Oxford University is investigating after students allegedly held a party at which they were told to arrive dressed as Orthodox Jews carrying bags of money.

Students in the under-21 rugby squad are said to have attached pretend sidelocks to their heads at the “bring a fit Jew party”. Sidelocks are worn by Orthodox Jewish men.

The party, at a curry house on Wednesday, has been condemned by the Jewish community as “at best insensitive and ignorant: at worst blatantly antisemitic”.


The Oxford University Student Union is said to have convinced the team’s captain to change the post-match party’s theme to “bring a fit girl”.

But Aaron Katchen, Oxford University’s Jewish chaplain, said the original “theme” had gone ahead. He was contacted by four students who had witnessed it.

The Community Security Trust, which deals with antisemitic attacks together with the police on behalf of the Jewish community, said the party would make Jewish students feel “isolated and vulnerable”.

A spokesman for the Union of Jewish Students in the UK said: “The actions of a few students have caused real offence. We are appalled that in 2008 old myths and antisemitic stereotypes are still appearing among supposedly educated students.”

The captain of the under-21 team, Phil Boon, said he “didn’t see what the problem was”. He said Jewish girls had accepted invites to the party. “I can understand why it might have offended some people, but it would have been an awesome social.” Boon refused to comment further.

Oxford University has launched an investigation into the party. A spokesman from the university said: “The university is currently investigating a report about inappropriate behaviour by two or three students. We cannot comment on the case as we are yet to establish the facts. However, the university condemns unreservedly racial stereotyping.”

Dr Winston Pickett, director of the European Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, said: “When blatant and malicious Jewish stereotypes surface in the public space –particularly in an academic setting – the shock is palpable.

“On the one hand they make us realise how embedded they are in the collective consciousness while at the same time they send a clear signal of how important it is to educate others as to their hurtful nature. Hopefully the university will use this opportunity to do just that.”

Source : [guardian.co.uk]

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