As battles are being fought for Israel, Jewish students in the UK are having to fight “an online war” that they aren’t prepared for, the co-chair of a new grassroots organisation said this week.
The spokesperson for I-gnite, told the JC: “What is happening now in Israel is horrific, but there is a parallel online war against misinformation that is set to go on for many years that our children must be confident to address.
“We know that online spaces and campuses are tough places to exist for young Jewish people, where history is being rewritten and narratives are changing, and the demand for the skillsets to combat modern antisemitism is only going to increase.”
I-gnite has been set up to empower Jewish students in Jewish and non-Jewish schools to face the challenges of antisemitism.
The spokesperson said: “This flagship programme has been designed as part of a wider initiative from I-gnite, aimed at helping students to take pride in their identity, regardless of their religious or political views.”
Ten educators from seven Jewish secondary schools, who have been charged with taking responsibility for Israel and antisemitism education, have received training from I-gnite.
Jewish students showing solidarity with Israel this week
In the meantime, the Union of Jewish Students has been made aware of “a number of incidents”on campuses connected to events in Israel in the last few days.
Writing on X/Twitter, UJS said: “Thousands of Jewish students across the country have spent the past three days checking up on their family and friends in Israel and bracing themselves for a wave of antisemitism on British campuses.
“Meanwhile, their fellow students leading [pro-Palestinian] societies have glorified and celebrated the murder and kidnap of hundreds of innocent men, women and children by a terrorist group proscribed in the UK.”
UJS urged the universities and students’ unions “to take harsh action against this despicable celebration of violence”.
A spokesperson for UJS told the JC that the union had “made it clear to student unions that there must be zero-tolerance of antisemitism and the glorification of Hamas on campus”.
It has also written to more than 100 student unions outlining “how best to support Jewish students on their campus”.
Additionally, the University Jewish Chaplaincy has told the JC they were working “tirelessly to ensure Jewish students on campus feel supported, safe, and valued”.
Rabbi Fishel Cohen, chaplain for Birmingham and West Midlands universities, said: “We are here for students. No matter the circumstances, we stand with you.”
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