At the University of Hertfordshire, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all.
The University has two groups:
Jewish student society (JSOC)
Herts SU Jewish Society aims to create a safe space for students who identify as Jewish. The society runs various events throughout the year. Find out more about the Jewish Student Society.
Jewish Staff Support Group
The Jewish Staff Support Group is an independent group set up by Co-chairs Claudia Carr and Laura Kravitz. The support group is open to all Jewish members of staff. For more information, please contact the Co-chairs directly.
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
In 2020, the University adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
Working in consultation with staff, Herts SU, and the Student Jewish Society, the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism was formally adopted by the University of Hertfordshire’s Board of Governors at a meeting held in November 2020.
The definition includes the adoption of the eleven examples of antisemitism that were published alongside the definition.
The definition reads:
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
The University adopted the definition with the following clarifications as recommended by the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2016:
To ensure that freedom of speech is maintained in the context of discourse about Israel and Palestine, without allowing antisemitism to permeate any debate:
- It is not antisemitic to criticise the government of Israel, without additional evidence to suggest antisemitic intent
- It is not antisemitic to hold the Israeli government to the same standards as other liberal democracies, or to take a particular interest in the Israeli government’s policies or actions, without additional evidence to suggest antisemitic intent.
What does the definition mean for staff and students?
The definition will be used by the University as a tool to determine whether certain behaviour can be classified as antisemitic and whether the behaviour is in breach of the University’s Equality and Diversity policies.
If you experience or witness behaviour that may be deemed antisemitic, please contact the EDI Office via edi@herts.ac.uk and a member of the team will be in touch.
Holocaust Memorial Day
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place each year on 27 January with thousands of people coming together in remembrance and to take action to create a safer future. Find out more about the significance of Holocaust Memorial Day.