Alienation and adversity – today’s Jewish student experience on campus
Death threats, physical assaults and verbal abuse. The president of the Union of Jewish Students tells Jewish News about its resolve to support its nearly 9,000 Jewish students across 76 Jewish societies
Saturday 7 October 2023 will forever be seared into the collective memory of the Jewish people. For some Jewish students, this marked the point at which they learnt of the murder of their loved ones by Hamas. For other Jewish students, this marked the point at which their loved ones were kidnapped and taken hostage. Yet, for all Jewish students, this marked the point at which an unprecedented rise in campus antisemitism began.
Unfortunately, conflict in the Middle East invariably leads to a rise in antisemitism in the UK, especially on campus. Yet since the 7th October massacre, over a year’s worth of antisemitic incidents has occurred on campus. This has had a profound impact upon the Jewish student feeling of belonging, of wellbeing, and of security.
All students should feel they are able to belong to their campus community, regardless of their faith. You would think this would be self-evident. Yet since 7th October, campuses have been populated by demonstrations celebrating the actions of Hamas, inciting further violence, and targeting Jewish students.
We have seen the Socialist Workers’ Party distributing literature on campus that is explicitly supportive of Hamas, student societies calling for an ‘Intifada until Victory’, and students assaulting and threatening their Jewish peers. To think that Jewish students can belong in such an environment while proudly and comfortably displaying their Jewish identity is a fallacy.
At UJS, Jewish student wellbeing is at the forefront of all our work. To this end, we wrote to every students’ union leadership team after the 7th October massacre, offering them an opportunity to sign an open letter standing in solidarity with their Jewish students while promising zero-tolerance of those who glorify and celebrate the actions of Hamas, a proscribed terrorist group in the UK.
Out of over a hundred students’ unions, to date we have received five responses. How can Jewish students have confidence in the student led support structures around them at university when their elected representatives cannot bring themselves to condemn a proscribed terrorist group?
It also pains me to write of threats to Jewish student security on campus. In the past few weeks, we have seen some of the most violent antisemitic hatred known to UJS. Both I and others on campus have received death threats. Jewish students have been physically assaulted and harassed on campus which has resulted in immense anxiety as to whether to attend lecturers or whether to openly display their Jewish identity. This cannot continue any longer.
This week, we were meant to launch ‘Jewish Experience Week’. This would have been a celebration of the beauty and diversity of Jewish student life and how it is enjoyed on campuses throughout the UK and Ireland.
We have now had to change the campaign. It is no longer a celebration but, rather a demonstration of what Jewish students are currently experiencing on campus. Jewish students have spoken of the alienation, insecurity, and struggles that they have faced since 7th October.
While we are all going through a deeply challenging time, I nonetheless have hope and am inspired by the resilience of Jewish students in the face of adversity. At UJS, we are here for them and are working day and night to ensure Jewish campus life continues to thrive.
To get a glimpse of Jewish student life, search #MyJewishExperience on social media to learn more. Visit ww.ujs.org.uk to understand how we continue to lead, defend, and enrich Jewish life on campus.
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