16 January 2024
90 pro-Israel professionals gathered on Tuesday 16 January in a bustling underground Camden club to beat away the January blues and network at an evening with multi-award-winning stand-up comedian Rachel Creeger.
The event was hosted by the Blue and White Club, a 500-strong volunteer-led movement of young adults supporting Israel, powered by StandWithUs UK. The Club’s committee, who organised the event, said: “Humour has always been an integral part of the Jewish spirit, and that is needed no more than today”.
Since the launch of the club in November 2022, the group has reached in excess of 1500+ individuals through a range of educational and social programming. Highlights include a 250+ person Purim Party, a 500+ WhatsApp group and initiatives including free therapy programmes for members after October 7th and employment advice if dealing with antisemitism at work.
In November 2023, the Blue & White Club launched their Women’s network, with a sold-out lecture to 50+ women on the topics of antisemitism, anti-Zionism, misogyny and the patriarchy held by lecturer and academic Dr Chloe Pinto. The event was attended by a range of women from Jewish, Iranian and non-Jewish backgrounds across the ages of 21-50 who came together to discuss these issues in the U.K. and the wider world.
The successes of the club are a testament to how much support the Jewish young professional community need in these difficult times. Isaac Zarfati, StandWithUs UK’s Executive Director said, “We will continue to inspire and empower young professionals across the UK to be proud of their Zionist identities. Since October 7th, many have faced incredible difficulties in their workplaces, with office cultures turning increasingly hostile. We will endeavour to ensure that they will receive the support and mentorship they need”.
About StandWithUs UK:
StandWithUs is an international, non-profit and non-partisan Israel education organisation that works to inspire and educate people of all ages about Israel, as well as challenge misinformation and fight against antisemitism. Founded in 2010, StandWithUs UK has become a recognised support system and leading resource for students on UK campuses. We empower and energise students and communities with leadership training and educational programmes on both school and university campuses. StandWithUs informs through social media, printed materials, digital platforms, film and newsletters. The StandWithUs flagship Emerson Fellowship programme seeks to raise students into future leaders, equipped to stand strong in the face of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. We believe in the right of the Jewish People to self-determination in their historic homeland of Israel. We educate the facts in an unbiased and holistic manner, with an open mind, reflecting on views from all sides of the political, social and humanitarian spectrum whilst promoting peace. StandWithUs UK believe the current discourse surrounding Israel on campus all too often crosses the line between legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies and the dangerous, mainstream, antisemitic rhetoric which stands contrary to the IHRA definition of antisemitism. We work to educate on that distinction, encourage civil discourse on legitimate criticism of Israel, and to fight antisemitism wherever it emerges.
