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UJS named international Jewish student union of the year
European Union of Jewish Students recognised team for "reclaiming campus life through pride, joy and defiance"
The Union of Jewish Students (UK and Ireland) has been recognised as ‘Union of the Year’ at the 2026 European Union of Jewish Students’ flagship annual programme.
As part of a week-long event in Portugal, EUJS hosted their annual Gala, showcasing the work of its 36 member unions.
Awarding UJS UK top prize, EUJS vice president, Matty Fisher said: “In one of the toughest years yet for Jewish students worldwide, this union stood at the forefront, not only defending Jewish student life, but reclaiming it through pride, joy, and defiance.
“They powered their local communities across over 1,000 events, united students cross-communally, brought 2,800 students to Holocaust education events, and trained over 1,400 university leaders to tackle antisemitism.”
New UJS president, Raphi Leon said: “We are honoured to have won the ‘Union of the Year’ award as a recognition of UJS’s work. It is a testament to the legacy of the 2025/26 Sabbatical Team and permanent staff, whose dedication to lead, defend, and enrich Jewish life on campus has shaped the UJS we are honoured to inherit and continue building.
Other winners included:
- Jewish Youth of Portugal (JYP) – Hosting Union Award
- 250 years of organised Jewish life in Sweden (JUS, Sweden)
- Event of the Year – HERShabbat, The Jewish Community of Serbia
- Special recognition award for Embracing Jewish Diversity – David Benatar (FEJJE, Spain)
- Inspiring Activist – JSUD Germany – Am Echad Award (for transforming one of Europe’s most recognisable landmarks into a powerful symbol of remembrance, unity, and solidarity in honour of October 7th)
- UEJF, France – Political action award (their unwavering commitment to defending Jewish students, confronting extremism, and ensuring that Jewish voices continue to shape the public debate)
- IJAR, The Netherlands – Developing Union of the year European Union of Jewish Students
- JÖH, Austria – Campaign of the Year (For their decades-long campaign, challenging the continued public honouring of Karl Lueger)
- UGEI, Italy – Future Builder Award
- Sofia Reznik (JOY, Finland) & Elior Papiernik (SUJS, Switzerland) – Union Leaders of the Year
- Union of the Year, was awarded to the Union of Jewish Students of the UK and Ireland (UJS)
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