UJS welcomes Jo Johnson MP’s move to encourage Universities UK and individual universities to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

For many, Parliament is a distant concept. We decide who we want to sit there on our behalf and represent us, but for too many of us our involvement ends there and we are detached from the process.

UJS are looking for passionate and hardworking people who are seeking a challenging and rewarding year working for their national Union.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2017 saw J-Socs organise 38 events on 27 campuses in England, Scotland and Wales; our HMD activity engaged well over 3,500 Jewish and non-Jewish students and staff. At some campuses, survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides gave testimony; memorial services, film screenings and discussions also took place.

Since its inception in 2010, the annual UJS-UJIA University Information Evening has welcomed prospective students along with their parents, to meet current students and find out about the university experience. It also provides an opportunity to meet the different communal organisations who will play a part in their lives once they reach university. 

The Union of Jewish Students welcomes the results of an investigation by University College London (UCL) into the shocking scenes of intimidation and harassment seen at UCL last term.  

Why do we still remember?

Natacha with the UJS delegation, as part of the UK delegation to March of the Living

When you go somewhere people always ask ‘how was it?’ And words can never express the intensity of what you’ve experienced. This is a trip too important to miss and my words can only carry so far. I went on March of the Living for the first time as a student; the following year I went as a member of UJS staff, and I would go again. I have to.

There are many trips that provide you with the opportunity to go to Poland and learn about the horrific atrocities of the Holocaust. It is also possible to go to Poland at any time in your life, so why go now? That’s what was stopping me going as a student - I had essays of however many words to write, I had exams to prepare for and could not afford to put myself through an emotional rollercoaster that I wasn’t sure I would adjust to, because it would be far too tough.

But, what is too tough? Learning the truth? Taking a moment not to ignore it? It is tough - but it is far tougher to ignore and to forget, to listen to people deny, revise or talk about the Holocaust in a blasé way.

On Tuesday night, Jewish students at SOAS were treated differently from other minorities. They were told that unlike every other minority group, they are not allowed to define what constitutes their own antisemitism. They were also told that Zionists were not welcome on their campus. 

After being accepted to attend March of the Living with the UK delegation, I immediately told friends and family with elation that I was going to Poland.