Jewish students across the UK have come together to mark the 1-year anniversary of the October 7^th massacre.  

Jewish students across the UK have come together to mark the 1-year anniversary of the October 7^th massacre.  

To mark this sombre date, UJS and Jewish students took part in a range of events.  

On Monday 7^th, October 2024, UJS  planted ,18 trees to launch  a national memorial garden for the 1,200 victims of the October 7^th massacre. 18 is the numerical value of the Hebrew word Chai, which means life, in the hopes that these trees will live and grow for those who no longer can. In the coming year, with the help of Jewish communities across the UK and Ireland, UJS will plant 1,200 trees to “grow for those who can’t”.  

On the evening of the 7^th, UJS also supported thousands of Jewish students nationwide in hosting a simultaneous “Tekes”, or memorial ceremony, on their campuses. Ceremonies took place across the UK, including in Sheffield, Leeds, Edinburgh, Belfast, Bristol, Cambridge, London and many other campuses. 

The Tekes contained a number of prayers, readings, and stories of victims in order to hold space for reflection and collective memorial. A minute’s silence was also held by JSocs at 7.10 pm. 

The memorial booklet produced for this ceremony can be found here. 

Jewish school students also held their own ceremonies through UJS’ schools programme, with hundreds joining at schools across London and Manchester.  

Throughout the 7^th October this year, Jewish students shared stories of individuals from the events one year ago: stories of those murdered, taken hostage, and those who acted as heroes in the most dire of circumstances.  

Before the 7^th, at the Jewish communal rally in Hyde Park on 6^th October, UJS President Sami Berkoff lit two candles in memory of those murdered in Kibbutzim Kfar Aza and Nahal Oz.  

For Jewish students struggling, UJS’ welfare hotline—launched on October 8th, 2023—remains open 24/7 at 020 7424 3281.  

In her speech opening the national memorial garden, UJS President, Sami Berkoff said:  

“Today, we gather in solemn remembrance as we commemorate a year since the tragic events of October 7th. This day has forever changed lives and families, and it is with heavy hearts that we honour the 1,200 souls lost, each one a cherished individual with dreams, aspirations, and loved ones left behind […] We reaffirm our commitment to life, growth, and hope by planting these trees, even amidst sorrow.” 

Leeds JSoc Tekes Photo by Alex Mandel