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Jewish Student Union of Germany (JSUD)

Shortly after the Shoah, the first Jewish student associations were founded again in Germany; the nationwide representation of young Jewish adults then took place with the establishment of the Association of Jewish Students in Germany (BJSD) in 1968 Activities of the association gradually and finally completely at the beginning of the current century. This created a vacuum for Jewish students – the need for more political offers and joint work for young Jewish adults remained unmet. For the purpose of joint political work and interest representation, the Jewish Student Union Germany was founded in December 2016 with the founding board under Benjamin Fischer (founding president), Arthur Bondarev, Dalia Grinfeld, Lionel Reich and Mike Delberg launched. 

As part of the 2017 Youth Congress, the first democratically legitimized board was elected with Dalia Grinfeld as President, Mike Delberg, Benjamin Fischer, Arthur Poliakow and Aaron Serota. In addition, Oleg Pronichev became the first managing director of JSUD. Shortly afterwards, the JSUD organized extensive programs nationwide – the “Shalom Berlin” seminar and the “EU-Brussels seminar” should be mentioned – both aimed at giving young people an insight into the world of political leaders and “key players”. In addition, Oleg Pronichev became the first managing director of JSUD. Shortly afterwards, the JSUD organized extensive programs nationwide – the “Shalom Berlin” seminar and the “EU-Brussels seminar” should be mentioned – both aimed at giving young people an insight into the world of political leaders and “key players”. 

JSUD has been a full member of the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) and the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) since 2017. As part of the WUJS Congress 2017, the JSUD was already named “Developing Union of the Year” – in 2018 with the “Campaign of the Year” award for the organization and implementation of the # AfNee demonstration in Frankfurt. After Benjamin Fischer left the company prematurely in 2018, he was replaced by Boris Liven as a board member.

The JSUD initially worked in a presentation-oriented manner. The sections “Policy”, “Society and Social Affairs”, “Religion” and “Public Relations” dealt with the implementation of statutory topics and matters and the organization and implementation of new campaigns and events.

Between March 2019 and April 2021, the JSUD board consisted of Mischa Uschakov, Anna Staroselski, Lars Umanski, Ruben Gerczikow and Avital Grinberg. As a result of the restructuring process in autumn 2019, the units were dissolved and their activities adapted to a project-based way of working. Noa Luft has been the current managing director of JSUD since August 2019.

At the WUJS Congress 2019, the Jewish Student Union Germany received the highest international WUJS award – “Union of the Year”.

In April 2021 Anna Staroselski (President), Lars Umanski, Hanna Veiler, Lena Prytula and Julia Kildeeva were elected as the new board.