Mirvis, Rabbi Wittenberg, Rabbi Janner-Klausner and Rabbi Rich. We were really enthused to see how excited they all are to support us in supporting you throughout the year and we’re ready for some big plans ahead.

We visited Israel

We couldn’t say no to a trip to Israel – especially since Israel engagement is one of our four core values. We spent the week visiting start-ups like Woosh, hearing from political thinkers and engaging in Israeli culture, ready to bring a fuller appreciation of Israel to you all. We also put some of what we’d learned in the UK into action, visiting places such as the Tel Aviv Gay Center, African Refugee Development Center, Arab-Jewish Community Centre and Roots in the West Bank.

We planned activities

Keen to get going with offering you, our students, as much as possible, we dedicated time during Chazon to planning projects and events for the year to come. Watch this space for old favourites and new initiatives…

Overall, it was a great month. Reflecting, President Josh Seitler said: ‘We met some of the most unbelievable personalities both in the UK and Israel, we bonded as a team and enjoyed some incredible sessions. We can’t wait to bring everything we learned to campus and help J-Socs be comfortable and enjoyable spaces for all, as well as making sure that this year is brimming with fun and new opportunities for Jewish students.’

See you all on campus! #Wired4Freshers