The group’s report found that almost ninety per cent of Jewish students face antisemitism on campus and accused administrators of ‘outsourcing their duty of care’
February 27, 2025 16:19
Jewish chaplains are providing frontline support for students facing antisemitism on campus as universities fail to offer adequate welfare services, a new report has claimed.
A survey by the University Jewish Chaplaincy (UJC), published today, reveals that 89 per cent of Jewish students have encountered antisemitism at university, with nearly half experiencing incidents at least once a month.
Despite this, students reported that universities were failing to address their concerns, forcing them to turn to chaplains for support.
The findings highlight a widespread breakdown of trust in university authorities, with only 24 per cent of students feeling supported by their institution after reporting an antisemitic incident. In contrast, 94 per cent said they felt supported by UJC chaplains.
The charity accused universities of “outsourcing their duty of care” to the chaplaincy which, it says, has effectively become a mental health support service for Jewish students struggling with antisemitism.
Likewise, in December last year, the Community Security Trust (CST) reported that university-related antisemitic incidents increased by 117 per cent over the last two academic years.
The UJC report comes after JC research found that Jewish students at UK universities have faced assaults, bomb threats and “baby killer” slurs.
The informal JC poll, conducted between December 2023 and January 2024, revealed that 45 per cent of the 200 Jewish students who responded had experienced antisemitism on campus; the UJC figures suggest that number could be much higher.
The new report documents a series of incidents in which Jewish students were physically attacked, verbally abused, or made to feel unsafe on campus.
One student recalled being attacked for wearing a Magen David necklace, saying: “I was physically assaulted just for wearing this visible symbol of my Jewish identity.
“It left its mark on how safe I feel showing my Jewish identity in public spaces around campus.”
Another student said that protests on campus impacted their studies: “I could not concentrate [in the library] knowing there were crowds outside who might recognise me as Jewish... I was so nervous I stopped telling people I was Jewish.”
UJC data shows worries about antisemitism dominate students' concerns over other issues (UJC)[Missing Credit]
A third student was branded a “yid” after someone overheard them saying they wanted to learn Hebrew. On a different campus, stones were thrown at a dormitory displaying an Israeli flag.
And a student in London said: “The antisemitism I face is mostly limited to dirty looks,” which occurred daily. They added: “I have been called a Nazi by a close friend for supporting Israel.”
Similarly, during a pro-Palestine protest at a different London university, demonstrators allegedly spat at counter-protesters and told them to "go back to Poland".
The UJC even reported incidents where university staff had made Jewish students feel unsafe, including one professor who shared a post on Facebook describing the October 7 attacks as “heroic” and a “historical victory.”
Another member of staff described the terror group as a “legitimate struggle against siege, occupation, settler colonialism, slow violence and genocide,” according to UJC.
Several chaplains have also been targeted, including in Leeds, where Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch and his wife Nava were subjected to a campaign of over 400 abusive calls, including death threats. Following police advice, the Israeli family temporarily went into hiding and has since left Britain.
Chief strategist and rabbinic head of UJC, Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski, said: "We've gone from primarily offering welfare support and religious guidance to becoming de facto mental health first-aiders and the primary advocates for the rights and wellbeing of thousands of Jewish students.
“We are now handling situations that remain unresolved by universities' failure to address complaints and concerns quickly and comprehensively, issues that universities should be equipped to address.
“There is an enormous contrast between the calibre of support from chaplains in contrast to dismal reports of students from universities.”
Belovski, the former rabbi at Golders Green United Synagogue and interim chaplain for Cambridge, told the JC there had “always been a lack of recognition by universities that we have provided strong welfare support for students but it was less acute for us prior to October 7”.
“Antisemitism has become a deluge, whereas it used to be a trickle,” he added.
Since the attack, and rising antisemitism in the diaspora, Belovski said that students’ “confidence” in universities to address problems had collapsed and noted a complete lack of trust in authorities to deal with Jew-hate.
“Once a university is seen to not deal with antisemitism by students or lecturers and once they believe their friends are not supportive, Jewish students think if they have a problem – even if it is not related to Judaism – they think they are not being looked after.”
Nottingham students attend an event with the Chief Rabbi (UJC)[Missing Credit]
He condemned universities for their slow response to incidents, saying “they have been ill-informed in realising what is hostile against Jews,” and called on campus leaders to be better informed about Jew-hate. For instance, he claimed that terms like “intifada” should be banned.
Some students who previously had little involvement in Jewish life have turned to UJC since October 7, seeking support from those who understand their experiences. Others, however, have withdrawn from Jewish life, fearing they could be targeted, Belovski noted.
“Some students became more isolated, spending time hiding in their rooms and are less likely to engage in Jewish life because of fear of consequences,” he said, emphasising an increased feeling of polarisation on campus.
Overall, the UJC have seen an enormous growth in students seeking out their services. The UJC provides Shabbat dinners, prayer survives, bagel lunches, lectures and other events for students.
In Edinburgh, the charity hosted student dinners for over 200 students.
On campuses like Edinburgh, the success of the chaplains has encouraged more students to apply, “We are even beginning to see more observant students want to go to Edinburgh because there is a decent provision.”
Sixty-eight per cent of students said they would recommend their university to other Jewish students.
“Antisemitism means people end up defining their Jewish identity because of the behaviour of someone else. We want students to make informed decisions about Jewish life rather than being forced into Jewish life by the activities of haters,” Belovski said.
“Our main provision is to protect and promote Jewish life on campus, with a focus on promoting. We do not want to have Jewish life curtailed by haters. I want students to feel they can have a successful Jewish life on campus and be empowered to live a Jewish life.”