Jewish Student Liberation Conference was “a big step in the right direction”

A new Liberation Conference for Jewish students was heralded as “a big step in the right direction” by a student leader.

Issues of gender, disability and sexuality on campus took center stage at the conference run by the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), with sessions run by expert speakers.

UJS President Hannah Brady said: “The sessions were engaging and thought provoking, allowing participants to converse openly with speakers and with one another.”

She added: “The conference was definitely a big step in the right direction. I look forward to seeing how this can grow in the future.”

Among those speaking included Benjamin Cohen – Founder of Pink News, Jacqueline Nicholls and Mekella Broomberg of JW3’s Misogynist Film Club, Emma Dorman of mental health chairty JAMI, and Robbie Young, the LGBT Officer for the National Union of Students.

One of the attendees, Sally Patterson from Bristol said “I came away feeling like I’d really gained a lot from the day. The Jewish community needs more events like these.”

Rafi Dover from King’s College added: “It helped me both to understand the privileges I have had as someone who has not had to contend with being LGBT within the Jewish community and also to know what needs to be done.”

Born from motions passed over the last five years at the Union of Jewish Students annual conference, the event was finally held on Sunday at ORT House in Hendon.

The conference coincided with the launch of the Union of Jewish Students’ Reclaim campaign, in conjunction with mental health charities JAMI and Nightline.