World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) President Andi Gergely wrote about the situation in Israel and Gaza in her July message to the group. “In recent weeks we have all been greatly affected by the problems in the Middle East. In light of these events between our hearts go out to the families of all the innocent civilians who have lost their lives on both sides of the conflict; to the families of the fallen soldiers and to all people who have been living under constant rocket fire,” she wrote.
In order to help out, WUJS established a partnership with the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) to provide extra volunteers for WIZO day-care centers. These volunteers have a special responsibility to make sure that during an attack, the children are brought to a shelter as quickly as possible.
Two weeks ago representatives of WUJS and student leaders from several countries joined hundreds of others paying their respects to the families of Gil-ad Shaer and Mohammed Abu Khaider, two teenagers, one Jewish, one Muslim, kidnapped and murdered by extremists. The student delegations spoke with families and expressed their solidarity with them.
Looking outside of Israel, WUJS is watching with raised concerns as the number of anti-Semitic attacks across the world rise as a direct consequence of the current conflict.
The World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) is the international, pluralistic, non-partisan umbrella organisation comprising of 48 national independent Jewish Student Unions from all over the world. Founded in 1924 to combat anti-Jewish quotas in Central and Eastern European University the World Union of Jewish Students was a grassroots network aimed at connecting student groups from all over the world.
WUJS' aim is to foster the unity of Jewish students worldwide and to strive to ensure their participation in the fulfillment of the aspirations of the Jewish people, its continuity, and the development of its religious, spiritual, cultural and social heritage.