Raffles with the group from Freshers Israel Experience 2017 at a viewpoint in the north of Israel

This summer I was privileged to be accepted on the Freshers Israel Experience trip, run by UJS and a few other organisations. It was designed to teach us about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by allowing us to see and hear all the narratives from various sides, and more importantly from the decision makers themselves. It was by the far the most informative trip I have ever been on.

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.

J-Soc Officer Grace, left, visited Goldsmiths J-Soc at their Freshers Fair this month

A month into the new term, and the exciting projects we have been planning to deliver are now just around the corner!

In the last blog, you heard about our rebrand, the launch of our new website, our representation of students to government and in EUJS, as well as the relaunch of our Women’s Network and trips to Israel. This month of freshers has been all about supporting local J-Socs as they go into the new year, with a few new and exciting opportunities from the voice of Jewish students along the way.

So here’s some highlights from UJS this last month…

It’s World Mental Health Day 2017 and the conversation around mental health at university has shifted over the past year. It’s no longer about recognising that mental health is just as important as physical health, but about improving university facilities, tackling the effect of stress on students and the looming prospect of debt and seeking post-graduation employment.

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.

Work hard, play hard: J-Soc Officer Dan Rafaeli, second right, participates in a colour run at EUJS Summer U, where UJS President Josh Holt was elected to serve on the EUJS Executive Board

The past two months have been jam-packed full of planning to deliver new projects on campuses across the UK and Ireland, and we are all so excited term is finally beginning!

In the first blog, you heard about our staff training, meetings with organisations and programme planning, and this month we have ensured our representative voice is louder and prouder than ever.

So here’s a rundown of a few highlights that have gone on at UJS this month…

Isabelle, left, with friends at the top of Masada during The Real Deal 2017

When thinking about Israel (or pretty much any subject), we, as Jews, tend to hold strong opinions; whether Orthodox, or Reform, or secular, Zionist, or not, we have an opinion on every aspect of the State of Israel, from religious and cultural importance to the Jewish people, to its place within the wider world. Yet some reports would suggest that increasing numbers of Jewish students are choosing to disassociate from Israel, what with the increasing pressure to justify the actions of the Israeli government, and the growth of the BDS movement across many universities.

My younger sister recently began her IDF service. She is currently completing various training components before she goes out to be a combat soldier until 2020… And yes, I'm proud and terrified in equal measure. Her training programme keeps her on base during the week, returning home to rest each Shabbat. She was therefore not at home when I arrived at my parents’ apartment on Sunday afternoon, having just completed a week unlike any other. I promise that my sister’s absence on that day will become relevant soon.

Last week, I had the pleasure of being one of 350 attendees at Summer U 2017 on the beautiful island of Lefkada, Greece. This trip was truly an incomparable experience.

Summer U is a week-long trip organised by the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) every year, bringing together Jewish people between the ages of 18 to 30, from all over Europe. To clarify, EUJS is the umbrella organisation for Jewish student unions of Europe, with their office in Brussels.