The United Synagogue has been a long-standing supporter of University Jewish Chaplaincy who look after thousands of Jewish students on campus.
It’s a very worrying state of affairs when 89% of Jewish students reported experiencing antisemitism at least once in the last academic year and 50% noted receiving this abuse at least once a month since October 7th. These are just two of the troubling statistics revealed in the first study to capture Jewish student sentiment since the horrific October 7th attacks in Israel.
Jewish students in the UK know all too well that as soon as there are tensions in the Middle East, antisemitic abuse and violence proliferates across campuses and student residences, often surreptitiously masked as anti-Israel or anti-Zionist sentiments. Since October 7th 2023, such activity has intensified in its frequency and tenacity. UJC’s longest-standing Chaplain (with 40 years in post) commented that ‘the academic year 2023-2024 was without question the hardest I have ever encountered.’ The toll that this has taken on Jewish students alongside the entire UJC team goes far beyond the insights revealed in UJC’s survey.
Antisemitic occurrences at UK universities vary in nature from the implicit to explicit. Incidents such as the hurling of stones at Jewish student accommodation windows in Scotland and trespassers on Chaplains’ property in Leeds and Nottingham were shocking. Reports of antisemitic notes placed in Jewish students’ halls of residence and the removal of a student’s mezuzah in private accommodation are both concerning and deeply distressing.
By the 2023-24 summer term, UJC was aware of 36 university campuses with pro-Palestinian encampments. Whilst not necessarily their intention, some of these encampments enabled challenging and hostile environments for many Jewish students. In places where phrases like ‘Zionists off our campus’ and ‘Globalise the Intifada’ were chanted aggressively, written on placards or graffitied, many Jewish students perceived this to be a direct threat to their civil liberties.
Unquestionably, this tension has affected many Jewish students’ sense of security and wellbeing, which also impacted Chaplains’ programming. Whilst some students were keen to be ‘loud and proud’, others were scared to be visibly Jewish on campus, especially when discussing their views on Middle Eastern politics. In order to best protect students who felt at risk, regional Chaplains increased their provision of home hospitality. Be it welcoming more students for shabbat meals, opportunities to hear renowned scholars speak, or just safe spaces for students to share their concerns and worries, Chaplains’ homes felt busier than ever, offering a reassuring refuge and ‘home away from home’ to all who sought it.
University Jewish Chaplaincy’s uncompromising mission is to staunchly ‘Strengthen our Students’, ensuring they are able to offer support to 9,000+ students at more than 100 universities across the UK, has never been more critical.
Over the last academic year, UJC has recorded over 34,000 student interactions – a 25% increase from the previous year. Their Chaplains have provided direct assistance to over 1,600 students confronting antisemitism, had over 16,500 attendances at events, fostering a sense of community and solidarity. Additionally, UJC has hosted over 9,200 students in Chaplains’ homes, and held over 50 meetings with university officials to advocate for student safety and rights.
This is a RECORD – our Jewish students need, and are actively seeking, more support than ever before.
From fighting antisemitism and anti-Zionist abuse, providing ongoing non-judgemental welfare and pastoral care, empowering and inspiring student-led activism and programming to offering a ‘home-away-from-home’ for all Jewish students, UJC’s services really are needed more than ever.
UJC’s impact is unquestionable, but they need help to make sure that this critical support on campus can continue. With your help, we are confident that UJC can reach their fundraising target and safeguard the ongoing provision of core services on and off campus.
Every donation during this campaign will be doubled by generous matchers. Please help UJC reach their £700,000 goal by donating generously and encouraging friends and family to do the same via www.charityextra.com/chaplaincy
