UJS launches nationwide ‘Light For Those Who Can’t’ campaign for Gaza hostages

The Union of Jewish Students, which represents 9,000 students in the UK, is launching a nationwide campaign for Chanukah, “Light For Those Who Can’t”.

In an echo of an earlier Jewish student-led campaign for Soviet Jewry, UJS will co-ordinate the distribution of 3,000 boxes of Chanukah candles, so that members of the public can light a second menorah for those who continue to be held hostage in Gaza.

Each box of candles will bear a sticker for an Israeli individual, captured and held by Hamas.

The candles, which, with the support of UJIA, can be ordered without charge from ujs.org.uk/lightforhostages, will be lit every night of Chanukah, traditionally the festival of lights.

People will be encouraged to take pictures of their hostage-linked candles for each night of the eight-days of Chanukah, and post the images on social media, as a continuing reminder of every Hamas kidnap. The hashtag should be #lightforthosewhocant.

Edward Isaacs, the UJS president, said: “At a time when over 200 innocent civilians are still being held in Gaza, we, as the UK’s Jewish youth, have united to light candles for those who can’t this Chanukah. Join us as we spread the light, which is needed now more than ever before”.

The UJS initiative has the support of every Jewish youth movement in the UK. Jewish News is the media partner for the project.

Students led the fight on behalf of Soviet Jewry in the 1970s, tying in the plight of Soviet Jews to Pesach, the festival of freedom. Half a century later, 21st century Jewish students are raising awareness of Israeli captives with an imaginative candlelight campaign.