Essex Uni Formed Jewish-Israel Society Before Six Day War!

As Professor Anthony Forster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Essex, reassured Jewish students that they would be allowed to create their own society, it emerged that a Jewish and Israel Society was first formed there in 1965.

Founders included now long-term Israeli citizen and Haifa resident Maurice Hyman who recalls that some members were non-Jewish and that when the Six Day War began in June 1967, ”a large number of members of all religions offered to volunteer”.

Now Professor Forster has spent considerable time tracing and contacting all Jewish graduates like Welsh-born Mr Hyman to assure them of the university’s good intentions.

It is unknown why or when the original University of Essex Jewish and Israel Society disbanded.

© Natalie Wood (25 February 2019)