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Students fuel a Scottish revival

A growth in Jewish life on campus could benefit the wider community

February 11, 2016 12:44
Glasgow University's historic buildings

ByNaomi Firsht, Naomi Firsht

4 min read

Hailstones pelted down and stooped pedestrians battled for balance in the 50 mile-per-hour winds.

This is Glasgow, where most residents joke you can see all four seasons in one day. It is not an obvious choice for Jewish students who usually head to campuses in Nottingham, Leeds and Birmingham.

Yet the past few years have seen the Jewish societies at universities in Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews grow slowly but steadily, turning them into active hubs of Jewish campus life.

No doubt this is in part due to the 2011 Scottish Parliament decision to abolish university fees for Scottish students learning in the country - an attractive offer considering the £9,000 fees to be paid in England.