Ex-UJS president aims to become head of European Jewish student body

A former president of the Union of Jewish Students is aiming to take the top job at the European body representing Jewish students. 

Esther Offenberg, 23, a psychology graduate from the University of Birmingham, hopes to be the next president of the European Union of Jewish Students, which represents more than 200,000 Jewish students.

She would be the first president from the UK since 1993, and faces competition for the role from Elias Dray, who hails from France.

 “In my time as president, I got to work with them quite a lot, and I just decided to go for it,” she said. “I really enjoyed it, and can see things I can bring to it, having that mix between European and UK perspective.”

 Offenberg has pledged to focus on engagement, celebrate diversity and bolster the union’s long-term stability. The vote will be held on August 20 at a conference in Italy.