Strength in Numbers: Jewish Student Sports Teams Join the Fight Against Antisemitism

The ongoing events in Israel have a deep-rooted impact across the whole Jewish

community. As students pray for the safety of friends and family affected by the war,

they must also worry about the global rise of antisemitism, especially on university

campuses.

Over the past year, there has been a monumental rise in the number of Jewish sports

teams in universities. Hundreds of students now display their Jewish identity proudly

and represent the Jewish society (Jsoc) in university social sport leagues. This is not

something that they should ever need to hide, however, with the current situation there has been an uncomfortable feeling about the situations that these teams may face over the coming months.

However, during times like this taking part in sport and being part of a team is very

important for mental health, and provides an important support network in university

away from family. So, it is important that Jewish students do not feel afraid to continue

representing the community.

Last week, in a united move to take action against the fear that has spread on campus,

Jewish student sports leaders came together in a bid to help their participants feel more safe and secure whilst playing on the teams.

The teams embarked on a media campaign and a recruitment drive for the Community

Safety Trust (CST), to promote to a wider audience the security training available for

Jewish students. Posting across 10 different social media accounts, they shared

information about the upcoming course and provided a widely accessible link for

students to sign up.

CST training focuses on security and vigilance, equipping individuals with the skills and

knowledge to identify and respond to security threats. This is a vital tool in today's world, and ensuring safety is a collective responsibility, which CST provides free for Jewish students.

Sports teams are uniquely positioned to drive this initiative forward, fostering a sense of community, teamwork, and shared responsibility, making it the perfect recruitment

platform to promote the values of CST training. By uniting under this common cause,

student athletes are not only enhancing their own security awareness, but also sending

a powerful message of solidarity to the wider campus community. They are set to

continue to help recruit for CST and promote the important work they do for the

community.