Union of Jewish Students

Student organization in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Union of Jewish Students of the United Kingdom & IrelandFounded| 1919; 106 years ago (1919)

|

Type| Student union
Location|

* London, UK

Area served

| The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland
Members| c. 86 Jewish Societies, > 9,000 members

Key people

| Sami Berkoff (President)
Arieh Miller (CEO)
Revenue| 700,000
Employees| c. 12
Volunteers| 450+
Website| www.ujs.org.uk

Formerly called

| The Inter University Jewish Federation

The Union of Jewish Students of the United Kingdom and Ireland (UJS) represents Jewish students in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is a member of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) and the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) and an associate member of the National Union of Students, and is represented on the Board of Deputies of British Jews.[1]

## History

[edit]

### Launch

[edit]

The IUJF (Inter University Jewish Federation) was the creation in 1919 of the Manchester Jewish Association. They saw a growing pride in the Jewish Community and believed it was appropriate for Jewish students to have a national organisation to co-ordinate the activities of Jewish student Societies and represent Jewish students at a national level.

The first step was a conference in Manchester on 17 July 1919 at which four Jewish societies were represented: Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and Oxford. Although not represented initially, the London University Jewish Society subsequently took an active and eventually a leading role.

### Early years

[edit]

With the rise to power in Germany of the Nazi Party, many Jewish students had their studies disrupted and sought refuge in non-occupied Europe and elsewhere; the International Students Service was in the forefront of providing advice to these displaced students and financial assistance was made available from communal funds. The Federation was active in supporting these efforts; almost £2,000 was raised from University students in Britain.

By 1946, the following Universities had societies affiliated to the Federation, in addition to those already mentioned: Belfast, Birmingham, Cambridge, University College, Cardiff, Dublin, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Reading, and Sheffield.

The two main activities of the Federation, from its inception, were an annual Summer School and an Annual Conference, held in the winter vacation.

Throughout its existence, the IUJF was involved with the Jewish community. It was represented on the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Zionist Federation and had an ongoing liaison with Jewish Youth Study Groups.

For the almost fifty years from its foundation until the creation of the Hillel Foundation, the IUJF had no office, no staff, no sabbatical officers and no assured budget other than money that students could raise themselves. The Federation was run from the rooms of the then Chairman or Secretary; all activities were organized by the students themselves on a voluntary basis; from time to time, small subventions were obtained from the general community.

### Expansion

[edit]

The partnership with which B'nai B'rith set up the Hillel Foundation provided the IUJF with its first permanent office and its first professional assistance. This enabled the Federation and its successor, UJS, to increase its work.

The organization was renamed the Union of Jewish Students in 1973.

## Activities and values

[edit]

As of 2021, UJS represents approximately 8,500 students, with 4,000–4,500 being members of its 69 affiliated Jewish Societies (J-Socs) on individual campuses.[2] Expenditure in 2020/21 was under £1m.[2] It states that its core values are: cross-communalism, peer-leadership, representation and engagement with Israel.[3] Its communal partners and supporters include the Jewish Leadership Council, UJIA and the Community Security Trust.[2]

It provides training and funding for individual J-Socs; campaigns on specific issues; offers members the opportunity to participate in networking events, master classes and a summer placement scheme; runs national events to bring together Jewish students, including the JUEFA Cup football tournament, the UJS training Summit, the UJS Conference, the UJS Student Awards, Shabbat UK and Jewniversity Challenge, and; works with universities to secure Jewish student accommodation and spaces for J-Soc activities as well as sourcing kosher food and students' other religious needs. It also organises a range of trips to Israel.[4]

It has been active within the National Union of Students, including its Anti-Racism and Anti-Fascism campaigns. It has supported the campaigns of Wes Streeting, Aaron Porter, and Shakira Martin for the role of NUS President in 2008, 2010, and 2017, respectively.[5] UJS funds delegations of Students’ Union leaders to visit Israel.[6][7]

In April 2019, the UJS called on Sheffield University to "take all actions necessary" against a lecturer who had signed a petition in support of suspended MP Chris Williamson.[8] In October 2019, the Union of Jewish Students demanded that the University of Nottingham cancel a planned lecture by Williamson.[9]

## Leadership

[edit]

The UJS President is elected by Jewish students to represent their voices within the community, universities, colleges and wider society.

Title | Name | Years in office | University | Notes

|
|
|
|

President | Louis Danker | 2025–2026 | Edinburgh University |
President | Sami Berkoff | 2024–2025 | Durham University |
President | Edward Isaacs | 2023–2024 | Bristol University |
President | Joel Rosen | 2022–2023 | University of Cambridge, Trinity Hall |
President | Nina Freedman | 2021–2022 | Bristol University |
President | James Harris | 2020–2021 | Birmingham University |
President | Esther Offenberg | 2019–2020 | Birmingham University |
President | Hannah Rose | 2018–2019 | Bristol University |
President | Josh Holt | 2017–2018 | University of Nottingham |
President | Josh Seitler | 2016–2017 | London School of Economics |
President | Hannah Brady | 2015–2016 | King's College London (BA); University College London (MA) |
President | Ella Rose | 2014–2015 | University of Nottingham |
President | Yos Tarshish (Joe Tarsh) | 2013–2014 | Manchester Metropolitan University |
President | Alex Green | 2012–2013 | University of Birmingham |
President | Daniel Grabiner | 2011–2012 | University of Leeds |
Chairperson | Alex Dwek | 2010–2011 | University of Manchester |
Chairperson | Adam Pike | 2008–2010 | University of Manchester |
Chairperson | Jessica Truman | 2007–2008 | Manchester Metropolitan University |
Chairperson | Jonathan Levy | 2006–2007 | University of Manchester |
Chairperson | Wallace Rosenberg | 2005–2006 | University of Manchester |
Chairperson | Dan Sacker | 2004–2005 | University of Manchester |
Chairperson | Mark Ross | 2003–2004 | Queen Mary University of London |
Chairperson | Alan Senitt | 2001–2003 | University of Birmingham |
Chairperson | Ashley Hirst | 2000–2001 | University of Manchester |
Chairperson | Ruth Bookatz | 1999–2000 | University of Manchester |
Chairperson | Adam Dawson | 1998–1999 | University of Leeds |
Chairperson | Danny Newman | 1997–1998 | University of Oxford |
Chairperson | Susie Simmons | 1996–1997 | Manchester Metropolitan University |
Chairperson | Nick Cosgrove | 1995–1996 | University of Hull |
Chairperson | David Kaplan | 1994–1995 | University of Glasgow |
Chairperson | Tony Danker | 1993–1994 | University of Manchester |
Chairperson | Robert Sumroy | 1992–1993 | University of Cambridge |
Chairperson | Ian Myers | 1991–1992 | Manchester Polytechnic |
Chairperson | Howard Silverman | 1990–1991 | Keele University |
Chairperson | Jonny Mendelsohn | 1989–1990 | University of Leeds |
Chairperson | Stephen Kurer | 1988–1989 | University College London |
Chairperson | Paul Frosh | 1987–1988 | University of Cambridge |
Chairperson | Ashley Harshak | 1986–1987 | University of Newcastle upon Tyne |
Chairperson | Adrian Cohen | 1985–1986 | London School of Economics |
Chairperson | Simon Myerson | 1984–1985 | University of Cambridge |
Chairperson | Matthew Kalman | 1983–1984 | University of Cambridge |
Chairman | Sam Clarke | 1982–1983 | University of Sheffield |
Chairman | Sam Jacobs | 1981–1982 |  |
Chairman | Danny Joseph | 1980–1981 | University of Leeds |
Chairman | Rowel Genn | 1979–1980 | Queens University, Belfast |
Chairman | David Waxman | 1978–1979 |  |
Chairman | Moshe Forman | 1977–1978 |  |
Chairman | Simon Caplan | 1976–1977 | University of Oxford |
Chairman | Mark Dines | 1975–1976 | University of Manchester |
Interim Co-Chairman | Melvyn Kay | 1974–1975 |  |
Interim Co-Chairman | Andrew Jacobs | 1974–1975 |  |
Chairman | Phil Shilco | 1974 | King's College London |
Chairman | Alan Freeman | 1973–1974 | School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) |
Chairman | David Bloch | 1972–1973 | University College London |
Chairman | Rosalind Nysenbaum | 1971–1972 | Queen Mary University of London |
Chairman | Arnold Wagner OBE[10] | 1970-1971 | Middlesex University |
Chairman | David Rosenberg | 1969–1970 | University of Glasgow |
Chairman | Alan Baker | 1968 | University College London |
Chairman | Gordon Hausmann | 1967 |  |
Chairman | Alan Gold | 1966 |  |
Chairman | Leslie Wagner | 1965 |  |
Chairman | Mike Hunter | 1964 |  |
Chairman | Justin Phillips | 1963 |  |
Chairman | Prof Edgar Neufeld | 1955–1956 |  |
Chairman | Mr Benjamin | 1956 |  |
Chairman | Michael Saltman | 1954 |  |
Chairman | Geoffrey Silver | 1950–1951 |  |
Chairman | Chaim Herzog[11] | 1941–1942 | University College London
Chairman | Lionel Stoll | 1933–1934 |  |

## See also

[edit]

* British Jews

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Voice of Jewish Students". UJS. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
2. ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2021-03-15.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
3. ^ "Core Values". UJS. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
4. ^ "Trips". UJS. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
5. ^ "UJS at NUS Conference 2009". Union of Jewish Students. 7 June 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
6. ^ "Porter Selected to Visit Israel". University of Leicester Students' Union. 18 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
7. ^ [1][permanent dead link] UJS. Retrieved 01 May 2017.
8. ^ Somerville, Ewan (2 April 2019). "Sheffield University lecturer under fire for 'undermining anti-Semitism' in Labour Party". Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
9. ^ Sugarman, Daniel (4 October 2019). "Jewish students call for the University of Nottingham to cancel Chris Williamson invitation". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
10. ^ "New Chair of the Pension Protection Fund announced".
11. ^ "UJS celebrates its centenary today, and we feel blessed - The Jewish Chronicle". Archived from the original on 2021-11-16.

## External links

[edit]

* Union of Jewish Students Official website

* v
* t
* e

Jews and Judaism in the United Kingdom

General|

* Anglo-Jewish Association
* Board of Deputies of British Jews
* Campaign Against Antisemitism
* Community Security Trust
* Jewish Leadership Council
* London Jewish Forum
* Scottish Council of Jewish Communities
* Union of Jewish Students

Education
and studies|

* British Association for Jewish Studies
* Gateshead Talmudical College
* Holocaust Educational Trust
* Holocaust Memorial Day
* Institute for Jewish Policy Research
* Jewish Book Week
* Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain
* Jewish Historical Society of England
* Jewish Museum London
* JW3
* Leo Baeck College
* Limmud
* London School of Jewish Studies

Religious|

* Jewish cemeteries in the London area
* Jewish communities in the United Kingdom

| Orthodox|

* Federation of Synagogues
* Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations
* United Synagogue
* Chief Rabbi

|

Conservative|

* Masorti Judaism

Progressive|

* Progressive Judaism (United Kingdom)

Publications|

* The Jewish Chronicle
* Jewish News
* Jewish Quarterly
* Jewish Renaissance
* Jewish Telegraph
* Jewish Tribune
* Jewish Year Book

Charities|

* Jewish Care
* Jewish Association for Mental Illness - Jami
* Jewish Council for Racial Equality
* Kisharon
* Limmud
* Maccabaeans
* Norwood
* René Cassin
* Tzedek
* World Jewish Relief

Political|

* Jewdas
* Jewish Labour Movement
* Jewish Socialists' Group
* Jewish Voice for Labour
* Jews for Justice for Palestinians

Israeli
relations|

* Betar UK
* Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre
* Conservative Friends of Israel
* Independent Jewish Voices
* Labour Friends of Israel
* Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel
* Na'amod
* Northern Ireland Friends of Israel
* WIZO UK
* Yachad
* Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland
* "Israel lobby in the United Kingdom"

Related|

* All-Party Parliamentary Group against Antisemitism
* British Hero of the Holocaust
* Council of Christians and Jews
* Israel–United Kingdom relations

* Category
* List of British Jews
* List of synagogues

* v
* t
* e

Jewish youth organisations

Youth organisations|

* Am Yisrael Foundation
* BBYO
* Aleph Zadik Aleph
* B'nai B'rith Girls
* Betar
* Bnei Akiva
* Ezra USA
* Federation of Zionist Youth
* Habonim Dror
* HaMahanot HaOlim
* HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed
* HaNoar HaTzioni
* Canadian Young Judaea
* Hashomer Hatzair
* Hineni
* JLGB
* Moriya
* NCSY
* Netzer Olami
* NFTY
* USY
* Kadima
* Young Judaea

Student unions|

* Australasian Union of Jewish Students
* European Union of Jewish Students
* Swiss Union of Jewish Students
* Union des étudiants juifs de France
* Union of Jewish Students of the UK & Ireland
* World Union of Jewish Students

Student services organisations|

* Chabad on Campus
* Hillel International

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template