By Marcus Dysch
1 min read
● Students from around the country took part in a Shabbat meal with a difference in Manchester, dining with only UV lights guiding their way.
The Manchester JSoc "blackout" was thought to be the first Friday night event of its type in the world.
Organisers spent several days constructing a new temporary ceiling at the venue to ensure the room would be dark enough, before installing UV floodlights and up-lighters, glow sticks and even serving UV-infused drinks.
More than 200 people attended. The dinner was organised jointly by JSoc, Aish, Chabad and Chaplaincy.
● Israeli gay rights activist Adir Steiner spoke to students at LSE Israel Society and King's College London's JSoc. Mr Steiner is renowned in Israel for his work to assist the gay community and for organising Israel's first official gay pride parade.
KCL JSoc's Darren Cohen said: "It was a good opportunity for us to show that Israeli society is not the 'apartheid, racist, fascist' environment that is often depicted by anti-Zionists.
"Israel has become a liberal society which embraces homosexual and transgender rights. Adir's story was inspiring and shows that change is possible in Israel."
● Chabad of South Kensington held a "green" Friday night dinner for around 30 students. It encouraged greater thinking about responsibilities towards the environment.
The menu consisted of a three-course vegan meal made using only nationally sourced organic fruit and vegetables.
Chabad's Rabbi Mendel Cohen held an historic first minchah for students at Queen Mary, University of London.
In Nottingham, Chabad has launched a Jewish medical ethics series for students.
The first lecture discussed organ donation and featured Rabbi Yehuda Pink, who discussed the halachic issues connected to transplants. The lecture was followed by a shawarma buffet.