18/10/2023
Passing on a message from some alumni - Urgent call for help and attendance – Please read‼️‼️
In summary, please be at the Guildhall 9:45-10:30am tomorrow. It’s a desperate situation and we need all the support we can get.
Over the past 5 years and at a cost of £300k, a group of students, alumni and trustees have been working on a redevelopment project for 3 Thompsons Lane. The proposed building will fundamentally change the quality of Jewish life on campus, and allow the Society to reach students who were previously unaddressed.
Some of the key issues the new build will address
- Safety and hygiene - without going into too much detail, there are some substances in the jsoc building it would be better for us all to leave in the past
- Capacity and efficiency- with a rebuilt kitchen and main spaces we would be able to feed students much more efficiently, run more events, and cater for more students specific needs, via disability access to toilets, a (Shabbat) lift, and more welcoming relaxation spaces
- Inclusivity and equality - the newly built 3tl will include dedicated prayer spaces for both orthodox and egalitarian jews, meaning no more walking through someone else’s kabbalat shabbat to get to your own, no more tiny children’s seats in egal, and a building where everyone’s religious needs are actively and enthusiastically catered to. As a proudly pluralist jsoc, and the only one in the country with a consistently running egalitarian prayer community, it is really important that everyone feels jsoc is religiously (or not) a place that enthusiastically welcomes them, and physical space is key to this.
Despite an aesthetic design, full soundproofing, and making over 100 design changes, neighbours have objected strongly and have campaigned against it. Planning permission was rejected in January because a need for a Jewish student space was not seen. We are making a final appeal to be heard this Thursday at 10AM at the Guildhall. It is vital we have a massive attendance at the hearing from JSoc to show that the Jewish student community exists, and deserves a safe and dignified space. We must show we care enough to show up, and we will lose all credibility without that. 3TL neighbours are organised and will be there. Please, support this vital effort and attend the hearing at Guildhall on Thursday 19th. We need you there from ‼️9:45AM-10:30AM ‼️ as a minimum, but would be great if people could stay for longer, or if you can only come later in the morning it will still be appreciated.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to set up CUJS for the future. This is not a demonstration, but an attendance for us to be seen and show that we exist. Please attend, and please personally reach out to fellow CUJS student members to ensure their attendance We need well over 100 attendees, which means all members will need to be proactive in this effort. There is unfortunately no substitute for attendance, and this is a real 'if not now, when' moment.
Thank you! 🙏🏼☺️🕎
