Two popular Jewish influencers have visited students up and down the country to talk about Jewish pride and resilience on campus.
Launching this academic year’s Aish on Campus, Adriana Rosie, known on social media as "the Now-Jewish Nanny", and Rudy Rochman spoke to around 500 Jewish students on campuses in London, Cambridge, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. They also spoke at King David David School in Manchester.
Adriana was not raised Jewish and had no Jewish friends growing up. While studying opera at college, she took babysitting work, and the first family to book her happened to be Jewish. She went on to work in observant Jewish homes and found a large following online by sharing kosher recipes, the festivals and everyday Jewish family life as "the Non-Jewish Nanny".
She told students how, with the support of a local rabbi and rebbetzin, she studied for conversion, taking the Hebrew name Adina Shoshana and how proud she was of her Jewish identity. Using her media handle, she now has 111k followers.
Rudy Rochman was born in Paris and grew up in Israel and the United States. He has said that his commitment to defending Jewish people began when he was seven years old and experienced antisemitism while in London.
At Columbia University, he founded and led the campus chapter of Students Supporting Israel and co-created We Were Never Lost, a documentary series about lesser-known Jewish communities around the world.
Today, Rudy speaks to students and communities internationally, and has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
Rudy encouraged students to take ownership of their Jewish story, both on campus and online, saying: "If we don't drive our own narrative, we can't complain when others hijack it," he told them.
After the sessions ended, students stayed to chat to the speakers, ask questions and socialise.
Yoni Abadi, director of Aish YPs said: “By doing this nationwide tour, Aish UK is inspiring young Jews to stand proud in their identity and to more meaningfully connect with Jewish life.”
The week ended on Saturday evening, when Adriana spoke at the Jewish Futures Hub to around 120 women and girls.
Rabbi Gideon Goldwater, managing director of Aish UK, said: "Both Rudy and Adriana embody with tremendous clarity and force the message of Jewish pride, which blends strength, gratitude and resilience.
“Bringing their stories to Jewish students left a palpable surge of energy and happiness in that which unites us and made for an amazing and inspiring launch of the Aish on Campus year."
He said the tour was part of Aish UK's work to meaningfully connect young Jews with Jewish life and strengthen Jewish identity and engagement among students and young professionals.
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