ByNaomi Firsht, Naomi Firsht
1 min read
"They call me the 'rabbi on wheels'," said Yossi Bodenheim, the Scotland student chaplain who spends half his week on the road in order to tend to the eight universities in his region which are home to young Jews.
The University Jewish Chaplaincy rabbi has been in Glasgow, with his wife Sarah and four children, since moving from Israel in 2012.
He deals with the biggest geographical area of any Jewish chaplain in Britain and regularly travels the 150 miles to see students in far-flung Aberdeen.
Rabbi Bodenheim visits smaller universities, such as Stirling, every week and goes to St Andrews once a fortnight. The majority of his time is spent on campuses in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
"Most students are not very religious," he said. "We try to provide a positive experience. Friday-night dinner is our biggest hit. It brings everyone together."
The couple focus on organising social events such as sushi making, games nights and trips to the pub to appeal to secular students. Rabbi Bodenheim's weekly bagel lunches in Glasgow and Edinburgh attract around 30 students, although he admits only half will stay for the religious discussion afterwards.
He has noticed a trend: "A lot of students who come from London want to get away [from Jewish activities]. Getting first years is a struggle. But it's interesting how with time they will show up. That's why we do our Friday nights. They come, they bring their friends."
Glasgow Jewish chaplaincy board helps the rabbi with fundraising and support, some even offering beds for undergraduates stuck without accommodation.
The Bodenheims live in Giffnock, the Jewish area just outside Glasgow, around 10 miles from the university site. To get around this they will often provide taxis for students coming to events at their house midweek.
Part of Israel-born Rabbi Bodenheim's role is to support students on welfare issues, including dealing with anti-Israel or antisemitic incidents on campus.
"I will tell them 'you have 5,000 Jews behind you; you don't need to feel alone'," he said.