Our Fringe event was completely packed out, with 150 delegates watching Marlon Solomon's play 'A Lizard's Tale'

Yesterday, Tuesday 27^th March, was the first day of NUS (National Union of Students) National Conference, which is taking place in Glasgow this year.

'It is only too clear that once again the Labour Party has categorically failed the Jewish community. After yet another instance of antisemitism from within the leadership of the party, UJS is compelled to stand with our community, and demand that enough is enough.

'We have seen Labour Students turn promises of ‘zero tolerance for antisemitism’ into action, working with UJS and JLM to provide antisemitism training to over 600 volunteers and taking action to expel members where appropriate, such as the co-chair of Manchester University Labour Club last year. The same, however, cannot be said of the national Labour leadership, which has consistently failed to live up to the Party’s own proclaimed standards.

'Later this week UJS will be hosting a fringe event at NUS National Conference, highlighting the insidious nature of antisemitic conspiracy theories. The blindness to the racist tropes in Mear One’s mural is just the latest example of how the current Labour leadership has failed to confront past transgressions, failed our community, and failed to tackle antisemitism wherever it surfaces within their party.

'I hope Jewish students in London will show their support in Westminster tomorrow and join all those demanding ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.'

- Josh Holt, UJS President 2017-18

As part of our work to protect and promote free speech and to counter hate speech and incitement towards violence, UJS provided oral evidence and a written submission to the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into free speech on campus.

UJS is aware of allegations of homophobia made against a J-Soc committee member. As the national representative organisation for Jewish students in the UK and Ireland, providing cross-communalism for all Jewish students and promoting tolerance and understand between our members is fundamental to our organisation. We are therefore treating this matter with the utmost severity and will investigate fully. We are also providing support to the students involved and if any other student is concerned, we encourage them to get in touch.

L-R: Josh Holt, Sam Gyimah MP, Jonathan Arkush and Joel Salmon

Yesterday the recently appointed Universities Minister Sam Gyimah met with Josh Holt, UJS President, in what was his first meeting with representatives of the Jewish community. Josh was accompanied by Board of Deputies President Jonathan Arkush and Parliamentary Officer Joel Salmon.

120 guests ranging in age from 10 to 85 gathered for a never-been-seen-before event last night at JW3. Hosted by UJS together with René Cassin and the Jewish Music Institute, Together in Tune brought the Jewish and Roma communities together for a night of music and dance, celebrating and recognising our communities’ cultural similarities. The atmosphere in the room was buzzing and everyone had a fantastic time.

David Davidi-Brown from UJS running a session with York J-Soc and York LGBT+ Society. The signs the group are holding say 'Some people are gay. So what?' in Hebrew - part of a Stonewall campaign. See the English poster here. Photo credit: Emmett Stone

February is LGBT+ History Month. With cross-communalism as one of our core values, we’re dedicated to being a fully inclusive union; a welcoming place for all our Jewish student members, regardless of their background. Moreover, with the passing of motion CO6 at UJS Conference 2017 we are proudly committed to celebrating and commemorating LGBT+ History Month (as well as the relevant months for other marginalised groups – see the full list in the motion text linked above.)

So how did we mark LGBT+ History Month at UJS this year?

As President of UJS I was saddened and somewhat surprised to read the open letter recently published by nine of the talented and dedicated student leaders that I and my team have the honour to represent and work with, many of whom have submitted motions to UJS Conference, participated in UJS Israel trips, attended UJS Israel events, and are or have been involved in UJS’ representative structures.

Abdi visited Auschwitz-Birkenau with UJS and HET last week

A photo taken by the author in Jerusalem

This evening I feel frustrated and weary of this. Last year, while I was president of the J-Soc, BDS disappeared twice. Now, we are doing this again.