Walking through the gates of the first Auschwitz camp was a genuinely harrowing experience.

UJS are disappointed that City SU passed a motion to support the BDS campaign last night, for the second time in 15 months, at a meeting attended by around 150 students. A third BDS motion proposed to City SU last year was pulled by the proposers prior to being debated, due to lack of support.

BDS is a divisive movement that prioritises a single narrative in place of nuanced and respectful discussion. It divides peers, alienates Jewish students and creates an atmosphere that can and has fuelled antisemitism on campuses across the UK.

‘Once again UJS is deeply disappointed that those wishing to attend a talk by KCL Israel Society were intimidated and harassed. Approximately 60 protestors with placards and banners sought to drown out the speaker, Dan Meridor, former Deputy Prime Minister of Israel.

‘Debate and discussion are vital aspects of university life, as is the right to protest. However, intimidating those who try to hear a variety of views with chants of ‘Shame’ is not conducive to informed and respectful dialogue, which should be front and centre of university life.

L-R: Sabrina Verby, co-President and Seth Marks, Treasurer of Brighton and Sussex J-Soc, with Jodeci Joseph, Hertfordshire J-Soc President and Dan Rafaeli, UJS J-Soc Officer at UJS Summit in November 2017

Brighton and Sussex J-Soc is an active, thriving campus community. This year the J-Soc have welcomed educational speakers, organised weekly Shabbat meals and festival celebrations, hosted a stand at the university’s Refreshers fair and commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day. Looking forward, we are excited for the second JFest party and the South Coast Shabbaton at Ralli Hall Community Centre in March.

On page 17 of this week’s Jewish Chronicle (in the Community News section) there is a story under the headline ‘Brighton rocked by UJS plan to sell Hillel’, which is not currently available online. We would like to clarify that the article does not reflect the full picture.  

Earlier this week, the Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a controversial new Holocaust bill. If also passed by the country's Constitutional Tribunal, the law would make it illegal to accuse Poland of complicity in crimes committed by Nazi Germany, including the Holocaust. It would also ban the use of terms such as "Polish death camps" in relation to Auschwitz and other such camps located in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Louise is currently on a year abroad in France. Here she shares her top tips for taking care of your mental health whilst living away from home

Deciding to do a Year Abroad is really exciting. The thoughts of your potential Instagram shots, with everyone poring over them with jealousy whilst they are sat in the library writing essays and doing deadlines, whilst you’re watching the gorgeous hues of a sunset on a white, gold sandy beach in Australia. And I’ll confirm, Years Abroad are great experiences in every way, shape or form.

But firstly, just tell you a little bit about me. My name is Louise and I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for a few years now.

Some of the students who attended the relaunch of our Women's Network - read more about it below

And so a new year begins…

You have elected your next president, we have trained the next bunch of J-Soc committees, but the current team still has 5 more months to go to deliver for Jewish students on campus.

So here’s what has happened over the past month at UJS…

Today we are alive! 73 years ago, our survival began.

Some of the attendees at the relaunch of the Women's Network

Sunday 7 January saw the relaunch of the UJS Women’s Network.

Attendees heard from Luciana Berger MP and Louise Jacobs, the first woman Chair of UJIA. They spoke about the unique challenges and opportunities they have faced as Jewish women working within the Jewish community and wider society, and encouraged the students gathered to make change within in their communities.

Last year's Lessons from Auschwitz trip, in which 17 Sabbatical Officers and student leaders joined UJS and HET in Poland

UJS is excited to announce that we are substantially expanding our educational programme combatting campus antisemitism, in partnership with the Holocaust Educational Trust. This has been made possible thanks to a £144,000+ grant from the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government.