Welcome to UJS’ first cross communal educational Sukkot resource pack!

We have got five inspiring pieces from five educators from within our community, from different denominations and backgrounds to make this sukkot more meaningful!

Following five years of supporting UJS Presidents and their teams to take UJS from strength to strength, current CEO, David Davidi-Brown, has announced his intention to move on from the role in 2019.

With the UJS Presidential Elections approaching, this years Returning Officer has a message for potential candidates including key dates!

We are concerned by CST’s recent Antisemitic Incidents Report. Whilst the report indicated that the number of antisemitic incidents fell by 8% compared to the first six months of 2017, it was also the second-highest incident total CST has ever recorded for the January to June period of any year. The number of antisemitic incidents affecting students has stayed relatively similar, with just one fewer than the incidents recorded in the first half of 2017. 

Thursday 14th June saw UJS host our 10th annual student awards. The evening was a celebration of the hundreds of student leaders and volunteers who have dedicated tens of thousands of hours to leading, defending and enriching Jewish life on campus.

We are saddened, yet unsurprised, that the National Executive Council of NUS have passed BDS policy at their meeting today. BDS is a tired campaign that has little to no impact on the reality of the situation in Israel and Palestine as well as being highly divisive, dampens progressive voices and often leads to victimisation of Jewish and Israeli students. This motion has been passed through the backdoor, with only 30 members voting, rather than up to 1,000 delegates at National Conference, which has never passed BDS policy.

Please share your views: online survey

UJS is deeply disappointed that students at the University of Sussex voted to renew the Student Union’s BDS policy; a view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is narrow, harmful and one-sided. However, the students who ran the positive counter-campaign should be incredibly proud of the work they have done in portraying an alternative view of the conflict to students. We are working closely with the Jewish Society to ensure the insidious consequences of BDS that we have seen on too many campuses following similar results do not occur in Sussex.

UJS welcomes Minister Gyimah’s clarification on the role of the Office For Students. When we met with the Minister last month, we shared our position in support of free speech on campus, and also drew attention to the need for clearer guidance on the issue of free speech and incitement.

Enjoy the video below and our introductions to the talented team working with and for you this year.