Students launch Chanucah campaign for Israeli terror victims

The Union of Jewish Students has launched a Chanucah campaign to commemorate Israelis killed in terror attacks since September.

The move comes as a response to recent vigils for Palestinian terrorists on campuses and the National Union of Students’ failure to include Israelis in a statement expressing solidarity with global victims of terror attacks.

Palestine societies at several universities have held events over the past few weeks that commemorated Palestinians involved in terror attacks prompting complaints from Jewish students.

Last week NUS president Megan Dunn named France, Nigeria, Lebanon, Turkey, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Kenya, Palestine, and Mali as countries where civilians had been murdered in attacks by “paramilitary organisations” yet failed to mention Israel , while reading out a statement at the NUS national executive council meeting.

The UJS “Shed Some Light” campaign aims to remember victims of recent terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank by highlighting the story of a different victim on each day of Chanucah.

UJS is asking students to support the campaign by holding candlelit vigils for Israeli victims on their campuses, to speak to students about the recent terror attacks, and to light yahzeit candles together with their Chanuciah candles, as well as having a minute’s silence.

UJS campaigns director Russell Langer said: “Over the last few weeks Jewish students have had to witness hideous attempts to legitimise violence against Israelis as well as the glorification of terrorists. This culminated in their national union deciding that Israeli victims were not worthy of their solidarity. I hope the Jewish community will join us this Chanukah in remembering the lives of these victims and ‘Shed Some Light’ on their story."

The UJS has also spoken out against criticism from American rabbi Shmuley Boteach who claimed, in an article for The Jerusalem Post, that Jewish students were too scared to talk about Israel after he was interrupted when he mentioned the Jewish state during a talk to the Jewish society at Kings College London.

In a statement the UJS said: “UJS does not separate between Israel and Judaism. Israel engagement - connecting with Israeli history, culture, people and society as part of Jewish identity and education - is one of our four core values.

“The notion that Jewish students in the UK either choose not to "do Israel" or are too scared to combat hostility towards Israel is offensive to both our sabbatical team and the talented and dedicated activists we work with on a daily basis.”