For first time in its history – UJS presidential election has all-female line-up
'Milestone moment' heralded as Lauren Keiles, Joanna Phillips and Esther Offenberg are chosen to battle it out to lead Jewish students
For the first time in its 100-year history, the Union of Jewish Students has fielded an all-woman line-up for the organisation’s next president, with three female contenders vying to head the union next year.
Current UJS President Hannah Rose said it was “a milestone moment” after Lauren Keiles, Joanna Phillips and Esther Offenberg made the run-off.
Like last year, students will have the option of choosing a candidate from Jewdas, while the other two comprise an Israeli from Berlin and a scuba-diving Deputy.
“We’re excited to see a diverse and talented range of candidates,” said Rose. “It is incredibly positive that for the first time in our 100-year history, all Presidential candidates in a contested election are impressive leaders who are also women.
She added: “This is a milestone in UJS’s work in empowering Jewish women in leadership, and a testament to the growing UJS role in pushing the Jewish community forwards on gender equality and broader diversity and inclusion.”
The candidates are studying in Bath, Birmingham and Leeds and cover a range of religious identities, from Orthodox to progressive, which Rose said “illustrates the variety and vibrancy of Jewish campus life”.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Jewish Views Podcast!
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
