The Movement for Reform Judaism

The Movement for Reform Judaism supports the Stop the Boycott campaign.

Read the latest developments from the campaign and find out what you can do.

Who are we?

The "Stop the Boycott" campaign has been launched as the unified response of tens of organisations and hundreds of academics to the Universities College Union pro-boycott policy. The campaign is led by the Chief Executives of BICOM and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) in partnership with the Fair Play Campaign Group, which was set up by the JLC and the Board of Deputies last year. We aim to obtain and win a full UCU membership ballot to overturn the boycott policy.

Who are our supporters?

We are delighted at the overwhelming support we have received. UK supporters include The Board of Deputies; Trade Union Friends of Israel, Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel, the ‘Friends Of' the various Israeli Universities, the Union of Jewish Students, and the Zionist Federation. Beyond the Jewish Community some 300 senior academics have signed newspaper advertisements; 76 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion; and many members of the UCU are involved. The influential Russell and 1994 university groupings, Universities UK; the National Union of Students, The British Academy; Senior Government Ministers and Opposition Spokespeople have all echoed our campaign messages.
We have received huge support from Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and Head of the Reform Movement Rabbi Tony Bayfield. We also proud to have the support of the Israeli Government through the Ambassador in London as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

What are we doing?

Amongst other things:

An advert appeared in The Guardian and The Times on Wednesday 13th June. Click here to see the advert 
A visit of Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell MP to Israel.
An Early Day Motion in Parliament (number 1603)
Question to the Prime Minister from Andrew Dismore MP on Wednesday 6th June
Question in Education Questions from Andrew Dismore MP.
Letter from all Parliamentary Chairs of Friends of Israel groups in The Guardian.
Letter from some of the most eminent scientists in Britain and the world in The Guardian.
The leaders of all 3 main political parties have come out against this boycott
Statements from Education spokespeople of 3 main political parties.
Editorials have appeared in all the main UK broadsheet newspapers against the boycott.
We have collated quotes from hundreds of academics and prominent members of the Jewish community, which have been press released.
Meetings have taken place with Israel's Prime Minister's office and the Foreign Secretary herself.
Work was done around the Higher Education debate in the House of Lords.

Messages

The overall campaign message is that boycotts are bad for academic freedom, bad for the Palestinians and bad for Britain. For UCU members, the priority message is that of academic freedom. Our message is simple. Do something today, to support this campaign.

What do we need you to do?

There is no magic bullet. To succeed we must be prepared for a series of hard-fought tactical battles over many months. We need your help to:

Find out who your local MP is here

Lobby your MP to sign EDM 1603

Ask your MP to meet with local universities/colleges to enlist support and get joint statements denouncing the boycott.
Get UCU branch members in local universities/colleges to propose motions supporting a membership ballot and condemning the motion, before the summer holidays.
If you are a UCU member write to the NEC asking them for a ballot

Sign up to, and get your friends and family to sign up to, regular updates here and please visit  for more information about this important campaign.

 Lorna Fitzsimons and Jeremy Newmark

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