In the aftermath of the horrific mass murder at a synagogue in Pittsburgh this Shabbat, young Jewish people and our allies are all asking the same question; how can we fix this?
Whilst antisemitism and hatred against other marginalised groups persists, we must continue to take the responsibility to fix the world around us. Jewish practice teaches us that it is through small acts of kindness that we can ultimately change the world. We must not think for one second that we do not each hold the power to make a difference.
In the coming weeks and months, the Jewish community will be working hard to bring justice to the victims and come together to show strength in these challenging times. Here are just some of the initiatives you can get involved in to show your support and make a difference on a day-to-day basis:
- Write a message to the community of Pittsburgh. As a people, we must come together and show support for our siblings. We encourage you to write a short message to convey your thoughts to those who need our help. Take part in a mass condolences letter here.
- The Jewish Leadership Council are also encouraging Jewish people to send messages to the community of Pittsburgh through their website, which can be found here.
- #ShowUpForShabbat is a new initiative launched to encourage Jewish people to attend Shabbat this weekend, showing that Jewish people will live on in the face of adversity. Jewish students can find their local congregation at here.
Students across the country are coming together to run peer-led vigils. Find your local service here:
- Sheffield
- Bristol
- Oxford
- Cambridge
- Leeds
- Durham
- Edinburgh
- Lancaster
- Manchester
- Liverpool
- York
- Dublin - contact Hester Malin for more details
For further welfare support, campaigning help or to get involved in any of our activities, UJS is always here for Jewish students. You can also contact a number of our community partners:
- Find your local Jewish chaplain for support at https://www.mychaplaincy.co.uk/about-us/rabbinic-chaplaincy-couples/
- Call CST to report antisemitic incidents or for security advise at 0208 457 9999. Read their security briefing at https://www.facebook.com/CSTprotecting/photos/a.169183593148268/2067525139980761/?type=3&theater
UJS sends our deepest condolences to the victims of the Pittsburgh Synagogue massacre. May their memory be a blessing.