On Wednesday our Campaigns Manager Liron Velleman spoke in Parliament on a panel titled ‘Antisemitism on campus: where do we go from here?’

UJS marked the 100-year anniversary of the Balfour Declaration by hosting a panel event attended by around 50 students. Amos Schonfield of Yachad, Arieh Miller of the Zionist Federation, Sharon Wagner-Zauder of UJIA, Luke Akehurst of We Believe in Israel and Jonathan Farrell of StandWithUs UK discussed the nuances of modern Zionism, the legacy of the Balfour Declaration and whether its vision has been fulfilled.

Members of Queen Mary's J-Soc with other faith societies, pictured at their 'Ask A...' stall during last year's Interfaith Week

Interfaith Week starts next week and we are very excited to be supporting such a varied range of events at J-Socs across the country. With food tastings, music, learning and study sessions, games nights, debates and shared meals, Jewish students will be spending the next week building bridges with students of other faiths, cultures, religions and backgrounds. 

UJS’ first ever Bridges Not Boycotts Conference took place on Sunday 29 October 2017, with around 60 students of various faiths, backgrounds and beliefs coming together in Leeds city centre. In a series of panels and keynote addresses, speakers explored the need to foster cooperation and understanding rather than ‘othering’ between the communities involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

UJS is deeply disappointed that UCL Union (UCLU) and UCL have allowed an event hosting Miko Peled and Dr Azzam Tamimi to take place. Despite concerns being raised by UJS, the Jewish Society and the Friends of Israel Society, the Union has insisted that these speakers do not breach their guidelines for external speakers. 

Nominations for the UJS Presidential Election are now open!

It's already been almost a year since Josh Holt was elected UJS President 2017-18. More than 1,000 Jewish students voted last year, and the time has come for you to choose who will succeed him.

In September 2015, Friday Night Dinners (FND) was set up to provide weekly Friday night dinners for Jewish students living in London. London has 32 different universities across the city and it can be challenging to meet people.

L-R: Liron Velleman, UJS Campaigns Manager; Shakira Martin, NUS President; Mala Tribich MBE; Izzy Lenga, NUS Vice President (Welfare.) Image credit: Joshua Woolf on Twitter

We’re excited to announce Our Living Memory, a joint campaign between UJS, NUS and the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Together we’ll be supporting J-Socs and Jewish students to partner with other faith societies and minority groups to remember the Holocaust and the persecution of other groups by the Nazis from 1933 to 1945.

Succot is an excellent opportunity to talk about homelessness, through its themes of vulnerability and the idea of tzedaka. This is to start to conversation on what we can do as students on campus through positive social change. 

Limmud Festival is legendary for creating an incredible five-day Jewish experience that can be whatever you want it to be. From the music and food to learning and lively debate, Limmud is an awesome place to be this winter – and we want you to come with us.