Eating disorders, alcoholism and clinical depression are not issues which Jewish parents traditionally worry about their children encountering at university.
But these are among the wide range of problems tackled by the rabbis and rebbetzins of the University Jewish Chaplaincy service.
This year UJC is extending its reach further than ever, with four new chaplains starting work in Oxford; Scotland and the North East; and Cambridge and East Anglia and the first ever chaplain covering the south coast region.
UJC estimates it will be in regular contact with more than 6,000 Jewish students, from all denominations and backgrounds.
Chief executive Ian Kamiel, who took up his role in July, said: “We have brought in four really strong couples, all very different, but each will bring a huge amount to the job. It’s really exciting to have fresh pairs of eyes.
“Our existing chaplains are already very strong, so we are really looking forward to the coming year.”
The chaplains and their families assist students with all aspects of campus life, from setting up new Progressive and Liberal services to providing kosher meals.
The names of some chaplains, such as Rabbi Fishel Cohen, who is about to celebrate his 25th year in the role in Birmingham, and Rabbi YY Rubinstein in Manchester, are bywords among Jewish students past and present. As Mr Kamiel pointed out: “Imagine how many lives they have touched, how many marriages have come from their Friday night dinner tables. To have people with that experience, who have been through almost every scenario, is a huge source of comfort for us.
“The fact we are ‘fully stocked’ and our coverage is greater than ever bodes very well for this year.”
Rabbi Yochanan Pereira is entering his third year working in the Nottingham and East Midlands region.
He said: “For us it’s not just social events that we host but also educational sessions.
“This month, for example, we will have a fireworks party and also a Simchat Torah party. Events such as this give the students social enjoyment but also Jewish education. Some of them would not get that otherwise.
“The sense of family among us is very important. Our work is very diverse.”
Mr Kamiel added: “Every student is different and comes with their own issues they have to face.
“The fact the chaplains are a permanent presence on campus means they act as a parental eye and if they see anyone with the weight of the world on their shoulders they are there for them. That presence alone is a source of comfort for parents as well.”
For a full list of the UJC chaplains visit www.ujc.org.uk/regions.
